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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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!

 

Eurovision 2024: The Semi-Final Allocation Draw Results!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

Malmö with a very nice event hosted a few minutes ago the draw for the semi-finals of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

The analyzes of the fans and not only, have been on fire for a few minutes now. Since the theories based on the pre-history of the countries in the competition, it is a first insight into how passable the qualification to the final is or not. In other words, it’s time to make our predictions, about who will go through to the final and who are the favorites to say goodbye to Malmö early…

The presenters and the handover ceremony

Presenters of the Eurovision 2024 semi-final draw were Pernilla Månsson Colt and Farah Abadi. It is worth mentioning that Pernilla Månsson Colt was also the presenter of the corresponding draw in 2013, eleven years ago when Malmö hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the last time. Both of them are part of the SVT staff, being some of the most beloved faces of the Swedish state broadcaster.

During the draw, the ceremony of handing over and accepting the emblem of the contest took place. The mayor of Liverpool, Steven Rotheram, formally handed over the “keys to the event” to the mayor of Malmö, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh.

Draw Procedure

Big 5 and Sweden

With the big winner of last year’s competition, Sweden, directly in the final, along with the Big 5 (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain), the first part of the draw determined the semi-final that the direct finalists would vote for.

Will vote in the 1st Semi-Final:

  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany

Will vote in the 2nd Semi-Final:

  • Spain
  • Italy
  • France

In the semi-final that the six aforementioned countries were drawn to broadcast and vote for, the video from their dress rehearsal will also be shown. This was done at Eurovision 2016 for the first time, for reasons of equal exposure of the countries directly in the final and the countries that qualify from the semi-finals. Essentially, viewers see each entry twice during the shows.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The allocation draw for the two semi-finals had two parts. In the first part the 31 countries participating in the semi-finals were drawn in which of the two they will compete in. Fifteen countries will compete in the first semi-final and sixteen in the second semi-final.

In the second part, each country learned whether it will appear in the first or second half of the semi-final in which it will compete. The exact order of appearance will be determined by the EBU and the show’s producers at a later date.

1st Semi-final (May 7):

1st Half

  • Ukraine
  • Cyprus
  • Poland
  • Serbia
  • Lithuania
  • Croatia
  • Ireland

2nd Half

  • Slovenia
  • Iceland
  • Finland
  • Portugal
  • Luxembourg
  • Australia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Moldova

2nd Semi-Final (May 9):

1st Half

  • Austria
  • Malta
  • Switzerland
  • Greece
  • Czechia
  • Albania
  • Denmark
  • Armenia

2nd Half

  • Israel
  • Estonia
  • Georgia
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Latvia
  • San Marino
  • Belgium

Malmö will host the 68th Eurovision Song Contest from 7 to 11 May at the Malmö Arena. The motto of this year’s event, as chosen by the organisers, is “United by Music“, retaining the motto first chosen for last year’s contest in Liverpool.

You can see the draw again through the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_-2hMEq5sk

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Eurovision 2024!

 

Eurovision 2024: Tonight the Allocation Draw!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

At 19:00 CET and live from Malmö, Sweden, the draw for the Eurovision 2024 semi-finals will take place tonight.

During today’s event, there will also be a handover of the event’s banner from the city of Liverpool to the city of Malmö. For this reason, both the Mayor of Liverpool, Steven Rotheram, and the Mayor of the Swedish city, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, will be present at today’s draw.

The hosts

The hosts of tonight’s draw for the semi-finals of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will be Pernilla Månsson Colt and Farah Abadi. It is worth mentioning that Pernilla Månsson Colt was the presenter of the equivalent draw in 2013, eleven years ago when Malmö hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the last time.

The draw procedure

The first part of the draw will determine which semi-final will be broadcast and voted for by each of the six countries that are directly in the final on 11 May (Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom).

The second part of the draw will determine which semi-final and which half the other 31 participating countries will compete in. As in recent years, the exact order of appearance will be determined by the event producers at a later date.

