Israel

Mira Awad

About Quick Facts NameMira Anwar Awad Born11 June 1975 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam 2009Kdam 2005 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Noa) Biography Mira Anwar Awad is an Arab-Israeli singer, actress, TV host, composer, songwriter, and political activist. BiographyMira Awad was born on June 11, 1975, and grew up in the village of Rama in Israel. Her father, an Arab-Christian, is a family doctor, while her mother, a Bulgarian-Christian, specializes in Slavic languages. They met when her father was studying medicine in Bulgaria. Awad also identifies as Palestinian and is a graduate of the Rimon School of Music. Career Early Music Career At 16, Awad started her music career as the lead singer of the band “Samana,” which sang Western rock in Arabic. During the early 2000s, she hosted Zap L’Rishon on Channel 1 and participated in Festigal in 2002, performing the song “Tze El HaMasa,” which placed sixth. In 2005, she was part of Idan Raichel’s album “Mi’Ma’amakim,” singing the Arabic song “Azini”, which she wrote. That same year, Awad competed in the Kdam Eurovision with the song “Zman,” which came last. Eurovision and Albums 2009 marked a significant year as Awad, alongside Achinoam Nini, was chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. They sang “There Must Be Another Way”, a song about peace and coexistence, finishing in 16th place. Awad was the first Arab to represent Israel in Eurovision. In August of that year, she and Nini received an award from the Mayor of Lourdes in France. June 2009 saw the release of her first album, “Bahlawan”, featuring songs in Arabic and English, produced by guitarist Amos Ever-Hadani. A joint album with Nini, “There Must Be Another Way,” was also released, including Eurovision songs and a cover of the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out.” Awad was named Arabic Singer of the Year by Kol Yisrael in 2009, with her album winning Album of the Year. She composed music for the Arabic solo performance “Not Noah’s Ark,” directed by actor Norman Issa, and won an award for Best Music at the Masrahid Arabic Solo Performance Festival. A recording contract with Sony followed in 2010, leading to the release of three international albums, starting with the first in 2011. “All My Faces,” her second album, produced by Sony and Carlos Jean, was released in April 2011. That same year, Awad performed at the Medal of Freedom ceremony in Philadelphia, where Bill Clinton awarded the Medal to Tony Blair. She also performed with Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli at Masada. Collaborations and New Projects Awad collaborated once again with Idan Raichel in 2013, singing “Ana Ana Wa’anta Anta,” meaning “I am I and you are you” on his album “Reva L’sheva.” In June of that year, she sang “Through Fire and Water” with the Israeli metal band Orphaned Land on their album “All Is One.” Theater Career After completing her studies at “Rimon,” Awad began acting in theater in 1998. She gained fame in 2002 for her role as Eliza Doolittle in the musical “My Fair Lady” at the Cameri Theater, alongside Oded Kotler as Professor Higgins. Her theatrical career continued with roles in the musical play “Another Place and a Foreign City” in 2006 and “This Great Sea” at the Cameri Theater in 2007. Awad was selected to join the “Excellence in Culture Fund” as a theater actress in 2008. Television and Film Awad’s television career includes hosting the program “Shvil HaSipurim” on Educational Television in 2003. From 2007 to 2013, she acted in the comedy series Arab Labor on Channel 2, playing Amal, a feminist Arab lawyer. She participated in the fifth season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars on Channel 2 in 2010. From 2012 to 2013, Awad co-hosted the TV show Achla Yom on Educational Television with fashion designer Yuval Caspin. She also appeared in the film Farewell Baghdad (directed by Nissim Dayan, based on the book by Eli Amir), released in 2014. In April 2014, Awad took part in the TEDxHIT-Interaction event, discussing walking a fine line between opposites (Acrobat – Bahlawan). Early 2019 saw the broadcast of the TV series “Muna” on Kan 11, created by Awad, for which she won the Shulamit Aloni Award in 2021. Personal Life Awad married Costa Mogilevich, an Israeli of Ukrainian-Jewish descent, in December 2013. The couple currently lives in London. Political Activity Awad ran for the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council in the 2008 municipal elections with the City for All party and is part of the Expanded Faction Forum guiding the party’s council members. She supported the Hadash party in the Israeli Knesset elections in 2009 and is a member of the Public Council of the New Israel Fund. Entries There must be another way (& Noa) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=ObDFCvUvJBnWcXzh

Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist. Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At age 15, she started attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She also joined the Riverdale tribe of Tzofim Tzabar Scouts, which strengthened her connection to Hebrew and Israel. During a tour of Israel organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature, she met Asher Barak and fell in love with him. At 17, she returned to Israel alone, intending to stay for about a year. During this time, she studied at the Mae Boyar High School in Jerusalem and lived in a boarding school. She decided to stay in Israel, and after a few years, her parents followed. After completing high school, she served in the IDF’s Northern Command band, where she sang the song “Always 18.” Her early career saw her recording the song “Babel” for the soundtrack of the film “Notre Dame de Paris” by Gerald Pullicino in 1988. The song was in English, French, and Hebrew and became a hit in France in 1989. Achinoam Nini’s acceptance to the Rimon School of Music in 1990 marked a significant turn in her career, where she met guitarist and arranger Gil Dor. They started working together as a musical duo. The duo performed at the international jazz festival in Eilat in 1990. Following this, they released their first album, “Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live” in July 1991. Their second album, “Achinoam Nini Gil Dor,” came out in September 1993, featuring songs by Leah Goldberg and Rachel, including the hit “Boi Kala.” Her international career began in 1994 with the album “Noa.” She collaborated with many international artists and performed for Pope John Paul II in 1994 and 2000. Continuing her music journey, she released “Calling” in May 1996, “Achinoam Nini” in April 1997, and “Achinoam Nini and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” in April 1998. Further albums include “Blue Touches Blue” in March 2000, “Now” in September 2002, and “Noa Live” in October 2005. She explored new sounds with “Napoli-Tel Aviv” in September 2006 and “Genes and Jeans” in March 2008. In 2009, she collaborated with Mira Awad on “There Must Be Another Way.” Chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2009, she performed the song with Mira Awad in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, finishing in 16th place. The creative journey continued with “Noapolis – Noa Sings Napoli” in February 2011, “Eretz, Shir” in April 2011, “Love Medicine” in June 2014, and “Letters to Bach” in 2019. In 2023, she was selected to perform at the championship celebrations of Napoli. Political Positions Achinoam Nini frequently expresses left-wing political views. She participated in a left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem in May 2010, supporting “one capital for two peoples.” Ahead of the UN session in September 2012, where Palestinians declared statehood, she criticized Netanyahu’s government, saying it did not represent her. She performed at an alternative memorial ceremony for Jewish and Palestinian bereaved families and faced boycotts from right-wing groups. In January 2017, she compared US President Donald Trump to Hitler and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vulgar and racist. She actively participated in protests against Benjamin Netanyahu and the thirty-seventh Israeli government, which sometimes led to the cancellation of her performances. Nini serves as a board member of the New Israel Fund. After the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, she was involved in organizing a letter condemning violence against Israeli civilians and calling for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Personal Life Achinoam Nini is married to pediatrician Asher Barak, and they have three children. She has been a vegetarian since 2011. Her sister, Odia Nini, is also a singer-songwriter. Awards In 2006, she was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the President of Italy. In 2019, she received the Shulamit Aloni Lifetime Achievement Award. Entries There must be another way (& Mira Awad) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=acmzkXO5AkmFsjxr

Eurovision 2024: Facts and rumors.

