Posts

Israel: The entry of 2024 in Hebrew | A jury will choose it!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The song that will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 and will be performed by the winner of HaKokhav Haba in Malmö, will be chosen by a committee, will include Hebrew lyrics and will be announced on March.

In a statement, Israel’s public television reports today that it has already invited a wide range of Israeli song writers to submit songs with one of which the winner of HaKokhav Haba will represent the country at Eurovision 2024. A necessary condition this year for those who will submit a song, is that it must also contain Hebrew lyrics. The talent show is coming to an end in three weeks and thus we will have the artist, who will raise the flag of Israel in Malmö, in this special year for the country. The song will be selected internally by a panel and be announced in a special broadcast on March!

At the moment, there are ten artists left to claim the representation of Israel in Eurovision 2024:

  1. Leanne Byrne
  2. Eden Golan
  3. Arik Sinai
  4. Shay Tamino
  5. Or Cohen
  6. Yonathan Biton
  7. Mika Moshe
  8. Dor Shimoni
  9. Moria Angel
  10. Oral Ravid

One of the above will be the HaKokhav Haba winner and the one who will get the ticket to the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Last year Israel at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was represented by the explosive Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn” who gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final, receiving 362 points.

https://youtu.be/Z3mIcCllJXY

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

Source: Euromix

Sweden: The left party demands the ban of Israel from Eurovision Song Contest! | The response of SVT!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

In May, Malmö will host the Eurovision Song Contest. On May 7, the festivities kick off and on May 11, it’s time for the final. But lately the contest is leaning towards politics. The leader of the Left Party, Nooshi Dadgostar, demands that the organizers ban Israel from participating in the competition. Nooshi Dadgostar explicitly says:

“Eurovision should not invite Israel.”

The reason for the Left Party‘s announcement is the ongoing war that in Gaza, where Israel has been dragged before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The legal process has been initiated after South Africa filed a complaint against Israel to the court.

“Aggressive war against children”

Nooshi Dadgostar adds on the matter:

“Tens of thousands of people have been killed. It is not the right signal to send that Sweden gives space on stage to such a state. Israel is waging an aggressive war against children and their parents and is now being prosecuted for genocide and there are many indications that they are committing war crimes right now.”

When asked if it is reasonable for her, as a politician, to interfere in a production in this way, she responded:

“I love Eurovision. It is a place of celebration and fellowship, but I think many people share the view that a state that has killed so many children cannot be given this place. Otherwise, it’s as if the outside world doesn’t care about the killing. This has to stop.”

Social Democratic party doesn’t want to interfere

Social Democratic MP Lawen Redar, who sits on the Riksdag‘s Culture Committee, strongly disagrees.

“I don’t interfere in how this type of programme should be implemented. It must be up to the public service broadcasters in Europe, and it is certainly unusual to boycott individual nations from participating.”

The response of SVT

SVT refers the question of Israel‘s participation in Eurovision to the European Broadcasting Union and Madeleine Sinding-Larsen write:

“SVT will not comment on this because it is the EBU that decides which members participate in the competition and SVT will follow the EBU’s decision.”

Aftonbladet has reached out to the EBU but there is no response yet.

Source: Aftonbladet / Fredrik Björkman
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU

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

 

 

 

Sweden: How will Malmö’s budget of 30 million Swedish crowns be used for Eurovision?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

A bit more than six months have passed since SVT revealed that Malmö will be the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, on July 7.

There will be televised semi-finals on 7 and 9 May. On Saturday 11 May, the final will be broadcast all over the world from Malmö Arena.

This week, Malmö‘s top politicians hammered out how Malmö‘s taxpayers’ money should be used around the giant event. The Chair of the Municipal Executive Board Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh said on the matter:

“A completely unanimous municipal executive board supported the distribution. Much of the work will be done out in the committees and therefore we set aside money there.”

Already last autumn, in last year’s budget, agreements were signed for around SEK 10 million – including with Malmö Arena, Malmömässan and Malmö Live.

The rest of the money that is supposed to be used for the music festival was invested by the municipal board this week:

  • The Technical Committee will receive SEK 6.6 million for the work on Eurovision Park and Eurovillage at Folkets Park.
  • The Culture Committee will receive SEK 1.8 million for its work on programmes and communication.
  • The Recreation Committee will receive SEK 3.3 million for the work with 600 unpaid volunteers and for city decoration, such as flags and banners that will fill Malmö.
  • The Municipal Executive Board is also allocating SEK 6.3 million to a wide range of general extra costs linked to the giant event.

