5. Music of the nations

Abstract

Looking at the contentious history of the Eurovision Song Contest, ‘Music of the nations’ considers the complex relationship between world music, nationalism, and the modern nation-state. In her winning song in 2016, ‘1944’, the Ukrainian entry Jamala switched from English to Crimean Tatar, a political reference to the Russian annexation of Ukraine. Zimbabwe changed its anthem from ‘God Save the Queen’ to an African song via ‘Ode to Joy.’ ‘HaTikva’ went from a chorus at an international congress to the Israeli national anthem. There are also supra- or international anthems like the ‘Internationale’, a standard of the socialist movement worldwide.