The 31 countries have been divided into five pots, based on historical voting patterns as calculated by Eurovision’s official voting partner, Digame.

Drawing countries from different pots aims to reduce the likelihood of so-called neighbour voting and increases the suspense in the semi-finals.

Pots

Pot 1
  • 🇦🇱 Albania
  • 🇦🇹 Austria
  • 🇨🇭 Switzerland
  • 🇭🇷 Croatia
  • 🇷🇸 Serbia
  • 🇸🇮 Slovenia
Pot 2
  • 🇦🇺 Australia
  • 🇩🇰 Denmark
  • 🇪🇪 Estonia
  • 🇫🇮 Finland
  • 🇮🇸 Iceland
  • 🇳🇴 Norway
Pot 3
  • 🇦🇲 Armenia
  • 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
  • 🇬🇪 Georgia
  • 🇮🇱 Israel
  • 🇱🇻 Latvia
  • 🇱🇹 Lithuania
  • 🇺🇦 Ukraine
Pot 4
  • 🇨🇾 Cyprus
  • 🇬🇷 Greece
  • 🇮🇪 Ireland
  • 🇲🇹 Malta
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal
  • 🇸🇲 San Marino
Pot 5
  • 🇧🇪 Belgium
  • 🇨🇿 Czechia
  • 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands
  • 🇲🇩 Moldova
  • 🇵🇱 Poland

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1751972070479565001

So in the evening, we all tune in for the draw of the semi-finals of our favourite contest. You can watch the draw on the official Eurovision channel on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_-2hMEq5sk

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Eurovision 2024!

Israel: The results of HaKokhav Haba’s 21st episode | Or Cohen is the first finalist!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The 21st episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) was just concluded. HaKokhav Haba is the talent show under which the artist that will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be selected.

Out of the 35 artists who made it beyond the audition stage, 14 advanced to the battles’ phase, where they will compete to represent their country in Eurovision 2024!

In episode twenty-one, the five remaining artists performed solo one song each, while one of them was directly advanced to the Grand Final of the competition. Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, serve as the show’s hosts, as they have been doing since 2014. The jury is consisted of Eden Hasson, Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar, and Keren Pels.

The performances of the 21st episode

The five remaining contestants performed in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The contestant who achieved the highest score, directly advances to the Grand Final of HaKokhav Haba.

Mika Moshe

Mika opened the song with “Umbrella” by Rihanna. As always, Mika has a smooth and captivating voice. Even though two judges did not vote for it, he achieved a score of 84%.

Dor Shimon

Dor chose to perform “In love with the rain” by Ofer Levy .Definitely one of the best singers of this season, he has a powerful voice. While all jurors voted for him, he did not convince the TV audience, as he achieved a score of 80%.

Shay Tamino

Shay Tamino chose to sing “Loruh Hayam” by Ofra Haza tonight. Given that she gave an ethnic performance in front of the judges, there was disagreement among them regarding her interpretation. Three judges voted her out and she achieved a final score of 62%.

Or Cohen

Cohen selected Margol’s “Clay Walls.” Or gives yet another outstanding performance, demonstrating her talent as a singer throughout the season. She gave an excellent of the song. With the support of all the judges, she achieved a score of 93%.

Eden Golan

Eden performed “Roar” by Katy Perry. She is definitely a talented singer. Although all of the judges voted for her, their opinions varied. Hence, Eden achieved a score of 88%.

The results

After all the performances were concluded and with a 93% score, Or Cohen achieved the highest score among all five contestants tonight. Hence, she directly advances to the Grand Final of HaKokhav Haba and is a step closer to the Israeli representation in Malmö.

Now, the four remaining artists who will claim the three remaining spots in the Grand Final on the next episode of HaKokhav Haba, are the following:

  • Eden Golan
  • Dor Shimon
  • Shai Tamino
  • Mika Moshe

The Grand Final of HaKokhav Haba will take place on February 6.

Israel qualified for the finals every year from 2015 to 2020 through HaKokhav HaBa, and Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with the song “Toy”.