Despite galloping inflation, this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will not be more expensive for Malmö‘s taxpayers than the contests ten years ago says the city of Malmö‘s project manager Karin Karlsson:

“More people are contributing content than they did ten years ago. We are trying to work with the business community in a much more comprehensive way than we did then.”

Already in a couple of weeks, on January 30, Farah Abadi and Pernilla Månsson Colt will lead the draw for places in the two semi-finals. At the same time, the world is under pressure from major international conflicts, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Shortly after the announcement that Malmö will be the host of the Eurovision Song Contest, the Swedish Security Service raised the terrorist threat level in Sweden. On 1 November, a total bag ban was introduced at major events. It is still unclear what additional and stricter security measures may be required ahead of the giant competition in Malmö. But politicians know that it could lead to new costs for the city. Karin comments:

“As far as security is concerned, we are waiting for information from the police. This will have consequences for the centre of Malmö as a whole. We are already working preventively by trying to choose places with perimeter protection and places we are used to working with.”

“In the first instance, public transport will be offered.” says the municipal board’s decision document. One can assume that this will be offered to the volunteers and press that are attending to work on the contest. But would that also mean that the artists will also travel by bus or train to the competition arena in Hyllie? Karin Karlsson responds:

“No, that’s where the line is drawn. We have a special responsibility to ensure that they arrive on time. The participants will travel in rented buses or electric cars. It’s Malmö’s advantage that we have such good public transport. It’s also a way to save money. We want the whole event to be used by public transport.”

Source: Sydsvenskan
Photo: Martin Meissner

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

Norway: Demonstration against Israel outside NRK before the first heat of MGP 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

When it became known on 5 January who would participate in Norwegian MGP, a bunch of protesters showed up outside NRK in Oslo. Fredrik Solvang, the host of MGP 2024 commented on the demonstration, stating that he does not support boycotting Israel in Eurovision 2024. He explained that such a decision would place him in a challenging position as a host, highlighting the inherent difficulty for a television station to adopt a stance amid an ongoing conflict, particularly when providing journalistic coverage.

Activities against Israel continue today in Oslo, Norway, when a few moments before the first heat of Melodi Grand Prix begins tonight, the Action Group for Palestine demonstrates outside the audience entrance at Marienlyst. They wrote in a press release:

“Our demand is that Norway and NRK work for the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision 2024. During the commemoration, we will have a total of 116 dead journalists.”

They further write that they want to remind NRK of its responsibility as a public service broadcaster, to stand in solidarity with freedom of the press and the special source journalists have to protect during war.

As of January 10, the government of Gaza reports that 116 journalists have been killed since October 7. There will also be 116 protesters outside NRK tonight. Protesters have laid on the ground, wearing blue vests to symbolize journalists who have been killed in the war. Janne Heltberg, who has turned up at the audience entrance says:

“We hope that NRK and Melodi Grand Prix get the courage to state from MGP that Israel does not have enough in Eurovision to do in 2024.”

Several other petitions have also been launched, which are being judged in Finland and Iceland.

Source: NRK

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweden: Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in a geopolitically-unstable time!

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Sweden is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in a geopolitically-unstable time.

In Finland, more than 1300 people from the music industry have signed a petition calling for Finland to boycott the contest in Malmö if Israel participates. Similar demands have been made in Iceland in the past.

And recently, demonstrators gathered outside the NRK headquarters in Oslo, demanding the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision because of the war in Gaza.

Ben Robertson, who covers Eurovision for ESCInsight, comments on the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö this May that it could be the most politically sensitive in Eurovision‘s history:

“It will be very tough to organise the Eurovision Song Contest this year. It demands a lot from Malmö and SVT. It’s not just about Israel. It’s about Sweden too, about the high terrorist threat.”

Ben also notes that this will be another season of Eurovision in the shadow of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Ukraine is participating in this year’s competition. So does Armenia, which came into focus last autumn due to the conflict with Azerbaijan and also says he will neither be surprised if artists and songwriters choose to address political issues this year nor will he be surprised if fans demand that artists who travel to Malmö take a stand in the Israel – Hamas conflict.

The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU‘s members are public service broadcasters in various countries, especially in Europe. But countries such as Israel, Morocco and Lebanon are also members of the EBU.

In recent years, two countries have been excluded from the EBU and banned from the Eurovision Song Contest. Belarus was expelled because the country violated the rules of the competition and refused to change a song lyric with too political a message. Russia was expelled after the attack on Ukraine, reflecting a concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry would bring the competition into disrepute.

