Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Israel will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, as confirmed by the Israel Broadcasting Authority
(IBA). After much deliberation at the IBA over who would be the Israeli representative, it was announced that Noa
& Mira Awad
will go to Moscow
for Israel.
In a national final, Kdam Eurovision 2009, held on 2 March 2009, it was decided through the votes of juries and televoting, that the song that the duo will perform at Eurovision will be "There Must Be Another Way
" (Einaiych).
(EBU), which all member states must be to compete. Israel's first participation was in 1973
, where it was represented by Ilanit
and placed fourth.
Israel's first victory came in 1978
, when Izhar Cohen
& the Alphabeta
won with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi
". The 1979 contest was therefore held in Israel, the first time the contest was held outside of Europe, where Israel won again, this time represented by Gali Atari
& Milk and Honey
with "Hallelujah". The country is one of only four countries to win the contest while on home soil. The 1980 Contest
, however, was not held in Israel, due to the IBA's lack of funds to host another event, and so it was moved to the Netherlands
. The date set for this contest, however, was Israeli Memorial Day
, so the IBA withdrew. Israel's third, and most recent, win to date came in 1998
, when Dana International
won with "Diva
".
The Israeli national broadcaster, Israel Broadcasting Authority
(IBA) broadcasts the event each year and organizes the selection process for the its entry. The selection process has varied over the years from completely internal selections where the IBA chooses the performer and song, to a national final format where the public can vote for either the performer, the song, or both.
would be the 2009 Israeli Eurovision entrant. In the past he had been approached to represent Israel at Eurovision, but had turned the IBA down on its offer. In 2009, he was once again tipped as the leading candidate to be the entrant, but only on the condition that a current dispute between him and his former record label, Hed Arzi Music, is resolved, which forbids him from recording new material, for any purpose. This legal dispute, however, ended in failure, putting Skaat out of the running for Eurovision. Marina Maximillian Blumin
had been revealed as a possibility for the IBA's committee after Skaat's failure, but could only head to Moscow if she could resolve issues with her current military service. Maya Bouskilla
had also been revealed as a possibility, she was also enlisted in the Israeli army as of May 2008.
On 11 January, it was announced by the IBA that Achinoam Nini
, known as Noa, will represent Israel at the contest and it was later revealed that she would be joined by Mira Awad
. With the decision to send Awad, the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will be the first time an Israeli Arab singer will represent Israel.
Noa has revealed that their song for Eurovision will be performed in English
, Hebrew
and Arabic
, "with the goal of using [Eurovision] as a means to convey a message of peace in these difficult times".
was not able to co-produce Kdam Eurovision as in last year's contest. Noa and Mira Awad will perform four songs, all with lyrics in English, Hebrew and Arabic, with the public selecting the winning song in a televised final on 2 March 2009. All songs were written by Noa, Mira Awad and Gil Dor
.
In the show, the winner was decided through the votes of three juries and a televote. Two juries in the north and south of Israel, in Kiryat Shmona
and Be'er Sheva, comprised 15% of the final vote each. They were joined by a jury made by the IBA, making 30% of the vote, and a televote, comprising the remaining 40%. The winner of the contest was "There Must Be Another Way" (Einaiych), and will be the song sung at Eurovision.
came ninth in the 2008 contest
.
The song competed in the first semi-final and progressed to the finals. In the final itself, Israel performed in the number two slot, a position from which no entry has ever won the contest. It eventually finished in 16th place.
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority is Israel's state broadcasting network.It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951...
(IBA). After much deliberation at the IBA over who would be the Israeli representative, it was announced that Noa
Achinoam Nini
Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:...
& Mira Awad
Mira Awad
Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to...
will go to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
for Israel.
In a national final, Kdam Eurovision 2009, held on 2 March 2009, it was decided through the votes of juries and televoting, that the song that the duo will perform at Eurovision will be "There Must Be Another Way
There Must Be Another Way (Einaiych)
"There Must Be Another Way" is a song by Israeli singers Noa and Mira Awad, and was Israel's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, finishing 16th with 53 points. The song competed in the first semifinal on 12 May, qualifying for the final round...
" (Einaiych).
Background
Although not geographically in Europe, Israel has been allowed to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest since it is a member of the European Broadcasting UnionEuropean Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU), which all member states must be to compete. Israel's first participation was in 1973
Eurovision Song Contest 1973
The Eurovision Song Contest 1973 was the eighteenth Eurovision Song Contest and was held in Luxembourg. The language rule forcing countries to enter songs sung in any of their national languages was dropped, so performers from some countries sang in English....
, where it was represented by Ilanit
Ilanit
Ilanit is a female Israeli singer who represented her country twice in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1953 the family moved to Brazil and returned to Israel in 1960....
and placed fourth.
Israel's first victory came in 1978
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
, when Izhar Cohen
Izhar Cohen
Izhar Cohen is an Israeli singer and actor.Representing Israel, he won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Alphabeta performing "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" with music by Nurit Hirsh and words by Ehud Manor...
& the Alphabeta
Alphabeta
Alphabeta were a group of Israeli singers who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978 with Izhar Cohen.The group consisted of Reuven Erez, Lisa Gold-Rubin, Nehama Shutan, Ester Tzuberi, and Itzhak Okev.The winning song was called A-Ba-Ni-Bi....
won with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi
A-Ba-Ni-Bi
"A-Ba-Ni-Bi" was the winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed for Israel by Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta....
". The 1979 contest was therefore held in Israel, the first time the contest was held outside of Europe, where Israel won again, this time represented by Gali Atari
Gali Atari
Avigail "Gali" Atari is an Israeli actress and singer.-Career:She first appeared on the international scene in 1971, when she represented Israel at the World Popular Song Festival in Japan with the songs "All free" and "Give love away"...
& Milk and Honey
Milk and Honey (group)
Milk and Honey was an Israeli singing group consisting of Re'uven Gvitrz, Shmulik Bilu and Yehuda Tamir. The group performed with Gali Atari at the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, where they won with the song, "Hallelujah". Their track peaked in the UK Singles Chart at #5 in April 1979. They made...
with "Hallelujah". The country is one of only four countries to win the contest while on home soil. The 1980 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
, however, was not held in Israel, due to the IBA's lack of funds to host another event, and so it was moved to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The date set for this contest, however, was Israeli Memorial Day
Yom Hazikaron
Yom Hazikaron is Israel's official Memorial Day. In 2011, Israel honored the memory of soldiers killed in the line of duty and the civilian casualties too.-Observance:...
, so the IBA withdrew. Israel's third, and most recent, win to date came in 1998
Eurovision Song Contest 1998
The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was the 43rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1998 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The presenters were Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson...
, when Dana International
Dana International
Sharon Cohen , professionally known as Dana International is an Israeli pop singer of Yemenite Jewish ancestry. She has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums, positioning herself as one of Israel's most successful musical acts ever...
won with "Diva
Diva (song)
"Diva" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 performed in Hebrew by Dana International representing Israel. The music was composed by Tzvika Pick, and the lyrics by Yoav Ginai. It totalled 172 points in the polling.The song became the last entry entirely in a language other than...
".
The Israeli national broadcaster, Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority is Israel's state broadcasting network.It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951...
(IBA) broadcasts the event each year and organizes the selection process for the its entry. The selection process has varied over the years from completely internal selections where the IBA chooses the performer and song, to a national final format where the public can vote for either the performer, the song, or both.
Artist selection
It had been rumored that Harel SkaatHarel Skaat
Harel Skaat is an Israeli singer and songwriter. He represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Milim" ....
would be the 2009 Israeli Eurovision entrant. In the past he had been approached to represent Israel at Eurovision, but had turned the IBA down on its offer. In 2009, he was once again tipped as the leading candidate to be the entrant, but only on the condition that a current dispute between him and his former record label, Hed Arzi Music, is resolved, which forbids him from recording new material, for any purpose. This legal dispute, however, ended in failure, putting Skaat out of the running for Eurovision. Marina Maximillian Blumin
Marina Maximillian Blumin
Marina Maximilian Blumin , is an Israeli singer and actress. She was the runner up of the 5th season of Kokhav Nolad .-Early life:...
had been revealed as a possibility for the IBA's committee after Skaat's failure, but could only head to Moscow if she could resolve issues with her current military service. Maya Bouskilla
Maya Bouskilla
-Biography:Maya Bouskilla was born to a religious Moroccan-Jewish family in Netanya, Israel. She was discovered by a scout for Helicon Records, one of Israel's best known record companies, who heard her singing in a karaoke bar...
had also been revealed as a possibility, she was also enlisted in the Israeli army as of May 2008.
On 11 January, it was announced by the IBA that Achinoam Nini
Achinoam Nini
Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:...
, known as Noa, will represent Israel at the contest and it was later revealed that she would be joined by Mira Awad
Mira Awad
Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to...
. With the decision to send Awad, the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will be the first time an Israeli Arab singer will represent Israel.
Noa has revealed that their song for Eurovision will be performed in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, "with the goal of using [Eurovision] as a means to convey a message of peace in these difficult times".
Kdam Eurovision 2009
Kdam Eurovision was used by the IBA to select the song that will be performed for Israel at Moscow. Due to financial difficulties, the commercial channel Channel 2Channel 2 (Israel)
Channel 2 is an Israeli commercial television channel.- History :In 1990, after 13 years of deliberations, the Knesset passed a law that paved the way for the establishment of commercial television in Israel. The goal was to enhance pluralism and create competition. Channel 2 began broadcasting on...
was not able to co-produce Kdam Eurovision as in last year's contest. Noa and Mira Awad will perform four songs, all with lyrics in English, Hebrew and Arabic, with the public selecting the winning song in a televised final on 2 March 2009. All songs were written by Noa, Mira Awad and Gil Dor
Gil Dor
Gil Dor is a Israeli guitar player mostly known for his long term collaboration as accompanist, arranger, producer and co-composer with international concert and recording artist Achinoam Nini, also known as Noa.-Early life and education:...
.
In the show, the winner was decided through the votes of three juries and a televote. Two juries in the north and south of Israel, in Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona
Kiryat Shmona is a city located in the North District of Israel on the western slopes of the Hula Valley on the Lebanese border. The city was named for the eight people, including Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in 1920 defending Tel Hai....
and Be'er Sheva, comprised 15% of the final vote each. They were joined by a jury made by the IBA, making 30% of the vote, and a televote, comprising the remaining 40%. The winner of the contest was "There Must Be Another Way" (Einaiych), and will be the song sung at Eurovision.
| Draw | Artist | Hebrew Song Title | English Song Title | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noa Achinoam Nini Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:... and Mira Awad Mira Awad Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to... |
"Kol Shniya" (כל שניה) | "Second Chance" | 32 | 4th |
| 2 | Noa Achinoam Nini Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:... and Mira Awad Mira Awad Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to... |
"Na'amin Bachalom" (נאמין בחלום) | "Faith in the Light" | 72 | 3rd |
| 3 | Noa Achinoam Nini Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:... and Mira Awad Mira Awad Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to... |
"Bo'i Lirkod Iti" (בואי לרקוד איתי) | "Will You Dance With Me" | 84 | 2nd |
| 4 | Noa Achinoam Nini Achinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:... and Mira Awad Mira Awad Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to... |
"Einaiych" (עינייך) | "There Must Be Another Way" | 112 | 1st |
At Eurovision
Israel had to compete in one of the two semi-finals after Boaz MaudaBo'az Ma'uda
Boaz Mauda is an Israeli singer and songwriter. He won the fifth season of Kokhav Nolad, the Israeli version of Pop Idol, and represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, finishing in 9th place....
came ninth in the 2008 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
.
The song competed in the first semi-final and progressed to the finals. In the final itself, Israel performed in the number two slot, a position from which no entry has ever won the contest. It eventually finished in 16th place.