Israel: Tonight the second part of the semi-final of HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition!

With the quarter-finals behind us, “HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition” enters its most crucial phase until the next one – the semi-finals. At the end of the quarter-finals, five contestants were left vying for one of the four tickets to the final to crown Israel‘s representative in Malmö.

Mika Moshe, Or Cohen, Dor Shmaon, Shai Tamino and Eden Golan, made their appearance on Monday once again on the talent show stage, where we learned the first finalist of the HaKochav HaBa grand final. Or Cohen became the first artist to secure her ticket to the grand final, which means that tonight we will find out the next three finalists of the Israeli selection. So Mika Moshe, Dor Shmaon, Shai Tamino and Eden Golan are competing tonight for a place in the final that will bring them the closest to representing Israel at Eurovision 2024.

We recall that the presenters of HaKochav HaBa are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela who have been in this position since 2014, while the jury members are Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar and Keren Pels with a new addition being Eden Hasson.

The Selection Process

A few days ago, the Israeli public broadcaster revealed that the final of “HaKokhav Haba” will take place on February 6, where the Israeli representative for Eurovision 2024 will be chosen. The selection process involves four contestants competing in the grand final for the ticket to Malmo, Sweden. The winner will be determined through a combination of audience votes and of a judging panel.

The broadcaster, KAN, has extended an invitation to a diverse range of Israeli creators to submit songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” to perform at Eurovision 2024. A crucial requirement for this year’s submissions is that the songs must include Hebrew lyrics.

At least 30 creators will propose their songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba,” and the participants have the option to submit up to two songs each by February 11. All creators must hold Israeli citizenship, and foreign creators are not allowed to participate. The submitted songs will be presented anonymously to a seven-member selection committee.

The committee will evaluate the songs based on professional criteria such as the quality and originality of lyrics and melody, the suitability of the song for the artist, its appropriateness for the Eurovision competition, the likelihood of the song’s success in Eurovision, its suitability for representing the broadcaster as a public radio and television entity, the overall impression the song leaves, and other relevant criteria.

If the committee does not find a suitable song, it has the option to issue a call to the general public for additional song submissions or choose a song that has been published after September 1, or select a song from other submissions made for Israel’s participation in Eurovision between 2021 and 2023.

The winning song will undergo processing, recording, and clip production for the song’s unveiling, scheduled for a special broadcast in late February or early March.

The Semifinalists

With just a few hours left until the semifinals, let’s take a look at what unfolded on Monday in the first part of the “HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition” semifinal. Anticipation is building for the second part, where three out of the four talented contestants who have made it this far will compete alongside Or Cohen in the grand final on February 6th.

Mika Moshe: Mika kicked off the evening with Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” Mika’s captivating voice, as usual, garnered attention, scoring 84%, despite two judges not casting their votes in her favor.

Or Cohen: Or Cohen opted for Margol’s “Clay Walls.” Another outstanding performance by Or, showcasing her prowess as a singer throughout the season. She delivered a compelling and captivating interpretation, earning positive votes from all judges and amassing an impressive 93%.

Dor Shmaon: Dor chose to perform Ofer Levy’s “In love with the rain.” One of the season’s standout vocalists, Dor possesses a strong and resonant voice filled with confidence. Although all judges voted in his favor, he failed to convince the television audience, receiving a total of 80%.

Shai Tamino: Shai Tamino selected Ofra Haza’s “Loruh Hayam” for tonight’s performance. The judges were divided over her rendition, as she presented a more ethnic and artistic side. In the end, she only managed to score 62%, as three of the judges voted against her.

Eden Golan: Eden took on Katy Perry’s “Roar.” Despite being considered one of the favorites for the Israeli selection, she seemed to fall slightly short compared to her previous performances. While all judges voted in favor, they expressed reservations about Golan‘s performance. Consequently, Eden garnered 88%.

You can watch the second part of the HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition Semi-Final at 2o:30 CET through the Israeli channel, Keshet 12, by clicking here (subscription fee) or here (free).

Last year Israel at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was represented by the sensational Noa Kirel and her song “Unicorn” which gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final with 362 points.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, in Malmö!