Now voices are being raised that Israel should also be expelled. But Paul Jordan, who comments on Eurovision for British media, believes Israel will participate this year. He says the situation is different than when Russia was excluded.

“When Russia was excluded, it had been banned from other international events. The EBU watched the World Cup and others who didn’t want Russia there, and then it would have looked very strange if Russia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest.”

The idea behind Eurovision is that countries should be able to put aside conflicts and bad relations for one night. In the UK, Olly Alexander, who will represent the country in Malmö, has made headlines with his criticism of Israel.

Paul says that there is a risk that Israel, even if it is not excluded, feels that it is not welcome to participate in Malmö.

“If the war is still going on, and we see these horrific images from Gaza, it can also be perceived as distasteful to participate in Eurovision while people are dying.”

At the same time, Eurovision is an important platform for Israel, which has participated in the contest for 45 years.

Karin Karlsson is the project manager for the Eurovision Song Contest, employed by the City of Malmö. She had the same role in 2013.

She notes that many things are different today. The target group of the competition has become younger. Social media plays a very different role than in 2013. The Eurovision Song Contest doesn’t just mean televised stage performances at Malmö Arena. There will also be a week’s festival in different places in the city. At the same time, Sweden has a high terrorist threat. Karin comments on that:

“And it’s much more complicated in terms of security, this year. We work with safety all the time, every day.”

Source: Svenska Dagbladet

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

 

 

Israel: The results of the twelfth episode of HaKokhav Haba – 12 artists in the race for Malmo!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

On Sunday night, the twelfth episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) was aired! Through this talent show the artist who will raise the flag of Israel at Eurovision 2024 will emerge!

As we have already informed you, 35 artists passed the scope of the auditions, with 14 of them going to the second phase – the battles phase, and they will claim the representation of the country in Eurovision 2024!

In the twelfth episode we watched seven battles with six of them advancing to the next phase. We remind you that the presenters of HaKokhav Haba are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela who have been in this position since 2014, while the members of the jury are Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar and Keren Pels with a new addition being Eden Hasson.

Seven contestants then appeared in front of an audience and jury, with the one with the lowest score leaving HaKokhav Haba.

Leanne Byrne

Leanne chose to sing “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi. With precise vocals, she surprises everyone with high and beautiful notes. An excellent performance and all the judges agreed. Shiri Maimon mentioned that she should risk more: “You have to get out of your comfort zones” . She received one of the highest percentages of the night, 93%.

Ido Bartel

Ido chose to sing a mash-up tonight. The judges were troubled with his performance and many of them mentioned that they cannot imagine him representing Israel at Eurovision. Despite mixed reviews, Ido with 67%, advances to the next phase.

Shay Tamino

Shay Tamino received very good comments and most of the judges were impressed with this performance. Shiri Maimon explained that she has a beautiful voice but found it old-fashioned. Despite Shiri Maimon’s negative comments, she scored 84%.

Yehuda Saado

Yehuda Saado divided the judges and they think he made the wrong song choice. As they mentioned it was a good performance and he is a good singer but maybe he doesn’t make for Eurovision. Despite average to poor reviews, Yehuda Saado with a 50% rate, is the one to doesn’t advance to the next round.

Oral Ravid

Oral has a lot of charisma on stage, he manages to present the song in an excellent way and his special voice definitely leaves a good impression after every performance. He received the highest percentage of the night, 95%.

Mika Curtis

Mika Curtis, surprises with her special voice, as soon as she opens her mouth. The judges seem to agree that she has a very good voice, it’s just that the stage presence scares them and that’s why she got 72%.

Arik Sinai

Arik Sinai is the oldest artist of this season and surprises every time with his performance. All the judges agree that he is suitable for Eurovision and he got a percentage of 91%.

The detailed reuslts of Episode 12:

  • Leanne Byrne – 93%
  • Ido Bartel – 67%
  • Shay Tamino – 84%
  • Yehuda Saado – 50%
  • Oral Ravid – 95%
  • Mika Kertis – 72%
  • Arik Sinai – 91%

The 12 artists who are still in the race to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 are:

  1. Leanne Byrne
  2. Eden Golan
  3. Arik Sinai
  4. Shay Tamino
  5. Ido Bartel
  6. Or Cohen
  7. Yonathan Biton
  8. Mika Moshe
  9. Dor Shimoni
  10. Mika Kertis
  11. Moria Angel
  12. Oral Ravid

Through HaKokhav HaBa, Israel managed to qualify every year to the final of our favorite competition from 2015 to 2020, while in 2018 Netta was also the winner of Eurovision with the song “Toy”.

