A few hours before the Eurovision final, his name is on everyone’s lips in Malmö: Joost Klein, the Dutch candidate, has been excluded, as reported this Saturday, May 11, by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). a day earlier after an “incident” unrelated to Israel’s controversial involvement.
“The Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a member of the production team following an incident that occurred after her performance during the semi-final on Thursday night,” the EBU explained in a statement.
“While the judicial procedure continues, it would not be appropriate for him to continue participating in the competition,” stated the organization, recalling that it applies “a policy of zero tolerance regarding inappropriate behavior.”
This decision, considered “disproportionate” by the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, is the first in the history of Eurovision: since the creation of the European song contest in 1956, no candidate has been excluded from a final.
“I have never been in politics”
Although the musical contest is apolitical, Joost Klein already stood out last Thursday by expressing his disagreement with being placed next to the Israeli representative Eden Golan.
In particular, he had apparently covered his face on several occasions with the Dutch flag. His exclusion, however, has nothing to do with his attitude toward other delegations.
Joost Klein has also repeated it during his interviews: “I have never been in politics,” he said in the 20 Minutes columns. “I’m just a comedian who makes music, but I like to add a deeper layer to my music.”
Born in 1997, Joost Klein is a well-known Dutch personality. This former YouTuber became known in 2008 under the pseudonym EenhoornJoost (“Unicorn Joost”).
Inspired by Crazy Frog
Returning to music, he has since released eight studio albums, including two, Albino (2019) and M-van Marketing (2018), entered the top 10 in the Netherlands. scandinavian boy, see music AND Friesenjung They are among his greatest successes.
Although he has made a name for himself in the hip hop scene, he mixes electro and drum and bass in his songs. Also inspired by Scatman John, Stromae and Crazy Frog (which he has tattooed on his arm), he discovered Eurovision in 2006. That year, the Finnish group Lordi triumphed with Hard Rock Hallelujah. A revelation:
“This moment left me speechless,” he told 20 Minutes. “I was watching it with my parents and I jokingly told them, ‘One day I’ll be on that stage.’ damn!”
On stage, Joost Klein is known for creating large crowd movements inspired by “mosh”, derived from the pogo and a brutal dance often practiced in punk and metal circles in the 1990s.
Tribute to his father
The death of his father in 2010 from cancer inspired him to Europapahis song for Eurovision 2024. “I lost my parents when I was younger,” he told 20 Minutes, before adding:
“I wanted to pay tribute to the way my father raised me. I made this song for the child in me, to show that you can keep going, even when everything sucks.”
The song, which also pays tribute to the Shengen space and was a big hit in the Netherlands, was criticized by some Eurofans, who considered it too funny for the contest.
“It’s an iceberg of which people only see the tip. I don’t blame them but I invite them to look beneath the surface,” he defended himself before adding: “Humor is a perfect way to touch people’s hearts.”
Source: BFM TV
