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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 14 September 2018
Eurovision says Tel Aviv will host 2019 song contest

By ARON HELLER contest to be boycotted
Associated Press altogether if it is held in Is-
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Eu- rael.
rovision Song Contest an- Omar Barghouti, the orga-
nounced Thursday that nization's co-founder, said
next year's competition will Eurovision's decision "dealt
be held in Tel Aviv, clear- a severe blow" to Israel's "il-
ing up some of the political legal claim of sovereignty
controversy surrounding over the city," and called
Israel's hosting of the 2019 for the Tel Aviv event to be
competition. boycotted "as there should
The Israeli government had be no business as usual with
initially insisted on hold- Israeli apartheid."
ing the popular event in Israel captured east Jeru-
Jerusalem. But following salem in the 1967 Mideast
a backlash over the U.S. war and annexed the area
recognition of Jerusalem in a move that is not inter-
as its capital and a subse- nationally recognized. Isra-
quent fear of boycotts it el considers the entire city
dropped the demand to to be its capital, while the
host the world's largest live Palestinians seek east Je-
music event. The Eurovision rusalem as the capital of a
said it chose Tel Aviv, Israel's future state.
cultural and commercial In this May 12, 2018 file photo, Netta Barzilai from Israel celebrates after winning the Eurovision Israel held the Eurovision
epicenter, over Jerusalem song contest in Lisbon, Portugal. contest in Jerusalem with-
and the southern city of Ei- Associated Press out incident following its
lat because of its "creative previous victories, most re-
and compelling bid." of Tel Aviv." the right to host next year's for the public broadcast- cently in 1999. Israel's out-
"Eurovision is a perfect fit for Israel won the Eurovision contest. ers that make up the Euro- spoken culture and sports
our city, which has been in- this year with a flashy pop In Europe, capital cities pean Broadcasting Union, minister, Miri Regev, lob-
ternationally acclaimed for tune called "Toy" by the have usually played host. sparking criticism that they bied hard for Jerusalem
its vibrant energy, creative charismatic, previously un- But the city Israel considers would be taking sides in the again, saying Israel, and
spirit, its lively cultural scene known singer Netta Barzilai, its capital is not recognized Israeli-Palestinian conflict. no one else, should decide
and its celebration of free- who dazzled viewers with as such by most of the in- The Palestinian-led BDS where the event should
dom," said Tel Aviv Mayor her feminist lyrics, uncon- ternational community. campaign — which advo- take place. She recom-
Ron Huldai. "We are looking ventional appearance and Hosting the competition cates boycotts, divestment mended Israel not host the
forward to host a joyful and signature chicken dance. in Jerusalem could have and sanctions against Israel Eurovision at all if Jerusalem
nonstop event in the spirit Her victory earned Israel presented a predicament — called for the Eurovision was not chosen.q

X Japan hopes new album will lead to elusive success in West

By MARI YAMAGUCHI After debuting in 1982, the
Associated Press group surged to stardom
TOKYO (AP) — Legend- in Japan, and even for-
ary Japanese rock band X mer Prime Minister Junich-
Japan is hoping its new al- iro Koizumi was a big fan.
bum will find success in the Their U.S. debut a decade
U.S. now that there is more later was a disappoint-
interest in the West in music ment in part because of
from Asia. the language barrier. The
X Japan leader Yoshiki said group broke up in 1997 af-
Thursday that America ter its main vocalist, Toshi,
wasn't ready for Asian rock became influenced by a
music when he moved cult and left, and guitarist
there 25 years ago, but Hide hung himself a year
now people there seem to later. The group reunited
enjoy pop and rock from in 2007 with Toshi and new
Japanese, South Korean members. Yoshiki spoke at
and Chinese artists. a news conference pro-
"Of course I had a dream ... moting the band's first stu-
we wanted to be the big- dio album since "Dahlia" in
gest rock stars in the world 1996, as well as upcoming
but 25 years ago they were Japanese rock star Yoshiki poses during a Press conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. concerts. No release date
not ready at all," Yoshiki Associated Press has been set for the still-un-
said at a Tokyo news con- named album, which took
ference. In the U.S. map of the entertainment industry boy band BTS and some if there is a wall in between 10 years to complete. "I'd
rock and pop music, Asia in the world," said Yoshiki, other K-pop groups have the east and the west, the like to compose music that
didn't exist, he said. who uses one name. already achieved a follow- wall has become much lasts for a hundred years,"
"I'm going to contribute The market is already ing in the U.S. thinner and smaller," Yoshiki like Mozart and Beethoven,
to changing the map of changing. South Korean "Finally, after all these years, said. Yoshiki said.q