"Hurricane" | ||||
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Single by Eden Golan | ||||
Released | 10 March 2024 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Label | Session 42 | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Eden Golan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Hurricane" on YouTube | ||||
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 entry | ||||
Country | ||||
Artist(s) | ||||
Languages | English, Hebrew | |||
Composer(s) |
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Lyricist(s) |
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Finals performance | ||||
Semi-final result | 1st | |||
Semi-final points | 194 | |||
Final result | 5th | |||
Final points | 375 | |||
Entry chronology | ||||
◄ "Unicorn" (2023) | ||||
Official performance video | ||||
"Hurricane" (Second Semi-Final) on YouTube "Hurricane" (Grand Final) on YouTube |
"Hurricane" is a song by Israeli singer Eden Golan. It was written by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles, and Stav Beger, and released on 10 March 2024 through Session 42. Inspired by an Israeli perspective of the 7 October attacks and its emotional aftermath on Israelis according to Golan and its songwriters, it represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, where it finished fifth.
The song drew heavy scrutiny for its original title "October Rain", which along with the lyrics was viewed as a political message in support of Israel in the Israel–Hamas war. As a result, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization that manages the Eurovision Song Contest, requested a rewrite of the song in late February 2024. After multiple submissions and rewrites, a final revised version, titled "Hurricane", was approved by the EBU on 7 March. The song in both variations, along with Golan herself, faced numerous unsuccessful calls for its exclusion from the contest.
Critical response to "Hurricane" was mixed. Although Golan's vocal performance was widely praised, the song was criticized for a perceived lack of originality, as well as claims that the lyrics amounted to Israeli propaganda. Criticism was also levied against the Israeli broadcaster that selects the entry for Eurovision, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan), for changing the song to fit EBU requirements despite Kan initially stating its refusal to alter it. Following Golan's performance of the song at Eurovision, it was more favourably received by Israeli and American Jewish media. "Hurricane" peaked at number one in its native country of Israel.