One of the most recent controversies regarding fairness in Eurovision centers around Malta’s 2025 entry, "Kant". The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) requested a change in the lyrics due to the way the Maltese word "kant" (meaning "singing") sounds in English. The song, otherwise entirely in English, was deemed to potentially bring the contest into disrepute. The concern appears to stem from the phonetic similarity between "Kant" and a profane English slang term, which was reportedly considered offensive by the BBC. But does this request align with Eurovision’s values of linguistic diversity and artistic expression?
Obviously, the songwriters deliberately played with the homophony, embedding "Kant" into English lyrics in a way that leaves little doubt about the intended ambiguity. Initially, the EBU did not find this problematic. However, it appears that the decision to ask Malta to change the lyrics was made following pressure from the BBC, which feared backlash in the UK. But would the same decision have been made if a UK entry had featured a title resembling a swearword in, say, Georgian? Even if done intentionally?
This decision raises crucial questions about fairness in the contest:
Should a non-English word be policed based on its resemblance to an English term?
Whose sensitivities take precedence in the EBU's decision-making processes?
What precedent does this set for multilingual entries in the future?
If the goal is to avoid controversy, where do we draw the line between necessary intervention and unnecessary censorship?
Art, Interpretation, and Cultural Bias
In his recent article on ESC Insight, Ewan Spence explores the debate around authorial intent versus reader (or listener) response, particularly in the context of Eurovision. He argues that meaning is not solely dictated by the creator but is also shaped by the audience’s perception. If Eurovision is meant to celebrate cultural diversity, should an English-language bias be allowed to override the linguistic integrity of another country’s language? And what does this say about the balance of power within the contest?
Join the Conversation
The Eurovisions International Conference provides a space for Eurovision scholars, music industry professionals, and fans to critically engage with these topics. Through expert panels, keynote speeches, and interactive discussions, we invite participants to challenge assumptions, share insights, and imagine a fairer musical landscape.
As we prepare for this exciting event, we want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on "Kant" case? Should the EBU intervene in Malta’s case, or not? And how do you interpret the differences in how different countries’ entries are scrutinized?
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