Last week was the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. It looks like this 68th edition will go down as one of the most controversial to date.What has happened, and what is still happening? Eurovision 2024: Facts and rumours: Participation Israel Fact Friction already starts to arise in February 2024.Israel’s submitted song, “October Rain,” is not approved. At first they refused to change the song, until the President of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog, interfered; the song is adapted, and the title is changed (to “Hurricane”).Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, despite protests from many participating countries. Rumor There has been speculation until the first semi-final that Israel will withdraw at the last minute, which, as we all know, did not happen. Disqualification The Netherlands Fact On Friday morning, May 10, it becomes clear that Joost Klein, representing the Netherlands, is not allowed to rehearse at the very last minute. The EBU then announced that an incident had occurred with an employee of a camera crew. Then it remains quiet for almost 24 hours. Joost is not allowed to participate in the jury final on Friday evening, the recording from the 2nd semi-final will be used. Just before the family show starts, on Saturday afternoon, it is announced that the Netherlands will be disqualified. The matter is transferred from the police to the prosecution. The case is expected to be heard in June. After a long silence, Joost announced this week that “he is very sad”, and agrees that he would have pushed the camera, but denies that he touched or threatened the person in question. Rumor Immediately after the incident, pushing the camera/phone away, Joost Klein apologized. From that moment on, the camerawoman in question refused any form of conversation, although she was asked to do so. European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Facts During and after the Festival, the EBU received a lot of criticism, and several complaints were filed: As mentioned earlier: the participation of Israel. Refusing to display flags in the hall, other than those of the participating countries. For example, the European Union and non-binary flags were banned. The booing in the hall was filtered out, and an audio tape of cheering could be heard on TV. The Spanish, Dutch, Irish and Greek delegations have filed official complaints about the behavior of the Israeli delegation ánd the Israelian press. Nothing has been done with these complaints. Joost Klein (The Netherlands) was disqualified, without it being clear what exactly happened. After the festival, several artists opened up about the intimidating and hostile atmosphere behind the scenes. Various broadcasters from participating countries have requested clarification through a so-called “open letter” to the EBU. Rumors Since there was an incident involving a camerawoman, you would think that there should be camera footage. These could be deliberately withheld. Money talks; Since Moroccon Oil, the main sponsor is from Israel, the EBU does not dare to take action against the misconduct of the Israeli delegation and press. The Dutch artist Joost Klein was sacrificed to turn the attention away from the Israeli delegation. It is sad that the victory of Switzerland’s Nemo has been overshadowed by all the commotion. The calls for the resignation of the incumbent board of the EBU in general, and of its chairman Martin Österdahl, are becoming louder and louder.Will the EBU take a good look in the mirror and take its responsibility? To be continued…..

Malmö Messages: And we are complete!

photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett With the ten finalists from the 2nd semifinal, we are complete. All the finalists are known. The 10 countries getting through to the Grand Final tonight are: Latvia Austria Netherlands Norway Israel Greece Estonia Switzerland Georgia Armenia

The second semifinal

photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett The hosts Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman open the show with their own version of “Tattoo.” Malta In the Maltese act by Sarah Bonnici, there is a lot of movement and dancing. Later during the act, she is blindfolded, as are her dancers. Despite so much movement, Sarah manages to sing remarkably well. Albania Besa wears a turquoise gown with gemstones. The stage also includes several dancers, which might make it look a bit messy. However, many dancers are projected onto LED screens. Besa’s voice sounds a bit sharp here and there. Greece First, we see her purple boots, then the whole Marina Satti. She is also flanked by four dancers, but it looks much more organized. Greece has chosen a sophisticated entry not meant for casual listeners. A lot happens during this entry. Marina continues to sing well. Switzerland Nemo takes the viewer into his story with the song “The Code,” managing to crack the (binary) code. Their clothing says it all. Nemo has so far managed to enhance their narrative through fashion statements. Nemo jumps, skips, shows himself to be a balancing artist… and continues to sing crystal clear. We do not know if this is a winner, but we definitely respect their skills. Czechia You would expect Aiko to be standing on a pedestal during her performance. That’s not the case, but we find that the ceiling (one of the cubes) is very low. Aiko has four… Her nipples are no longer visible. Pay particular attention to the high note that Aiko effortlessly hits. Aiko surprises! During the first semifinal, Nicole (from Hugo) received a tribute, and in this semifinal, Jahn Teigen (ESC 1978, 1982, 1983) is honored. We are treated to a journey through Eurovision history with several participants who did not finish very high. France Slimane, dressed in white, starts singing while lying down, then sits up. Everything is shot in close-up, which makes the song even more intimate. Slimane pulls out all the stops in terms of his singing ability. The song has its distinct fans, but others are completely on the opposite end of the spectrum. Austria It’s interesting to put someone on stage who has held various other roles at the contest. Singing is clearly not Kaleen’s strongest suit. Regardless of how enjoyable the song may be found, the singing is forgotten in Austria. However, the act looks absolutely tight, and Kaleen knows very well what she is doing in terms of dance. Denmark It seems like you only see a singer sprinkling some sand and singing her song. However, we also see a second Saba in the background… A hologram, as it turns out, because at one point she disintegrates into sand. Occasionally, Saba tends to sing too loud, which makes the whole thing seem a bit shouty. Armenia Cheerfulness all over, garnished with typical Armenian sounds. Singer Jaklin Baghdasarian of Ladaniva plays a leading role throughout the act. The other band members and backing band stand behind her, but at one point, the flutist also comes forward. We see all sorts of things in the background: trumpets, chickens, and the artists themselves. Latvia Looking at his Instagram account, he is very cheerful and humorous: the Latvian Dons. But seeing him standing there in his sleeveless leather outfit amid a circle, and hearing his very serious ballad, we notice little of that. There is nothing wrong with this song, but that might also be the problem. Spain Both the singer and the dancers are dressed in black. The singing isn’t fantastic, but Nebulossa certainly knows how to throw a party in the hall. And of course, halfway through the act, the dancers strip off their clothes and continue dancing with bare chests and buttocks. At the end, a keyhole appears behind the singer Mery. The Spaniards really throw a party. San Marino We stick with the Spanish language, as San Marino sends the Spanish group Megara. Singer Kenzy Loevett is briefly flanked by two dancers in scary Easter bunny suits. Everything is pink and black in this act. It’s all rock, and the group tries to match the scariness of Bambie Thug, but it remains rather tame for a horror show. Georgia Nutsa Buzaladze is dressed in gold and stands in a circle of fire, which at one moment looks like a sun, the next a burning hoop. Nutsa is flanked by four dancers, and gives her all in terms of singing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good. For Georgia, it’s definitely not a done deal. Belgium We had already seen photos of Mustii amid a circle of microphones, but he starts alone on stage. He then stands on a rotating platform. Later, he goes into this circle. Mustii is dressed in white. The singing we hear here is very cautious, with Mustii consciously staying below the high notes. He did not, as we previously reported, take his shirt off. But towards the end, we see the whole hall going wild with the Belgian entry! Estonia 5miinust and Puuluup are having a party on stage. The title of the song is, as previously mentioned, the longest ever. Whether the party really come across with all the “hey hey hey” is still a question. Possibly a finalist position for Estonia, but that is by no means certain. Italy Angelina Mango starts lying down, with roses projected under her. She has a sort of henna-like print depicted. This print also continues with the dancers. There are so many prints all over. There are so many details that you occasionally don’t see Angelina and her dancers at all. The singing is fine where it concerns Angelina. She ends a cappella. That takes skilsl, and Angelina has them. Italy will finish high, but perhaps not win. Israel The Israeli entry is the only ballad in this latter stage of the second semifinal. Just before she starts singing, Eden Golan leans back in a circle with lights. Five dancers flank her,

