TEL AVIV: Eurovision fans gathered in Tel Aviv Saturday to watch the show taking place in Sweden on big screens said they were hoping voters would finally show Israel some love.
The mood was electric at the packed Layla bar in Tel Aviv as the show got underway, with the crowd going wild when Israel’s contestant Eden Golan appeared on screen, jumping up and down and waving Israeli flags.
With her long lavender-streaked hair and matching nails, Golan performed her tune wearing a white chiffon gown billowing in the artificial wind and smoke filling the stage.
If Israel were to win, it would mean that “maybe we are not hated so much, and that the music really won,” said Tal Bendersky, draped in an Israeli flag.
The 23-year-old from southern Israel told AFP he had come to Layla, which prides itself as “the best gay bar in Tel Aviv,” “to celebrate with all the people that love the Israeli people.”
“Hopefully in the end, we will celebrate as much as we can, when she will hopefully win.”
A win for Israel would mean “we are loved in the world, and we have support of the world,” Yarden Arak, 33, told AFP.
Israel ranks with Croatia and Switzerland as one of the bookmakers’ favorites to succeed Sweden and take home the colorful and kitschy competition watched by more than a hundred million people.
But a win by Israel could be a stretch, given the fierce controversy that has surrounded its participation in this year’s edition of the competition as it continues to bombard and besiege Gaza.
The war started with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Militants also seized hostages, of whom Israel estimates 128 remain in Gaza, including 36 who the military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,971 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Before the competition began, police in the host city Malmo said at least 5,000 people were demonstrating in the streets outside the venue.
Golan’s song “Hurricane” is an adaptation of an earlier version named “October Rain,” which she modified after organizers deemed it too political because of its apparent allusions to the Hamas attack.
The EBU — which oversees the event — confirmed in March the participation of Golan, despite calls for her exclusion from thousands of musicians around the world.
More recently, nine of the acts, seven of whom are finalists, have called for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Shortly before she took to the stage, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz hailed her in a post on X, formerly twitter.
“Eden proudly stands against immense hatred and anti-Semitism. Tonight, let’s show all the haters who’s leading the way!” he wrote.
And in Tel Aviv, hopes remained high, with many dismissing the protests, saying the demonstrators did not understand what Israel was going through since Hamas’s attack sparked the war.
“No one feels what we feel... They don’t know the facts, but it’s okay,” said Victoria Shishko, a 33-year-old Tel Aviv resident born in Ukraine.
“We know the truth and we will survive,” she told AFP, voicing confidence that Israel could win the contest.
That would show “that people really love us and they believe us and they stand with us,” she said.
“We deserve it. We are kind and good people and we hope to win.”
Others said they felt bad for Golan.
“I can’t imagine what Eden is going through,” said Alec Snyder, a 29-year-old Tel Aviv resident born in Los Angeles.
“Given the drama... I really hope Israel wins. I’m rooting for us tremendously,” he told AFP.
“It’s going to be tough, but we have a wonderful song, and I am sure we will do really well tonight.”
In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love
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In Tel Aviv, Eurovision fans hope world shows Israel some love
- Israel ranks with Croatia and Switzerland as one of the bookmakers’ favorites to succeed Sweden and take home the colorful and kitschy competition watched by more than a hundred million people
Review: Carttel Entertainment
- The mini-golf course offers eight levels, catering to both beginners and seasoned players. Other games include basketball, shuffleboard, air hockey, and snooker
JEDDAH: Jeddah has recently introduced a range of diverse entertainment concepts for kids, but why should adults miss out on the fun?
Carttel Entertainment, which opened this month, offers an exciting mix of elevated entertainment, games, food, and shisha — making it the perfect place to unwind and play.
Carttel spans two floors and features a bowling alley, interactive football simulators, and an F1 racing experience that takes gaming to the next level.
The mini-golf course offers eight levels, catering to both beginners and seasoned players. Other games include basketball, shuffleboard, air hockey, and snooker.
The wooded interior, with rich red curtains and classic theatre-style seating creates an inviting and elegant atmosphere.
Whether you’re playing a game or relaxing with some food, the space’s retro charm with modern touches make it a unique spot in Jeddah’s nightlife.
