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Israeli Entry in Eurovision 2024 Under Threat as EBU Considers Disqualification!

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After being examined by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), ynet has learned from European sources that there is concern that the song sent to represent Israel in Eurovision 2024 may be disqualified due to what they claim are political statements. Following these messages, the board of KAN hastily convened and decided:

“We will not change the lyrics or the song, even if it means Israel will not participate in Eurovision this year.”

Concerns Over Israel’s Participation in Eurovision: EBU Contemplates Disqualifying “October’s Rain”

Israeli singer Eden Golan, who was supposed to perform the song “October’s Rain” at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo in May, was scheduled to unveil the song last week. However, the decision was postponed by the board for a few more days. ynet learned then that the reason for the delay stemmed from a request by the European Broadcasting Union to receive the song before its release, and to approve its lyrics to ensure there are no political messages. Sources familiar with the details told ynet that this was not an exceptional request for Israel and that it has been a clause in the Eurovision regulations for several years.

However, European sources have now told ynet that the EBU intends to disqualify the song. In response, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation has stood firm and clarified that it will not change the lyrics – whatever the cost. Following the messages from the EBU about the intention to disqualify the song, the board of the corporation hastily convened and decided,

“We will not change the lyrics or the song, even if it means Israel will not participate in Eurovision this year.”

In an official response to ynet’s revelation, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation stated:

“The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation is in dialogue with the EBU regarding the song that will represent Israel in Eurovision.”

No response has been provided by the EBU at the time of reporting.

Against the backdrop of these developments, just a week ago, Eurovision organizers officially announced that they had once again postponed the requests to disqualify Israel from the competition, in contrast to the steps taken against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “Comparisons between war and conflict are complex, and as a non-political communication organization, this is not the place for us to make them,” said EBU CEO Noel Curran in an interview. He added that the association is aware of the voices calling for Israel’s disqualification but emphasized, “Eurovision is a musical event, not a political one; it’s not a competition between governments.”

As a reminder, the European Broadcasting Union has consistently shown that it does not take a political stance regarding the conflict with Hamas. Additionally, the EBU responded to Israel’s request to participate in the second semi-final of the competition, to be held in Malmo, due to the proximity to Holocaust Remembrance Day and Independence Day.

The controversy surrounding Israel’s entry in Eurovision 2024 underscores the delicate balance between music and politics in the iconic competition. While the European Broadcasting Union maintains that Eurovision is a musical event devoid of political undertones, tensions arise when lyrics are perceived to contain political messages. Israel’s steadfast refusal to alter the song’s lyrics, despite the risk of disqualification, highlights the importance placed on artistic integrity and freedom of expression.

As the dialogue between the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation and the EBU continues, the outcome remains uncertain, leaving Eurovision fans on edge as they await further developments.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: Ynet

 

Israel: With “October Rain” Eden Golan in Eurovision 2024?

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According to reports in the Israeli media, the song chosen by the country’s public television commission for Eden Golan to compete in Eurovision 2024 is October Rain. However, a conflict between the composers of the song can bring about last-minute twists.

Clash of the creators of October Rain

Eran Suisa of Israel Hayom, a well-known journalist who has from time to time revealed many news concerning Israel in the contest, in his article reveals that the selection of KAN for Eurovision 2024 is the song of Avi Ohion, Keren Peles and Stav Begar, October Rain. The song is in English lyrics, except for two phrases in Hebrew, and refers to the events of October 7, with the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli soil, which resulted in the death of thousands of civilians and the kidnapping of hundreds of hostages. This terrorist attack led to the start of hostilities in Gaza, between the armed forces of Israel and the fighters of Hamas. A war conflict that continues to this day.

The announcement of the song was expected to happen immediately after its approval by the EBU, while the video clip would be released in early March. However, a last-minute development may bring reversals. So according to what Era Suisa reports, Stav Begar reportedly wants his name placed among the creators of the song, with Avi Ohion and Keren Peles not agreeing and insisting that he should be credited simply as an arranger.

Stav Berger claims that if his request is not accepted, he will ask for the song to be withdrawn. This would eventually result in the second shortlisted song, Mai Safdia and Yanon Yahal (creators of Unicorn) being selected.

Is October Rain a political song?

In addition to all of the above, the debate was also opened as to whether Israel could participate in the competition, with a song with this title and these implications?

There are not a few who believe that the song is clearly political and the EBU should not allow it. On the other hand, there are also voices that parallel the case of October Rain with Jamala’s 1944, saying that the song simply recounts events that have happened, having a historical and not a political connotation.