Israel was represented last year by Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn”, which came in third place with 362 points overall.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: euromix

Sweden: These artists want Israel banned from Eurovision! | SVT’s response: “The EBU decides!”

/3 Comments/in , , , /by

As you may have read in one of our previous articles, Expressen was able to reveal this weekend that more than 1.000 Swedish artists are demanding that Israel be banned from Eurovision. This is due to the ongoing Middle-Eastern conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

Today, the list of all the artists was published by Expressen, including Eric Saade, Marlena Ernman, Timbuktu, also Medina and Jacqline, who are competing in Melodifestivalen this year, have also signed. Also the global star Robyn joined the petition. You can have a look on the full list of artists who signed here!

“Serious war crimes”

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like 1000 Swedish musicians that signed today a petition to the EBU against Israel outside NRK right during the first two weeks of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest, while Silvia Night signed an open letter to the EBU asking to ban Israel. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same. Now 1000 Swedish artists are demanding that Israel be stopped from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. The petition reads:

“For more than 100 days, we have witnessed the Israeli army committing what leading human rights organizations describe as grave war crimes. The Eurovision Song Contest began as a peace project with the ambition to unite countries and citizens through music. Allowing Israel to participate undermines not only the spirit of the contest but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences. That is why we appeal to the EBU: Exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.“

SVT’s answer: “The EBU decides!”

SVT has, through Åsa Barsness, HR and Communications Director, published a response to the demands directed at them, on a press release:

“It is the EBU that decides who participates in the competition and as the host country, SVT relates to what the EBU decides. The human suffering in this deeply complex conflict is horrific. No one can be unmoved by the conditions in Gaza right now, or by the Hamas attack in Israel. We are also concerned about developments. We understand and respect that groups make their voices heard.”

She further writes that SVT has a dialogue with the EBU and hopes to be able to carry out Eurovision in the “best way, with the vision of uniting in music.“

Eurovision will be held in Malmö in May this year and Karin Karlsson is responsible for the city’s initiative. She talked about how they view the artists’ petition, to Expressen:

“We can’t influence whether Israel is in or not, that’s the EBU’s responsibility. We have said all along that everyone is welcome in Malmö.”

Source: Expressen, SVT
Photo: Alex Ljungdahl / Expressen

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not miss anything regarding the Eurovision Song Contest: 

 

 

 

 

Eurovision 2024: The Semi-final allocation pots!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by
The Semi-Final Allocation Draw 2024 will take place tomorrow Tuesday 30 January at 19:00 CET live from Malmo, alongside a ceremony which sees the Host City insignia pass from previous hosts Liverpool to Malmo.

https://youtu.be/Q_-2hMEq5sk

The draw will be hosted by Pernilla Månsson Colt and Farah Abadi and fans will be able to watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The Allocation Draw will determine whether countries participate in the First Semi-Final (Tuesday 7 May at 21:00 CEST) or the Second Semi-Final (Thursday 9 May at 21:00 CEST). Also randomly allocated is whether a country will perform in the first or second half of the Semi-Final they’ve drawn.

Semi-Final Allocation Draw: How does it work?

Sweden as the Host Country and reigning champion respectively, along with the other 6 members of the so-called ‘Big 6’ participating countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom) do not compete in the Semi-Finals, but their domestic audiences do get to vote in one of them… so before the competing countries are allocated a place in a Semi-Final, it will be randomly determined which of the Semi-Finals the Big 6 will each be allowed to vote on.

The next part of the draw will determine in which Semi-Final and in which half of the respective Semi-Final the other 31 participating countries will perform in.

