Ukraine wins Eurovision 2022 in victory for the politics of music

Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the event is marketed as a place where countries put aside their cultural differences and overcome language barriers through the power of music.It’s a proxy outlet for the international politics bubbling beneath its slick europop surface, one those at home need more than ever before.But Russia was banned this year, and Ukraine’s entry was one of those favored to win the 2022 Grand Final as much on sympathy as on merit. From its decades as a positive gay influence (which is still a point of pride), to the satisfaction of voting for the country “that deserves a win,” Eurovision has always been more that just music, and with the war in Ukraine currently raging, Eurovision now feels more relevant than ever.The opening Saturday was a bit on the nose, with a performance of “Give Peace A Chance.” The politics after that were more subtle, with many performers quietly sporting yellow and blue bands on their wrists or carrying small flags. (Since 2016, voting has been a 50-50 split with traditional juries awarding their point spread first and then the popular vote totals revealed country by country.)The next year, Ukraine hosted the event and banned Russia’s representative from entering the country due to her support of Moscow’s Crimean annexation.