The solution will be given by the EBU which will approve or not the lyrics of the song. KAN in any case has an alternative solution, the second song, which it has also sent for approval to the EBU.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Israel: KAN’s announcement of Eden Golan’s song for Eurovision 2024!

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Israel’s public television, KAN, has come up with the song with which Eden Golan will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The committee selected the winning song by secret ballot. KAN sent its decision to the EBU for approval. Once the EBU approves the song, it will be released to the public.

The KAN announcement states:

The committee for the selection of the song that will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest met at the company’s offices and held a professional discussion that ended with a secret vote for the two songs that reached the final stage.
The voting results, confirmed by the company’s lawyers and approved by the committee.

We remind you that the two nominated songs are signed by important creators, with experience and success in the competition. One is composed by Eden Golan herself and produced by Yanon Yahel and Mai Sepadia (composer of Unicorn) and the other is composed again by Eden Golan, in collaboration with Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon and Stu Bager (composer of Toy ).

A few days ago, the EBU confirmed once again Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, despite calls to the contrary from various centers, which called for its exclusion from the upcoming song contest.

We are now waiting with interest for the final announcement about Israel’s entry in Eurovision 2024. As mentioned above, this will happen after the final approval of the song by the EBU.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Israel: Eden Golan will not attend the turquoise carpet, honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day!

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The Israeli media are reporting that Eden Golan will not be marching on the Turquoise Carpet on Sunday, May 5th, both for security reasons and wanting to honor Holocaust Remembrance Day.

A large and complex security plan is being prepared for the Eden Golan by both the Swedish organizers and the Israeli security services. Eden Golan, who after her victory in HaKokhav Haba and her selection as the representative of Israel in Eurovision 2024, receives many online attacks, will limit her appearances in Malmö to a minimum.

In this context is the decision of the Israeli public television, Eden Golan not to march on the turquoise carpet, together with the other 36 artists participating in this year’s song contest, which will take place on Sunday 5/5 and essentially marks the start of Eurovision 2024.

Both for security reasons, but also to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, Eden Golan will not attend this event.

All this is happening while the pressure is intensifying from the artists of various countries, who do not want the presence of Israel in Malmö, something that the EBU has made clear is not going to happen, saying that the Israeli public television meets all the conditions to take part normally in the contest , reminding everyone that the Eurovision song contest is a non-political event.

At the moment, Eden Golan is in the recording phase of the song with which she will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024, which will be released in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Israel: The song selection for Eurovision 2024 is coming up!

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The committee tasked with selecting Israel’s entry for Eurovision 2024 convened yesterday (Sunday), and dozens of songwriters submitted their songs for consideration, including writers of some of the biggest pop hits in recent years. A decision is expected to be reached by tomorrow. No response has yet been received from the corporation.

The deadline for submitting the song to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 was yesterday (Sunday). As previously announced, Israel will be represented by Eden Golan, who was chosen in the “The Next Star” final. Committee members began listening to the received songs yesterday.

It is reported that Yoav Tsafir, Tamira Yardeni, and Sion Yang from “Tedy Productions,” who produced “The Next Star,” will be members of the committee, alongside committee chairman Ofri Goffer, as well as individuals from the music field from the corporation’s radio and television programs – “experienced individuals only.”

Dozens of songwriters submitted songs, including leading writers in the country. Among the songwriters who submitted songs are Ofir Cohen (“Am Yisrael Chai,” “Lezat Me’dichaon“), Yoval Maayan (“Mi Zat“), and others. Additionally, it is reported that despite high expectations, Doron Medalie did not submit a song.

At the moment, committee members continue to listen to the songs, and by tomorrow, they are expected to make a decision regarding the song. It is not unlikely that the announcement of the song will take place today if the committee members reach a unanimous decision.

How the song will be chosen

The broadcaster, KAN, has issued an invitation to a wide range of Israeli creators to submit songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” to compete in Eurovision 2024. A key requirement for this year’s submissions is that the songs must include Hebrew lyrics.

At least 30 creators will nominate their songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” and participants are allowed to submit up to two songs each until February 11. All creators must have Israeli citizenship and foreign creators are not allowed to participate. 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 the lyrics and melody, the suitability of the song for the artist, its suitability for the Eurovision contest, the possibility of the song’s success at Eurovision, the suitability of the representation of the broadcaster as public broadcasting, the overall impression left by the song and other relevant criteria.

If the committee does not find a suitable song, it has the option of inviting the general public to submit additional songs, or choose a song published after September 1, or choose a song from other proposals made for Israel’s participation in the Eurovision between 2021 and 2023.

The winning song will be edited, recorded and a music video produced for the song’s unveiling, which is scheduled for a special broadcast in late February or early March.

Below you can see Eden Golan’s performances during the show:

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!

Source: Mako

Eden Golan: “I would like a song with a message, a huge song”!

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The winner of HaKokhav Haba and now representative of Israel in Eurovision 2024, spoke to our colleagues from Euromix, shortly before the final of the talent show. Among what she said, she also described the song with which she would like to represent her country in the contest!

The 20-year-old performer impressed from her first audition at HaKokhav Haba, gathering 100%, a record that has never happened in the years the said talent show has been held. She is as nervous as she needs to be, but she has high expectations both for her stage appearance and for the song with which she will be invited to represent Israel at Eurovision.

She would like a song with English and Hebrew lyrics, but also with a strong message:

It cannot be a song entirely in Hebrew. We need some Hebrew lyrics that unite us, but it has to be in English, with a message, a huge song!

In the ballad or dance song dilemma, Eden Golan explains how she could serve both.

Maybe I should combine both? Everything is still theoretical and many things can be done. If a commanding heart-wrenching ballad is submitted to the committee, then I will be happy to compete with a ballad. If a song is submitted that includes dancing but also has a message of strength and empowerment then that would be great. But maybe a combination of both it would be the best solution.

As for the reactions in some countries to Israel’s participation and whether this could affect the chances of winning in Malmö, it is something that Eden realizes exists, but prefers to focus on the love and sympathy that exists from someone else portion of the world and not in hatred.

There is a lot of hatred towards Israel and that is something that cannot be ignored, but on the other hand there is also a lot of love and many times we focus more on the bad things and less attention on the good things. What is important is to represent Israel with pride and give our best, make our people happy – and whatever happens will be for the best.

Watch the full interview below:

How the song will be chosen

The broadcaster, KAN, has issued an invitation to a wide range of Israeli creators to submit songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” to compete in Eurovision 2024. A key requirement for this year’s submissions is that the songs must include Hebrew lyrics.

At least 30 creators will nominate their songs for the winner of “HaKokhav Haba” and participants are allowed to submit up to two songs each until February 11. All creators must have Israeli citizenship and foreign creators are not allowed to participate. 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 the lyrics and melody, the suitability of the song for the artist, its suitability for the Eurovision contest, the possibility of the song’s success at Eurovision, the suitability of the representation of the broadcaster as public broadcasting, the overall impression left by the song and other relevant criteria.

If the committee does not find a suitable song, it has the option of inviting the general public to submit additional songs, or choose a song published after September 1, or choose a song from other proposals made for Israel’s participation in the Eurovision between 2021 and 2023.

The winning song will be edited, recorded and a music video produced for the song’s unveiling, which is scheduled for a special broadcast in late February or early March.

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

Source: Euromix

Israel: The 14 artists competing to represent the country in Eurovision 2024!

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The auditions’ stage of HaKokhav Haba, the Israeli artist’s selection format for Eurovision 2024, was concluded the past Wednesday following ten episodes. A total of thirty-five artists made it to the next stage, but only fourteen of them advanced to the main part of the show and will therefore compete for the Israeli representation in Malmö.

The procedure under which the fourteen artists were selected

During this evaluation process, all the contestants went on stage one by one and performed in front of the six judges.

  • Contestants who received a “blue yes” from all six judges automatically reserved their place in the show.
  • Contestants who received four or five “blue yeses” continued to the next stage where the judges discussed about which contestants deserved to stay on the show.
  • Contestants who received less than three “blue yeses” were eliminated from the show.

As a reminder HaKokhav Haba’s jury panel consists of Eden Hasson, Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar, and Keren Pels.

The fourteen artists that passed to the next stage

  1. Leanne Byrne
  2. Eden Golan
  3. Arik Sinai
  4. Yehuda Sadoo
  5. Shay Tamino
  6. Ido Bartel
  7. Or Cohen
  8. Jonathan Biton
  9. Mika Moshe
  10. Dor Shimoni
  11. Mika Curtis
  12. Gal Kafri
  13. Moria Angel
  14. Oral Ravid

What’s next for HaKokhav HaBa?

Starting this Wednesday we will have to say goodbye to one contestant in each episode. As the episodes go by, we will approach to the finals, which will take place in a month and then we will know the next Israeli representative in Eurovision.

Through the HaKokhav HaBa format, Israel has managed to qualify to the Grand Final every year from 2015 to 2020 and even won the contest in 2018 with Netta and her song “Toy“.

In 2023, Israel was represented in Liverpool by Noa Kirel and her song “Unicorn“, ending up in the third place of the scoreboard.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: Euromix