He said he had only heard about the competition shortly after the deadline, and composed, recorded and submitted his song in just an hour.
Fortunately, judges accepted the entry, and he went on to become one of the winners and perform with a professional band.
"I will only be free when I have a normal country, where death doesn't keep an eye on me," runs the first line of his song.
"In Gaza there's no freedom," Qrinawi said.
"Freedom's not just about food and drink. You can get a bird and put it in a cage and bring it food, but it's still in captivity."
For Lebanese actress and comedian Makki, who has a tattoo on her forearm reading "resist", the show was a chance to deliver another message.
"You can't stay in your house with your hands tied or stay silent," she said.
"Learn to say no to oppression and repression."
