News - Israel: The full translation | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

With the row breaking out over the Israeli Eurovision Song Contest entry, Push the button, there are some who claim the song should not be allowed to participate, whilst others argue strongly for free speach and the belief in letting the televoters across Europe give their result. esctoday.com has received a full copy of the lyrics translated into English and explores whether there is any grounds for disqualification based on recent Eurovision Song Contest entries and issues.

Kjell Ekholm of the EBU's Eurovision Song Contest's reference group and event manager of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest is quoted as saying: "It's absolutely clear that this kind of message is not appropriate for the competition". Ekholm also said that this matter will be discussed during the expected meeting of the heads of delegations in Helsinki soon. Eurovision Song Contest regulations says: "... No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted during the ESC... A breach of this rule may result in disqualification".

In 2005, the Ukrainian song entry was forced to change their lyrics to remove the name of President Yushenko from the song, although in the same year, the Russian entry opened with the words: "Hello sweet America, where did our dream disappear. Look at little Erica, all she learns today is to fear. You deny the truth, you're just having fun til you child will shoot your gun". The song, a  clear attack on American foreign policy, was never questioned or threatened with disqualification.

Since the Israeli song contains no reference to any specific 'crazy ruler' but mentions 'rulers' as plural,, it would be expected that no disqualification or change in lyrics will happen because the song is a general call to prevent the use of nuclear weapons and not targeted at any one ruler or regime.

Svante Stockselius told IBA's Eurovision website, Eurovil, that the EBU "will take no actions of any kind with any of the songs until they are officially handed in, that is next Monday", says Stockselius. "I have no idea why the discussion about the Israeli song came up just now. On Monday we will go through all the 42 songs to see if they are following all aspects of our rules". These comments came after Mr. Ekholm's statement and further suggests that Mr. Ekholm was stating a personal opinion that is in no way endorsed by the Eurovision Song Contest reference group.

It is also worth pointing out that the song is a call for peace and the prevention of the use of nuclear weapons. The Eurovision Song Contest was won in 1982 by a song containing a similar theme, albeit without a humouristic aspect. In 1990, the competition was one by Italy with a song endorsing and calling for the support of European integration and the creation of the European Union, which, by the Eurovision Song Contest rule, would be a violation under today's code of practice.

In order to show that there is no hidden theme in the song, we have been presented with a full English literal translation of the song in English.

PUSH THE BUTTON - the full translation
[The world is full of terror
If someone makes an error
He’s gonna blow us up to biddy biddy kingdom come
There are some crazy rulers they hide and try to fool us
With demonic, technologic willingness to harm.

They’re gonna push the button
push the button push the bu push the bu push the button

There’s plenty of suffering
In the streets there’s too much violence
And we’re lucky to be alive without being wounded
Tactical advances, fanatical regimes
Tragic situation that bring tears to my eyes

And I don’t want to die
I want to see the flowers bloom
Don’t wanna go capoot ka boom.
And I don’t want to cry
I wanna have a lot of fun
Just sitting in the sun.
But nevertheless

He’s gonna push the button
Push the button push the bu push the bu push the button

Messages blow up all around me
Missiles fly around and fall on top of me
Cops and robbers run all over me
Stompin’ down on me, messin’ around with me
Alelai, Alelai, are you there, God, it’s me?
This nightmare’s going on just way too long for me
When I’m barely alive, the target’s aimed at me,
Might be too early to say
“I Gave My Life for Thee”
Why, why, police patrol
Wow, wow, paramedical
Here it is in the prelims, a song with no “salam”
Red’s not just any color, it’s more like blood
Again I stop the breathing in my heart
So my inner soul won’t bust out
Here it’s a war, here it’s CPR
Boom, boom, that’s what goes on here
Between a rocket and machete,
Writer and viewer
Leverage and hostage,
Heat wave wet weather
Escalating up the stairs, locate on the border
Nothin’, nothin’, that’s what everybody’s doin’
Radicals radicalize, officers officiate
Naïve people moderate, statistics they await
They retaliate: We’re all resigned to fate.

In a world crammed full of demons,
We’re nothing but miniscule peons
And champions with Jetons
Decide what the deal will be
Lazy managers give orders,
Ocean liner filled with water
And everyone drinks up to life while
Sinking underneath the sea

Could be… far too risky…
I should sing a song of palm trees,
And a desert void of flags
Still, I’m… alive, alive, alive…
And if it keeps on being so scary
It’s only then that I will say…

I’m gonna push the button
Push the button push the bu push the bu
Push the button

once again, can we remind our readers that reactions should be about the song and the issues relating to the Eurovision Song Contest. We specifically ask readers to refrain from stating political opinions or sparking political debate. Offensive comments towards other members, readers, peoples or faiths from being offended. Failure to adhere to this may result in memberships being blocked or deleted. This website is about the Eurovision Song Contest, not politics!