An Israeli journalist won an “alternative” Eurovision song contest. Yediot Achronot reported that its correspondent covering last Friday’s songfest in Helsinki, Raz Shechnik, took first place at a special contest between members of the press. The reception for Shechnik’s “winning” performance of the 1980s classic “Tainted Love” stood in contrast to that of Israel’s official entry to Eurovision, “Push the Button,” which did not make it past the semifinal qualifying round. There had been weeks of controversy in Europe over references to nuclear war made in “Push the Button,” which was performed by Israeli hip-hop band Tea Packs.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.