Will Bashar Murad Return to the Eurovision Finals?

The Palestinian artist Bashar Murad is rumored to be returning to the national finals for Eurovision 2025, as he has submitted entries to the respective national selections of three countries, namely Ireland, Iceland and San Marino.

Music & Politics: The Stigma of Bashar Murad

Bashar Murad, born in Bethlehem, Palestine, is an artist with strong political positions and a unique artistic identity. His music combines the sound of the pop and electronic scene, while his lyrics often deal with the themes of freedom, acceptance and social justice. He often speaks openly about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the political conditions in Palestine.

We got to know him, last year, through his participation in the National Final of Iceland, Söngvakeppnin , where he attracted attention, with the special sound of his music and also with his political messages, which aimed to pave the way for more artists from the Middle East. His song “Wild West”, although it didn’t cut the thread of Söngvakeppnin 2024 first, catapulted Iceland into the betting, even putting them in first place to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. His participation in Songvakeppnin, as he stated, was not only about music and his presence was a statement about the importance of freedom of expression and confrontation against the oppression experienced by Palestine, after a long period of war with Israel, as well as for the promotion of human rights.

Return of Bashar Murad to the Eurovision National Finals?

The return of the Palestinian star to the national finals of three countries for Eurovision 2025 is expected to have a great impact, both in the music scene and in the political and social discourse surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest. Ireland, Iceland and San Marino are countries where artists can express their creativity, freely and without restrictions.

In Ireland, Murad has already caused quite a stir, as the country has traditionally supported diverse and unconventional voices in the past, taking a clear pro-Palestine stance last year.

Similarly, in Iceland, Murad’s participation could bring out a more alternative sound and combine the sensibility of the Icelandic musical tradition with the contemporary themes, which he poses through his music. The recipe has been tried, already there and almost crowned with complete success.

Finally, San Marino, despite its small size, through the particularly clever format of “Una Voce Per San Marino”, which they use to select their representative for Eurovision, accepts emerging artists from all over the world.