On the ground floor there is a bar serving fresh juices, mocktails, and a variety of hot and cold beverages as well as food. I sampled the lobster tacos, Wagyu beef tacos, and smashed truffle burgers, which were delicious. For dessert, the hazelnut chocolate cake was so rich and indulgent that I ordered two portions. The menu also features a tempting selection of international sweets, salads, pizzas, and main courses.
For a more exclusive gathering, Carttel offers a VIP Room — a private space equipped with the same games but on a smaller scale. Ideal for celebrations with friends or family, the room accommodates around 20 guests.
Carttel also hosts live music and dance performances from around the world.
It is located at La Prestige Mall, Ash Shati and is open daily from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information and booking visit @carttelentertainment on Instagram.
Huda Kattan launches ‘Huda Hotline’ — a podcast for honest talking
DUBAI: Huda Kattan, the mogul behind Huda Beauty, is breaking new ground with the launch of her “Huda Hotline” podcast.
Launched on Jan. 30, the podcast marks her first major project outside her beauty empire, offering a space for candid discussions about self-worth, beauty standards and personal growth.
Speaking about her motivation, Kattan told Arab News: “I wanted to do this for so long, it’s been a dream of mine for so many years, because I just had so many people from my community asking me to do a podcast, telling me they wanted to see a place where I could share some of my experiences.”
She added that her community has always been deeply connected by a shared passion for development and hard work, something she has learned from statistics and surveys conducted on her META platforms. They revealed a significant percentage of her followers are women striving to start their own businesses.
With “Huda Hotline,” Kattan said she was aiming to give back by being more vulnerable and open about her journey.
“I also have realized that my vulnerability and accepting that I don’t know the answers is something that people also have appreciated from me,” she said.
Initial episodes will explore topics such as entrepreneurship, overcoming fear and redefining traditional beauty standards.
Kattan also talked about the impact her beauty brand has had on diversifying the industry. She said: “I definitely think we were a big part of leading this conversation, and it was difficult at first. It was very, very difficult to be based in the Middle East and trying to break through to the US, break through Europe, and that was extremely, extremely challenging.”
As for the podcast’s future, Kattan envisions she will eventually bring in guests.
“I definitely think there may be some people, but not right away,” she said. She said she was interested in featuring experts in health, self-improvement and biohacking, giving her audience a glimpse into her personal passions beyond beauty.
“I’m so ready for this,” she added.
REVIEW: Timothée Chalamet dazzles as Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’
DUBAI: There’s a scene roughly two-thirds of the way through “A Complete Unknown” when Bob Dylan (played by Timothée Chalamet) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) sing “It Ain’t Me Babe” on stage at the Newport Folk Festival. It’s an extraordinary, electrifying performance — one that encapsulates the mesmerizing musical clarity and emotional power of this brilliant yet flawed biopic.
The opening quarter of James Mangold’s film is rich with such moments: a young, carefree Dylan singing “Song to Woody” for his hero Woody Guthrie; his first encounter with Baez at Gerde’s Folk City in 1961; the visible joy of Pete Seeger (played by Edward Norton) as Dylan performs “The Times They Are A-Changin’” at Newport in 1963; and the rapt attention of Seeger’s children as Dylan sings one morning in their family home. These scenes may play footloose and fancy-free with historical fact, but they brim with atmospheric splendor.
“A Complete Unknown” — co-written by Mangold and screenwriter Jay Cocks, and based on Elijah Wald’s book “Dylan Goes Electric!” — follows Dylan from his arrival in Greenwich Village in 1961 to his seismic performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The latter, replete with a braying crowd and hostile projectiles, acts as the film’s explosive finale, as Dylan rejects the straitjacket of traditional acoustic folk in favor of electric experimentation.
Chalamet captivates as Dylan, capturing the singer-songwriter’s nonchalance and charisma, although the artist himself remains mostly a mystery. Sure, we see his ruffled hair, his quirky mannerisms, and his love of cigarettes, and Chalamet nails his distinctive, raspy, grittily raw voice, but Dylan the man is as doggedly elusive as ever. Outside of the musical set pieces, the songwriting, and a few intimate moments with Baez and his long-suffering girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning, playing Dylan’s real-life partner Suze Rotolo), what remains is a moody, mumbling, and largely unpleasant artist grappling with the burden of celebrity.
That said, the movie’s faithful recreation of Greenwich Village and the New York folk scene of the early 1960s, its supporting performances — especially Norton’s Seeger and Barbaro’s Baez, and the addictive nature of the soundtrack not only make this a tribute to Dylan’s enduring influence, both as an artist and as a cultural icon, but a beautifully rendered period piece.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to enthrall audience with sarod recital in Riyadh
- Ambassador of India Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan: The Embassy is honored to co-host the upcoming Sarod quintet concert by the legendary musician Amjad Ali Khan in Riyadh
- Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan: The strong interest among Saudi friends toward this concert is a testimony to the popularity of Indian music, arts and cinema in the Kingdom
RIYADH: The internationally acclaimed sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan will give a virtuoso performance of the stringed instrument at the Cultural Palace, Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh on Feb. 6, 2025.
The Embassy of India, in collaboration with the Diplomatic Quarter Office at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, is organizing the musical performance of “Three Generations, One Melody,” featuring the renowned Indian sarod quintet led by the acclaimed composer Amjad Ali Khan.
Ambassador of India Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan told Arab News: “The Embassy is honored to co-host the upcoming Sarod quintet concert by the legendary musician Amjad Ali Khan in Riyadh. This unique musical performance being organized for the first time in Saudi Arabia is going to showcase the richness of Indian classical music.”
“The strong interest among Saudi friends toward this concert is a testimony to the popularity of Indian music, arts and cinema in the Kingdom that has only become more profound in recent years,” he said.
A few months ago, Indian artists and cultural troupes performed at the ten-day Indian cultural festival at Suwaidi Park in Riyadh under the Global Harmony Initiative of the Saudi government, he said.
“The event was hugely popular among the Saudi guests. Indian art and music always had a huge fan base in Saudi Arabia, and we are happy to see our Saudi friends showing great interest in attending Indian cultural events. This not only shows the strength of our people-to-people ties, but also the immense potential of cultural exchanges between the two countries.”
Speaking to Arab News from India, Amjad Ali Khan said: “I feel very happy, highly honored, that I got the opportunity to perform in Riyadh, to regale the people of Saudi Arabia. I am grateful to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh who made it possible.
“We are invited to the Western world and get a lot of opportunities to perform. Recently the London Philharmonic Orchestra played my composition. I had a concert at the Royal Festival Hall of London.”
The sarod grand master joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert that spanned continents and cultures.
“A Saudi orchestra can also play my composition, ‘Samaagam,’ but it needs to be planned,” he said.
“To perform with your children and grandchildren is only possible with the blessing of the Almighty Allah, and the prayers of fans. I am lucky to perform with our three generations in the concert in Riyadh.”
The sarod grand master was born to a family steeped in Indian classical music and is regarded as one of the icons of the music world, bringing a new and yet timeless interpretation to the playing of the sarod.
The sarod is a fretless stringed instrument with a teak frame, a goatskin soundtable and a metal fingerboard, with six to eight strings as well as additional sympathetic strings. The instrument lends itself to improvization and graceful expression because of the ability of the musician to slide and glide between notes, much like a human voice.
His sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, are virtuoso performers in their own right, and will accompany the sarod grand master at the concert in Riyadh.
‘The Seven Dogs,’ directed by ‘Bad Boys’ filmmakers, begins production in Riyadh
DUBAI: “The Seven Dogs,” a groundbreaking film for Saudi Arabia starring Egyptian cinema icons Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, has begun production in Riyadh.
The film is based on a story by Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, with a screenplay by Mohamed El-Dabbah.
The project – directed by the internationally acclaimed duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known for their work on "Bad Boys for Life” – is making waves for its substantial budget, exceeding $40 million, making it the largest Arabic film production to date, according to Al-Sheikh.
Filming is taking place at the newly inaugurated Al-Hisn Big Time Studios in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Sheikh expressed his enthusiasm on social media, writing, “Today marks an important day in my career and in the history of cinema in my country and the Arab world. Today, filming began for ‘The Seven Dogs,’ a story by myself and the Big Time team, with a screenplay by Mohamed El-Dabbah."
This collaboration between Abdel Aziz and Ezz follows their previous successful projects, including “Kira & El Gin.”
The film's plot details remain under wraps, but the combination of a high-profile cast, experienced directors, and a significant production budget has generated considerable anticipation.