Semi-Final Allocation Pots 2024

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3
  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Croatia
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Denmark
  • Australia
  • Finland
  • Iceland
  • Norway
  • Estonia
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • Israel
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Ukraine

Pot 4

Pot 5

Pot 6
  • Cyprus
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Malta
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Netherlands
  • Moldova
  • Poland
  • Luxembourg
  • France
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Sweden

 

Drawing countries from different pots helps to reduce the chance of so-called neighbourly voting and increases suspense in the Semi-Finals. You can get a good idea of how it will all work by watching the 2022 Allocation Draw on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024 in Malmo, Sweden, who won the Contest thanks to Loreen winning in 2023.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Eurovision.tv

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

With the quarterfinals behind us, “HaKochav HaBa – Eurovision 2024 Edition” is set to enter a crucial phase—the semifinals. The remaining five contestants, Mika Moshe, Or Cohen, Dor Shmaon, Shai Tamino, and Eden Golan, are gearing up for a night that could propel them closer 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

Before diving into the anticipation of the semifinals, let’s recap the journey of the five talented contestants who have made it this far and who will fight for one out of the four tickets for the Grand Final on February 6:

  1. Mika Moshe: Mika, the 16-year-old sensation, won hearts with her rendition of “Yasmin” in the quarterfinals. Known for her unique blend of innocence and maturity, Mika’s powerful vocals make her a formidable contender. As she advances to the semifinals, all eyes are on Mika to see how she continues to captivate both the audience and judges.
  2. Or Cohen: Or Cohen’s emotionally charged performance of “If I Could” dedicated to her mother resonated deeply in the quarterfinals. Positioned as a frontrunner with heartfelt performances and strong vocal abilities, the semifinals offer Or the chance to showcase her versatility and make a lasting impression.
  3. Dor Shmaon: Dor Shmaon’s unexpected and moving approach to “Amen for My Children” garnered praise from the judges in the quarterfinals. Renowned for his unique style and vocal prowess, Dor aims to continue surprising the audience in the semifinals, competing for the opportunity to represent Israel on the Eurovision stage.
  4. Shai Tamino: Shai Tamino’s powerful rendition of “I’ll Stand By You” dedicated to her extended family showcased her emotional depth and vocal strength in the quarterfinals. As she advances to the semifinals, Shai is prepared to maintain her composure and deliver another impactful performance amidst the intensifying competition.
  5. Eden Golan: Eden Golan’s choice of “You Raise Me Up” dedicated to her grandmother left a lasting impression in the quarterfinals. With exceptional vocal skills and a strong stage presence, Eden is a force to be reckoned with. As she enters the semifinals, expectations are high, and Eden is poised to deliver yet another stellar performance.

As the tension rises and the competition gets tougher, tonight’s episode promises to be an unforgettable night of music, emotion, and fierce competition. Stay tuned for our post-semifinal analysis, where we’ll break down the performances, judge feedback, and the contestants’ journey toward Eurovision glory. The race to become Israel‘s representative for Eurovision 2024 is reaching its climax—don’t miss a moment of this musical spectacle!

You can watch 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3mIcCllJXY

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

Israel: The results of HaKokhav Haba’s 20th episode | Five artists advance to the semi-final!!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The 20th episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) was just concluded. HaKokhav Haba is the talent show under which the artist that will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be selected.

Out of the 35 artists who made it beyond the audition stage, 14 advanced to the battles’ phase, where they will compete to represent their country in Eurovision 2024!

In episode twenty, the six remaining artists performed in duets, while five of them advanced to the next stage and one was eliminated. Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, serve as the show’s hosts, as they have been doing since 2014. The jury is consisted of Eden Hasson, Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar, and Keren Pels.

The duets of the 20th episode

Six contestants performed in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The judges then selected one of the three contestants with the lowest score to be eliminated from the show.

Mika Moshe Vs Or Cohen

16-year-old Mika is one of the two big favorites of HaKokhav Haba. She performed a traditional ballad in Hebrew, enchanting both the audience and the jury. She achieved a score of 88%, despite the fact that one of the judges did not vote for it. He advances to the semi-final.

Despite the judges’ praise for Or Cohen’s ability to sing different styles of songs in each episode, that wasn’t enough to achieve a high score. With 75%, Or is a candidate for elimination.

Dor Shimon Vs Shai Tamino

A very Mediterranean-scented performance from Dor once again, but one that did not impress, as the judges said it was something they had seen before. With a score of 63% he is also a candidate for elimination.

