"Difficult decision": Malik Harris comments on the ESC exclusion of Russia
Created: 05/06/2022, 12:03 p.m
By: Jonas Erbas
On "Volle Kanne" (ZDF), Malik Harris spoke openly about the Russian ESC exclusion (photomontage) © Britta Pedersen / dpa & Screenshot / ZDF / Volle Kanne
In 2022, the “Eurovision Song Contest” will be political like never before: Russia was already disqualified in advance because of the war in Ukraine.
Malik Harris, who will represent Germany in Turin on May 14, also has a clear opinion on the ESC exclusion.
Berlin – The fact that the “Eurovision Song Contest” (the ESC final on TV and live stream) will be different this year due to the Ukraine war and that the otherwise non-political event will probably not be able to avoid clear statements this time is due to the bloody conflict on the Hand.
As early as February 25, the ESC's governing body excluded the Russian Federation from the world's largest music competition - a "difficult decision", according to Germany's Eurovision hopeful Malik Harris (24).
"Eurovision Song Contest" candidate Malik Harris considers the Russian ESC exclusion to be "difficult"
The Russian ESC exclusion visibly occupied the 24-year-old "Rockstars" interpreter (all information about the German ESC representative Malik Harris) when he was confronted with the topic during an interview on "Volle Kanne" on ZDF.
"I think it's a very difficult decision.
I couldn't really meet them myself, because it's Putin's war of aggression.
The artists can't help it
," said the young musician, but seemed a little undecided.
It is "the job of the ESC to overlook differences," said Malik Harris on "Volle Kanne", but the 24-year-old could still understand the Russian exclusion from the "Eurovision Song Contest" - even though he thought the decision was "difficult". © Screenshot/ZDF/Full pot
At the "Eurovision Song Contest" the focus is on "harmony and common ground", after all it is "the task of the ESC to overlook differences", says Malik Harris somewhat thoughtfully.
However, the Ukraine war is undoubtedly "more than a difference", which is why he considers it almost impossible "for these countries to spend time together in one evening."
Malik Harris raves about Ukrainian "Eurovision Song Contest" entry - "Great song"
He himself sees the “Eurovision Song Contest” as “a very peaceful, beautiful event that unites the entire continent”.
For the Ukrainian contribution "Stefania"
the band Kalush Orchestra around Oleh Psiuk (27), however, Malik Harris had only words of praise left.
The 24-year-old looked forward to the performance of the group, which had written a "great song".
In Turin, meanwhile, shortly before the first semi-final, in which numerous countries are singing about the final ticket, the plan has to be changed: the ESC stage is not ready for use as planned due to a technical defect.
The candidates now have to reschedule.
Sources used:
Volle Kanne (ZDF; episode of May 3, 2022), eurovision.de