This year Israel was represented at Eurovision 2023 by Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn” who gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final by collecting 362 points.

 Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Israeli participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: euromix.co.il

Israel: Eurovision 2024 Trailer! (Video)

/0 Comments/in , , /by

With HaKokhav Haba now entering its final phase, Israel is now closer and closer to selecting the artist that will represent the country in Eurovision Song Contest 2024. For this reason, a special trailer is airing for some days now, that talks about Israel participation in general, as well as in this special year.

The trailer starts with some articles from international press, and some images of pro-Palestinian rallies, asking to boycott the Israeli participation in Eurovision 2024.

It then goes on, with the fact that Israel is first in the betting odds and EBU’s announcement of the participating countries, with Israel being present.

Then we can listen to the voice of a judge from HaKokhav Haba, quoting some verses from the old testament, which were also being used in a known song.

“In every generation our lives will be threatened, but God will save us from them.”

The trailer ends with the commentator stating that it will be a great honor for whoever represents the country this year and we see the famous wall of HaKokhav Haba covered with the flag of Israel.

You can see the trailer, in the video below:

14 artists are still in the race to represent Israel in Eurovision 2024. From Wednesday, January 3, and in each episode of HaKokhav Haba, an artist will be eliminated, until the we reach the Grand Final, when an artists will take on the task of waving the flag of Israel in Malmö.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Israeli participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

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

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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

Gali Atari opened the rally for the return of the 129 hostages kidnapped by Hamas!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Eurovision 1979 winner Gali Atari, one of Israel’s biggest and most popular female artists opened the big rally organized in Hatofim Square for the return of the remaining hostages still held by Hamas, almost three months after terrorist attack on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip.

Gali Atari, who turned 70 on the same day, performed a recently re-released song that she had released during the first intifada against Israel.

My 70th birthday wish and request is that all 129 remaining abductees return home safely and quickly.

In 1979 Israel with Gali Atari managed to win back to back, with a song that launched her career, even taking her abroad, Hallelujah became a symbol both in Israel and abroad, a symbol of peace and reconciliation, something which is so tested again in our days in that region.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

A “Popular” eurostar take on Israel: “Israel is the most dangerous and disgusting nation in the world.”

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Over the last couple of months, many Eurostars have expressed their views publicly in their social media, about the ongoing Middle-Eastern conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The Swedish–Lebanese superstar Eric Saade has been expressing his opposition to Israel on a daily basis, after Israel started their operations in Gaza. On one of his Instagram stories one day before Christmas, he described Israel as “the most dangerous and disgusting nation in the world“, on a story that can be seen below:

Saade was also one of the many Swedish stars that on the 20th of October signed a petition addressing the Swedish government, to condemn all violence against civilians and every violation of the international law.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Eric Saade (@ericsaadeofficial)

Eurovision 2024

At the moment, Eric‘s role in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest is unclear. There have been rumours of Gina Dirawi leading the contest to be held in Malmö, Sweden, but it will be no surprise if the Swedish–Lebanese superstar is involved in the show in any way. It remains to be seen in the following weeks or months.

Who is Eric Saade?

Eric Saade is a Swedish–Lebanese singer and songwriter, born on October 29, 1990, in Kattarp, Sweden from a Swedish mum and a Lebanese of Palestinian origin father. With a career that spans pop, R&B, and dance music, Saade has been a notable presence in the Melodifestivalen, Sweden‘s annual music competition to select their Eurovision entry. His first foray was in 2010 with the song “Manboy” securing a respectable third place. The following year, in 2011, Saade not only competed but triumphed with the electro-pop hit “Popular” earning him the Melodifestivalen title and subsequently giving him the chance to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf, Germany.

His Mello-presence continued in 2015 when he returned with the song “Sting” finishing in fifth place. His final and fourth participation at the Swedish national selection process was in 2021, when he almost represented Sweden with the song “Every Minute” after placing second at the grand final.

In 2019 he was one of the presenters of Melodifestivalen and along with Sarah Dawn Finer, Marika Carlsson and Kodjo Akolor he performed an Israel mashup, following the Eurovision victory of Israel and Netta with the song “Toy“, which is something that, due to the latest circumstances, we will probably not see him do in the foreseeable future.

Eric Saade‘s Melodifestivalen journey showcases his versatility and enduring popularity in the Swedish music scene. His contributions to the music industry extend beyond Eurovision, as he has released several successful albums and singles, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the Swedish music scene.

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

Photo: Stina Stjernkvist, SVT

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