Shai, on the other hand, gave an excellent performance and continues to improve with each episode. Despite this, the judges worry that she may not be suitable for Eurovision. With a score of 72%, she advances to the semi-finals.

Lian Biran Vs Eden Golan

Everyone in the studio is touched when Lian Biran sings a song about her mother. Sadly, she is a candidate to eliminate with a score of 82%.

Today, Eden Golan is demonstrating why she is the clear favorite to represent Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. She gave it all and according to the judges, it was a Eurovision-worthy performance. She advances to the semi-final with a score of 94%.

The results

Among the three contestants who achieved the lowest score in their duets, the judges decided that Lian Biran should be eliminated from HaKokhav Haba.

Hence, we are down to five artists that will perform in the semi-final, aiming for the Israeli representation in Malmö:

  • Eden Golan
  • Dor Shimon
  • Shai Tamino
  • Mika Moshe
  • Or Cohen

The Final of HaKokhav Haba will take place on February 6.

Israel qualified for the finals every year from 2015 to 2020 through HaKokhav HaBa, and Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with the song “Toy”.

Israel was represented last year by Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn”, which came in third place with 362 points overall.

https://youtu.be/Z3mIcCllJXY

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: euromix

Anne-Marie David’s message on the return of the hostages from Hamas!

/2 Comments/in , , /by

Luxembourg’s 1973 Eurovision winner Anne-Marie David made a guest appearance at the Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, the Grand Duchy’s national final, for its return to the Eurovision, 30 years after its last entry. Anne-Marie David did not hesitate to express her support for the more than 100 kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas, who are still being held hostage in Gaza, wearing the yellow ribbon, a symbol for the return of captives and hostages, during the performance of the legendary now Tu Te Reconnaitras.

Thousands of Israelis now walk around every day wearing the yellow ribbon, an international symbol for the return of prisoners. The yellow ribbon is also used by thousands of protesters around the world, while it is tied to the balconies of many houses in Israel, as well as in the USA, as a message of hope and in favor of the return of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza since the terrorist attack on October 7 , which resulted in the deaths of 1,140 innocent civilians and the hostage taking of 240.

JCB Yellow Ribbon Campaign 2.jpg

At the moment when nauseating and inhumane comments are appearing on the internet and concern the Israeli origin of Tali, winner of the Luxembourg Song Contest and now representative of Luxembourg at Eurovision 2024, Anne Marie David discreetly but respectfully sends her own message and joins the struggle of all these families, but also of the official state of Israel, for the return of their loved ones, who for so many months remain unjustly, as hostages in the hands of Hamas, most likely to be used as human shields.

Watch Anne Marie David’s performance in the video below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Norway: Palestinian activists protested outside NRK against Israel!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Palestinian activists on Saturday used powerful measures in the fight against Israel‘s participation in Eurovision. 30 men sat bare-chested, blindfolded and hands stripped outside NRK. Activist and initiator Rami Samandar says to VG:

“We are here to highlight Israel’s violations of international law. What we see in Gaza is absolutely horrific.”

The protesters staged an incident on Saturday that occurred in Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip on December 7. Then over a hundred Palestinian men and boys were captured by Israeli soldiers. They were ordered to undress and kneel in the street and were accused of belonging to Hamas or being terrorists. Samandar continues:

“But it’s too cold for all 30 people to sit outside NRK at the same time, so we have divided them into groups of ten who each take a dare in front of NRK.”

It was around zero degrees outside NRK Saturday morning and Samandar says that there was great interest in taking part in this action.

“We received so many inquiries that in the end we had to say no.”

In groups of ten, a total of 30 men walked up and down between the parking lot below NRK and the main entrance.

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like 1000 Swedish musicians that signed today a petition to the EBU against Israel outside NRK right during the first two weeks of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest, while Silvia Night signed an open letter to the EBU asking to ban Israel. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: VG
Photo: VG

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not miss anything regarding the Eurovision Song Contest: