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Israel: “Politics is involved in Eurovision and everything does not depend on me”!

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In the press conference held by Israel’s public television KAN and in which Noa Kirel‘s representation of the country at Eurovision 2023 was formalized, the popular artist referred to the risk she takes by accepting the offer to participate in the contest, since as she pointed out everything does not depend on herself, as politics is actively involved in Eurovision! But why did she say yes to Eurovision despite the possibility of failure?

A woman on a mission

“I am very excited and I feel like we are starting a mission. I was suddenly informed some time ago that I will represent Israel at Eurovision”, the singer initially said at the press conference she gave at the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv.

It started with a shock, it hasn’t stopped since. They stop me on the street, at concerts and tell me about it! Lately I’ve also learned about the risks, and that it’s not all about art and live performance there. I’m already imagining myself on the crazy Eurovision stage. With a decision from the heart, I put everything aside and go with complete faith. I always felt proud to represent my country, even today I feel very honored. I want to thank the committee that chose me, it was not a given. I’m already starting work today and as you know I’m working hard. So wish me luck.

Accepting KAN’s proposal

Tal Freifeld, executive of KAN, emphasized the changes in the way of selecting this year’s participation of Israel, while emphasizing on the fact that Noa Kirel is the No. 1 in the country.

This year we decided to change the rules of the game and instead of choosing a representative from this or that reality show, we simply chose the number 1 artist to represent us at Eurovision. We waited for Noa to decide and it took her some time, but we promised full cooperation with her team. Noa will put on a great performance and we will give her all the tools to represent the country with honor.

Noa then commented on the time it took her to make up her mind:

I needed time to myself. It’s a crazy show and on a huge stage. I got backlash from people each giving their opinion on whether I should go or not. There were people who said I would win and there were those who said I would be upset if I didn’t do well. In the end I decided what my heart said. Of course there are worries, I’m human and I get scared sometimes. It is an honorable place and on an honorable stage. Politics is involved and things are not up to me, I might fail naturally. But I’ve always taken risks, they usually work out, it’s part of the career and who I am today. I wanted to represent my country and take that risk.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Noa Kirel (@noakirel)

Who is Noa Kirel?

Her birth-name was Noya, but after she was diagnosed with a severe kidney disease when she was three months old, a rabbi suggested her parents to change her name to Noa, so she could heal and walk. The rabbi also predicted that she would become a dancer.

In March 2020, she enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and served in a military band. In February 2022, Kirel completed her service in the IDF.

She is Israel’s biggest pop star of recent years, dominating the country’s charts since the release of her #1 hit ‘Killer’ when she was just 14 years old. He was a judge on the X Factor for years, while she stars in dozens of commercials, series and movies, making her one of the most popular celebrities in the country. Noa belongs to Atlantic Records and has released 41 singles.

Listen to her biggest hit below:

Source:Ynet

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all developments regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2023!

Israel: Noa has confirmed her participation in Eurovision 2023!

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It might have taken about a month, but now it’s official! Noa Kirel will represent Israel at Eurovision 2023, as it was officially announced hours ago in a press conference held in Tel Aviv.

Noa Kirel scores for Israel

The superstar of Israel’s pop music scene noted that her fans were one of the main reasons she accepted the offer by the country’s Public Broadcaster to participate in Eurovision 2023.

I think I said everything I had to say about my excitement, the weight on my shoulders and the pride I feel. Thank you for all the love you have given me, the immense support you have provided me with, since I was selected, as well as for the privilege of representing my country (in ESC).

The Israeli Eurovision Committee, consisting of ten experts from KAN radio and Galats, chose Kirel from among 78 renowned artists and gave her the right to be the first one to either refuse or accept said offer. Kirel accepted the offer, after protracted discussions over the past few weeks.

On Monday, Noa revealed in an  interview with  Bequest 12 that she has made specific demands regarding her participation, including being involved in writing and choosing the song, as well as in the direction of the performance at Eurovision stage in May.

 

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A post shared by Noa Kirel (@noakirel)

Who is Noa Kirel?

Her birth-name was  Noya, but after she was diagnosed with a severe kidney disease when she was three months old, a rabbi suggested her parents to change her name to  Noa, so she could heal and walk. The rabbi also predicted that she would become a dancer. 

In March 2020, she enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and served in a military band. In February 2022, Kirel completed her service in the IDF.

She is Israel’s biggest pop star of recent years, dominating the country’s charts since the release of her #1 hit ‘Killer’ when she was just 14 years old. He was a judge on the X Factor for years, while she stars in dozens of commercials, series and movies, making her one of the most popular celebrities in the country. Noa belongs to Atlantic Records and has released 41 singles.

Listen to her biggest hit below:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Israel: Kirel in discussions with the composer of “Toy”!

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Although Noa Kirel has yet to make her final decision on whether to take part in Eurovision 2023, her team appears to be in discussions with composer Doron Medalie.

KAN’s announcement and Kirel’s new statements

As we have informed you in our previous article , KAN had officially announced that the superstar Noa Kirel will represent the country in Eurovision 2023. However, a few hours later the potential representative of Israel made it clear that the decision is not yet final.

In a recent interview with the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Kirel stated that she needs more time to think about a potential Eurovision entry. It is, according to the singer, a Competition which “relies on politics, but at the same time it offers great exposure [to the artist]”. However, she later added that “fear has never stopped [her] from trying new things and life is all about taking risks” .

Kirel in talks with Doron Medalie?

According to Eran Suissa, a journalist for the newspaper Israel Hayom, Kirel’s team has contacted the composer of the song that gave Israel its victory back in 2018, Doron Medalie. It is not clear whether the latter was asked to take on the composition/production of the potential Eurovision song or to have an active role in its selection.

Kirel has already collaborated with Medalie, with the latter having a total of three entries in the Contest on behalf of Israel (“Golden Boy”, “Made of Stars”, “Toy”).

What is certain is that Medalie desires structural changes in the team surrounding Israel’s entries in the Contest, and wants resources to be invested towards different directions. Specifically, he stated that:

“We have to dedicate huge resources to Noa, and to have a professional team made up of the best talents and professionals we have […] To produce such a system will require a real revolution in the attitude [KAN has towards the Competition]. We create the illusion that [the end result] is so simple, but the truth is that it is the most complex undertaking.”

In relation to the financing of a possible Kirel’s participation, the Israeli website EuroMix reports that there are tensions over who could absorb the costs. This is due to the fact that until now the costs were covered entirely by KAN, thanks to the profits generated through advertising during the various talent shows. With the internal selection, however, this source of income is no longer available.

What do you think? Will Kirel join forces with Medalie for Eurovision 2023?

Israel: Noa Kirel says her participation is a “maybe”!

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Israel’s Public Corporation KAN announced yesterday that local superstar Noa Kirel will represent Israel in Eurovision 2023, after an internal selection. However, things seem to be not as announced.

In an interview with 103 FM’s Raz Shechnik, the Israeli representative answer that “a decision will be made later on”. She added:

“You’re right, I’m still taking the whole thing in. First of all, it’s a great honor that they chose me. It’s really exciting, and as a kid I always watched [the contest]. So there’s something very grand about it, a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. I’m not taking this whole thing in yet. I’m taking a few days off to understand […] This just happened and we’re still in the middle of this whole thing. My team and I will take some time to figure it all out. Together, we will make a decision, slowly”.

While KAN was the first public broadcaster to announce its representative, it appears that Noa has not yet responded to the offer regardless the positive reaction locally and online.

 

Do you think Noa will represent Israel in the contest? Tell us in the comments!

Source: Raz Shechnik 

 

Israel: Superstar Noa Kirel will represent the country in Eurovision 2023!

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Israel is the first country to choose its representative for Eurovision 2023. Following an internal selection procedure, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (also known as “KAN”) announced today that the professional committee appointed for the selection of the Israeli representative has decided that Noa Kirel (Hebrew: נועה קירל) will represent the country in the Eurovision 2023.

Who is Noa Kirel?

The 21-year-old Kirel became famous seven years ago when she released her first single called “Medabrim” (English meaning – “Talking”). It was followed by successful hits including “Killer”, “”Yesh Bi Ahava” (English meaning – “There’s Love in Me”), “Tikitas” (Hebrew version of “Τι Κοιτάς”, originally by Eleni Foureira), “Million Dollar”(featuring Shahar Saul), “Yahalomim” (English meaning – “Diamonds”) etc.

In addition, she starred in TV shows, in a film, and participated in the Talent Shows in 2019 and 2020. She has won the MTV Europe Music Awards for the best Israeli act between 2017 and 2020.

Since signing with the international record label Atlantic Records, Kirel has released three successful singles; “Please Don’t Suck” which was released in July last year, “Bad Little Thing” and “Thought About That” which was released in February, and which it has already gathered more than 34 million views.

 

 

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A post shared by Noa Kirel (@noakirel)

The selection process

Last month, the Broadcasting Corporation announced that Israel’s representative in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be selected through a professional committee, for the first time since 2014.

From 2015 to 2020, Israeli representatives were selected to compete in the reality show “The Next Eurovision Star”. This year, Michael Ben David was chosen to represent Israel in Turin, after winning the “X Factor for Eurovision” program that aired on Network 13. Ben David  did not qualify for the finals of the competition.

The committee included ten members, with expertise in culture, music, television and Eurovision. According to the announcement, committee members discussed 78 names of male and female singers “with rich and proven experience in performing before a large audience”.

In the second stage, each member of the committee suggested two names from the list  (up to 20 names in total). Then, the committee discussed the artists appearing on the list and narrowed the list down, in order of priority, with the most suitable artist ranked first on the list and so on.

At the end of the discussion, KAN made an official offer to the artist who was ranked first on the list to represent Israel in the competition, under conditions that will be determined by KAN. Noa Kirel’s representatives said that “Noa will be proud to represent Israel”.

What’s your take on Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2023? Will she do better than Michael Ben David did?

Israel: More information about the internal selection is out!

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The Israeli public broadcaster KAN announced a few days ago that the Eurovision 2023 representative will be chosen through an internal selection. In one of the morning radio shows of KAN, more information for the process are revealed.

From 2015 and with the exception of 2021, Israel used talent shows to select the representative. For 2023, a panel of 9 entertainment industry professionals will work on choosing the artist. Criteria include to be a well known artist with experience on live performances, that is successful in the local market. The hosts mention that there is already an interest from established Israeli artists to represent Israel. Names like Omer Adam and Static & Ben El Tavori are already on the table, among others.

Budget concerns was also a reason to chose the artist internally, due to high cost of production of the national selection shows. When it comes to the song, it will be chosen once the artist who will represent Israel is picked. The aim is to find the best song that ‘matches’ the artist.

Israel was represented in Eurovision 2022 by Michael Ben David who did not make it through to the final coming 13th in the second semi-final with 61 points.

What do you think about Israel going internal for 2023? Tell us in the comments!

Source: KAN

Israel: KAN announced an internal selection for 2023

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The Israeli public broadcaster KAN has revealed today through its official Facebook page that the Eurovision 2023 representative will be chosen internally.

A panel consisting of 9 broadcaster representatives and music professionals will be created with the task to chose the next Israeli representative. This marks the first time since 2014 that Israel is choosing an artist internally. From 2015 to 2020 the talent show Hakochav Haba La’Eurovision was used as the national selection method and in 2022 the X-Factor Israel 2022.

The post concludes that details on the song selection will be announced at a later stage.

 

What do you think about Israel going back to internal selection? Tell us in the comments!

Israel: Towards a solution for the crisis | Normally the delegation will go in Turin!

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According to local media, the crisis created by the strike in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is on strike, seems to be coming to an end. It seems that the Israeli delegation will normally go to Turin, to participate in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest.

