Joost Klein performs at Coachella, featuring his track “Coachella” following his controversial Eurovision 2024 disqualification and EBU drama.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious music events, kicked off this weekend in the California desert. The festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees annually, is renowned for gathering the biggest names in the global music industry.
This year, the festival opening was entrusted to pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who promised the most ambitious show of her career. Alongside her, the weekend’s packed line-up includes music giants such as Justin Bieber, international K-pop sensation KATSEYE, David Guetta, the rock band The Strokes, and reggaeton icon Karol G, who will close the festival on Sunday.
However, among the glittering names adorning the festival posters, international Eurovision enthusiasts certainly noted one name that has caused significant stir over the last two years: Joost Klein.
הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם
From Malmö Disqualification to the Gobi Stage
The Dutch artist, who performed Friday on the festival’s Gobi stage, has become one of the most controversial figures in the Eurovision world. In 2024, he represented the Netherlands with the hit “Europapa“, which was a frontrunner for victory. However, his journey ended in a dramatic and unprecedented disqualification just hours before the Grand Final, following a complaint regarding an incident involving a female photographer from the Swedish production crew.
While various theories and false rumors attempted to link his disqualification to the Israeli delegation, these claims were officially and categorically debunked by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU clarified that the decision was strictly due to his behavior toward a member of the production staff. Although Swedish police eventually closed the case due to a lack of evidence of criminal intent, the disqualification remains a definitive chapter in the contest’s history.
Despite the controversy, Klein has successfully leveraged his exposure. His appearance at Coachella makes him one of the few Eurovision artists in history to secure a spot at the American festival, following the Italian band Måneskin in 2022.
A Victory Anthem for California
Klein did not settle for merely appearing on the line-up. After his participation was confirmed in late 2025, he released a track titled “Coachella” earlier this year—a personal victory anthem written specifically for the event.
In the song, performed in a mix of Dutch and English, Klein leans into his signature blend of provocation and vulnerability. The lyrics include self-aware pleas such as: “Please don’t cancel me, no, I don’t know what I’m saying” (Dutch: “Please cancel me niet nee ik weet niet wat ik zeg”). He also makes direct references to being neurodivergent: “What is neurodivergent? I’m just autistic” (Dutch: “Wat is neurodivergent? Ik ben gewoon autistisch”). He also dedicated lines to his late parents, Hans and Ella, who inspired his Eurovision entry, singing about how they would be watching their son stand on the Coachella stage. During his Friday set, he addressed the crowd directly, exclaiming: “Coachella, this is crazy!… This used to be a dream, but now it’s reality.”
Historical Eurovision Connections
The festival also featured Israeli artist Noga Erez, who performed on the same stage on Saturday. For dedicated fans, her appearance represents a unique Eurovision trajectory; in 2011, she served as a backing vocalist for Dana International during the performance of “Ding Dong” in Düsseldorf. Fifteen years later, the artist has transitioned from the Eurovision background to a prominent solo spot at one of the world’s most covered music festivals.
The Netherlands at Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” is the title of the song performed by Claude, who represented the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025. The Netherlands qualified for the Grand Final after placing third in the first semi-final with 121 points. In the Grand Final, the Netherlands finished in 12th place with 175 points, with the jury awarding the country fifth place, but the public at home ranking it only 15th.
This year, the Netherlands participated in the Grand Final after two years of missing out. In 2023, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper failed to qualify from the semi-final, while in 2024, Joost Klein was disqualified after the semi-final due to a violent incident involving the competition’s production team.
Eurovision 2025: This was the Netherlands’ 65th participation in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. The Netherlands’ last victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade” performed by singer Duncan Laurence.
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Noy Yehoyada is an Israeli journalist and content creator at the EuroMix team since 2024, bringing a personal, feminine, and LGBTQ+ voice into the Eurovision sphere. A devoted Eurovision fan since the age of 16, she plays an active role in covering the contest—including on-site reporting at Eurovision 2025 in Basel and across European pre-party events. Alongside her writing and commentary, Noy plans the editorial schedule for the website, closely tracks national selections and song reveals, participates in live broadcasts, and creates digital content focusing on representation, musical diversity, and emotional connections.
Beyond her work at EuroMix, Noy has over six years of experience in the cosmetics and pharma industries, with a background in sales, personal consulting, and managing beauty departments. She enjoys pop, rap, contemporary art, and traveling in Europe—and especially loves songs that make her want to dance, as well as those that tell a story.