Malmö Messages: microphones, fire and circles

San Marino is represented by Megara. This morning, a discussion arose around the rehearsals: it was a missed opportunity not to have the group rehearse at 11:11, since that was the title of the song. Little has changed since the first rehearsal. Pink and black are still the colors, including of the graphics. Expectations are low: a 35th place in the odds. Georgian Nutsa Buzaladze is surrounded by a lot of fire. What else can you expect with a song called “Firefighter”. She is mostly standing in a circle with, of course, a red background. The circle seems to depict the sun. Here too, few changes compared to the previous rehearsal. Georgia is currently 18th at the bookmakers and seems set to break the curse of not reaching the finals. Belgium rehearsed third today. We already know the act: Mustii stands in a circle of microphones, dressed in a white, gem-studded outfit. At one point, he steps out of the circle and removes his blouse. It now seems as if he continues singing with a bare torso, but his torso is also adorned with gemstones. The criticism of Mustii’s singing has by now subsided, and we are curious to hear how it will sound today when the video comes out on Youtube. Belgium is currently 12th with the bookmakers. Some things only become apparent when more photos are released. 5miinust x Puuluup make clever use of the available cubes. There is a lot of attention to the instruments used during Estonia’s act. Estonia is currently 21st with the bookmakers. It will be close whether the Estonians make it to the final with (of these) narcotics we (certainly) know nothing. EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Also, little news to report from Israel, although now we see different colors of lighting in the photos: blue and yellow. The clothing is still white and Eden Golan stands in a glowing circle singing her song Hurricane. The song is one of the few ballads in this year’s festival. The bookmakers expect an 8th place.

Malmö Messages:

The longest title ever comes from Estonia: “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”. The performing group is 5miinust & Puuluup. The band members are dressed in black. They play their song under the cubes that are visible in various entries. These cubes change color, similar to what happens on the LED screens behind them. The entry from Israel is “Hurricane,” sung by Eden Golan. Like her Latvian counterpart, Eden also stands in a circle, but a smaller one. It is neon-lit. Inside the circle, there is a wind machine and ladders. Eden is flanked by a group of five dancers. Eden wears a white dress while her dancers are dressed in gray. Norway sings in Norwegian for the first time since 2006. The group Gåte will perform the song “Ulveham.” Singer Gunnhild Sunli stands on a rotating platform among rocks and trees, as if she is by a cave. The graphics are adjusted accordingly. She wears dark green wide pants with a matching top while singing the song. At the end of the performance, one of the guitarists throws his guitar into the air and then catches it again. Joost, representing The Netherlands with his song “Europapa”, wears his iconic blue suit, flanked by two dancers in tracksuits. This seems to be a nod to the gabber scene of the 1990s. Behind a kind of keyboard stands influencer Appie Mussa in a blue and yellow bird costume. Fellow influencer Stuntkabouter also stands behind a small keyboard, but in a ‘regular’ blue suit. The lyrics are projected on the LED screens. The people from eurovision.tv especially praise the boundless energy that emanates from this performance.Yesterday, Joost said about showing snippets of the rehearsals: “Why would you do that? You don’t do that for a magician as well”. We got the idea that we don’t know everything about the Dutch act yet….

🇮🇱 Road To Malmö: Israel

photo: IPBC/Kaan We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Israel. Eden Golan Eden Golan is an Israeli singer born on October 5, 2003, in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. At the age of five and a half, she moved with her family to Moscow, Russia. This move was challenging as she faced social isolation due to her Israeli identity, with peers often calling her “Natasha” instead of her name. Eden’s musical journey began in earnest in 2015 when she competed in the Russian pre-selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Schastye,” finishing fifth. She further showcased her talent on “The Voice Kids Russia” in 2018, choosing Pelageya as her mentor and impressing with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” although she did not make the top three. Returning to Israel in 2022, Eden collaborated with Lithuanian producer Lucky Luke on the track “Ghost Town,” which garnered around 700,000 Spotify streams. She continued to release music, including the singles “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with TYMMA, and “Taxi” and “DOPAMINE” in 2023. 2024 was a pivotal year for Eden as she competed in HaKokhav HaBa’s 10th season. Her powerful audition of “Rise Up” by Andra Day scored a perfect 100%, paving her way to victory. Eden is set to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 with the song “Hurricane,” originally titled “October Rain,” after overcoming lyric controversies. HaKokhav HaBa HaKokhav HaBa (Rising star) is the national selection for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. It is a talent show with audition rounds. Among others former Eurovision participant Shiri Maimon was a member of the jury. In the final, four artists competed against eachother. Eden Golan was the clear winner. The song, “Hurricane”, was written for Eden in a later stage. One of the jury members, Keren Peles, is one of the co-writers of the song. Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1973, Ilanit was the first Israeli representative in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel was and is able to participate in the contest as the country is a member of the EBU. Not only European countries, but also neighbouring countries are members of the EBU.Israel won the contest four times: in 1978 Izhar Cohen & The Alpha Beta sang “A-ba-ni-bi” to a first place. A year later, Gali Atari & Milk and Honey kept the trophy in Israel with “Hallelujah”. It was Dana International who won the contest with “Diva” in 1998. In recent years, 2018 to be more precise, Netta won the contest with her song “Toy”.Last year, Noa Kirel reached a 3rd place with her song “Unicorn”. Netta, photo: EBU/Andres Putting The Bookmakers Currently, the bookmakers predict a 9th place for Israel in the odds to win the contest. In the odds for the 2nd semifinal, the country is 7th. So it is likely that Israel will make it to the final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The Song And this is the song:

🇮🇱 “Hurricane” is the song for Israel

Tonight, the Israeli song “Hurricane” has been presented. Singer Eden Golan was chosen already a few months ago. Her entry was controversial: the lyrics of the song, originally titled “October rain”, where rejected by the EBU. Another text was also rejected; after that Israeli broadcaster changed the lyrics of “October rain”, now titled “Hurricane”. It became the Israeli song. The song is written and composed by Avi Ohion, Keren Peles and Stav Beger.

🇮🇱 EBU and Israel agree on lyrics Eden Golan

The EBU has greenlit the revised lyrics for Israel’s entry, clearing the way for Israeli artist Eden Golan’s involvement. This year’s contest is set to take place in Sweden during May. Initially, Golan intended to perform a piece titled “October Rain,” which appeared to allude to the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7th. Lyrics like “there’s no more oxygen left to breathe” and “each was a good child, without exception” were part of the original song. However, the EBU, the festival’s coordinator, found the original lyrics overly political and consequently rejected them. Similarly, another track, “Dance Forever,” was turned down for implying a reference to the tragic killing of young Israelis at the Nova music festival on October 7th. The updated submission is named “Hurricane,” although it shares the melody with “October Rain.” Golan is set to debut it on Israeli TV this Sunday.