The news fell like a bomb yesterday, after the public television of the country KAN, announced that under the current circumstances, the Israeli delegation can not go to Turin, since the GSS, the security service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is on a permanent strike. The Italian organization and the EBU refused to provide security personnel for the Israeli mission and so KAN announced on Tuesday 12/4, that it is unable to go to Turin.

The truth is that every Israeli delegation abroad, whether it is Eurovision, sports or any other event, is necessarily accompanied by security personnel. Strict security protocols always accompany Israeli missions when traveling abroad, especially after the “Munich Massacre”, when nine Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Olympics.

Despite the strike of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of the GSS (security service), instructed the security officers to consider other options, so that the delegation could travel to Turin without the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. KAN said it was in contact with GSS officials so that Michael Ben-David could properly represent Israel on the Eurovision stage. “The company thanks GSS for its help and hopes that a solution to the crisis will be found soon.”

With the crisis going to be resolved, all the 40 delegation will normally be on the stage of Pala Olimpico, to participate in Eurovision 2022!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFeohWlA20

Israel participates in the first half of the second semifinal.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source

Don’t forget to vote for the Grand Final of our poll here!

Israel: Eurovision 2023 participation confirmed!

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Israel confirmed its participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and is searching for a national final format.

KAN published a tender searching for the Israeli national selection for Eurovision 2023. By launching the tender for its national final, Israel confirmed its participation for Eurovision 2023, alongside San Marino and Cyprus for which it is already known that the will compete in the contest

The Israeli public broadcaster is looking for proposals from other broadcasters of the country, to collaborate for the national final. The proposed television show would select the Israeli representative and must be a show that has been produced or broadcasted in Israel or internationally.

The tender process follows the same process as was previously used to determine the Israeli selection between 2015 and 2021. From 2015 to 2020 the Israeli representative was selected using “Rising Star”, while “The X Factor Israel” was utilised in 2021.

Source: eurovoix.com

Israel: These are the eight songs of the national selection process, for Eurovision 2022!

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The X Factor Israel started on October 30, where the artist and the song that will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, will be selected.

A while ago, the eight songs that the four finalists of The XFactor Israel will have to perform, were played for the first time on Kan Gimmel. One of these eight songs will be the song that finally Israel will compete with, at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

You can listen to all the eight songs below:
  • Inbal Bibi – ZAZA
  • Inbal Bibi – Marionette
  • Michael Ben David – Don’t
  • Michael Ben David –I.M 
  • Eli Huli – Blinded Dreamers
  • Eli Huli – Nostalgia
  • Sapir Saban – Breaking My Own Walls
  • Sapir Saban – Head Up

The finalists

On January 27, four finalists were selected, on the second semi final of XFactor Israel, the selection process of Israel for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest!

The four finalists of  The XFactor Israel are:

  1. Inbal Bibi
  2. Eli Huli
  3. Michael Ben David
  4. Sapir Saban

The selection Process

Out of the 130 songs that were submitted, the above eight songs were selected and will be assigned to the four finalists in the hopes of becoming the Israeli representative of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

The final of the competition will take place on the 5th of February with the above four finalists. Each of the four will be assigned with two of the above new songs, which they will have to perform. There will also be a semi-final round, to select one of the two songs for each artist on February 3rd.

The song that will be selected will be the one with which each participant will claim the representation of Israel for Eurovision 2022. Four songs and four artists will compete in the X Factor Grand Final. Then, the audience and the jury will jointly choose the artist and the song who will represent the country in Turin.

We remind you that the popular talent show will be presented by Liron Weizman. According to domestic media, X Factor Israel judges will include Netta Barzilai, Aviv Geffen, Margalit Tzan’ani, Ran Danker and Miri Mesika.

Israel was represented by Eden Alene in Eurovision 2021 with the song Set Me Free, finishing 17th in the grand final on May 22nd.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Israel’s entry for Eurovision 2022!