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EUROVISION: FROM BITAKAT HOB TO SOLDI - ARABIC EUROVISION

There have been countless Muslim artists in Eurovision over the years but it hasn't and it shouldn't matter but this year it gets more attention as the contest takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel, and three artists have been spotlighted as Muslims and represent the new multicultural Europe. France's Bilal Hassani is of Moroccan origin, while Italian Alessandro Mahmoud is half Egyptian which caused a rasistic and political outburst when he won Sanremo festival despite him being born and raised in outskirts of Milan and identifying himself as 100% Italian. Maybe it's also due to the line in Arabic in his song taken out of context? Apparntly the only Arabic h knows. And then we have of course Turkish Serhat, back in business for San Marino. He's a real new European living and working between Germany, France, UK and Turkey. Mahmood's line والدي والدي حبيبي تا’علينا ( Waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena ) isn't though the first time we hear Arabic in Eurovisio...

No Oslo 2010: Morocco, San Marino and Lebanon

One timers Morocco and San Marino are also missing from Oslo 2010. Morocco appeared once with the wonderful Bitakat hob in 1980. Samira Bensaid is today a megastar in the Arab world but then managed to get only 7 points, all of them from Italy, and came second to last - only Finland got less points! SNRT never looked back and hasn't expressed any will to ever return. The rival broadcaster 2M TV is applying for EBU membership and if granted might be well interested in Eurovision as being the voice of free speech and  a taboo breaking media in Morocco. San Marino surprisingly took part in the 2008 Eurovision. Many saw this as RAI's plot to taste the waters and see how it would go - after all RAI is SMRTV's biggest stock holder. Miodio's Complice however scored the last place in the semifinal and San Marino hasn't been seen since, claiming financial problems. One can only wonder how much RAI is involved in its absense? San Marino would easily attract some big Italian...