Melody battles like a 'hurricane' in the most controversial Eurovision due to Israel

Deftly poised and exuding the aura of a diva, Melody captivated the nation's attention. Once known as the 'gorilla girl', she launched her first acclaimed work in 2001. Last night, she united the country with a musical spectacle, a clear message, and a 'powerful' voice. A musical hurricane, Spain aimed to secure a favourable position after two years of finishing near the bottom. As anticipated, the final was not without its share of drama, controversy, and politics. RTVE found itself at the centre of controversy, challenging the EBU at the festival's onset over Israel's participation. 'In the face of human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine,' was displayed on RTVE before Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela welcomed the audience.

This response followed the EBU's threat to Spain over RTVE's comments during Israel's introduction in the second semi-final in Basel. On Thursday, they recalled that over 50,000 civilians have died in Gaza due to Israel's invasion following the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Despite this and requests from some organisers, including Spain, Israel took the stage amid boos for the second consecutive year, despite the massacre and its evident political messages by participating with a survivor of the attacks.

Yet, with different dresses and showcasing her commanding presence, Melody remained focused on her goal: to claim the crystal microphone. Although Spain came close with Chanel three years ago, it has been 56 years since it last won. With a final move as spectacular as it was daring, Melody raised her voice, setting an example for all women. 'A brave and powerful diva', despite her life being 'a garden full of thorns and roses', she demonstrated that in the face of adversity, she thrives on a changing stage and a spectacular curtain of fire. Her journey, which didn't begin with her victory at the Benidorm Fest, despite not being the jury's favourite, continued to rise like a 'hurricane' in the betting odds since her first semi-final performance last Tuesday.

What Spain and Israel shared in this final was the proximity of their performances. However, it must be said, there were distinct atmospheres between Israel's song, which was fourth, and Melody, who performed sixth. The boos for Yuval Raphael turned into applause and cheers for Melody – with Katarsis, the Lithuanian band performing fifth, granting permission – in a musical night that was extremely extravagant with performances as varied and bizarre as Tommy Cash's 'Espresso Macchiato'. Indeed, he sang about coffee, causing a second eurodrama, this time with Italy, offended by Estonia's proposal, which included phrases like 'sweating like a mobster'.