Hamsa (חמסה) was an Israeli musical quintet. The group was formed in 2001 by music producers Eyal Buchbut and Dror Margalit. The group got a breakthrough in the spring of 2003 with the single Chayav lamoot alai, followed by their debut album Hamsa, and shortly after disbanded, during 2004. They reunited in 2024 to compete in the eleventh season of HaKokhav HaBa.
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 46 times since making its debut in 1973. The current Israeli participant broadcaster in the contest is the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan). Israel has won the contest four times, and has hosted the contest in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999, and in Tel Aviv in 2019.
Israel was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Together We Are One", composed by Eddie Butler, with lyrics by Orly Burg and Osnat Zabag, and performed by Butler himself. The Israeli participating broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), selected its entry through the national final Kdam Eurovision 2006. The competition took place on 15 March 2006 and featured eleven entries. "Ze Hazman" (זה הזמן) performed by Eddie Butler emerged as the winner after achieving the highest score following the combination of votes from four regional juries and a public vote. The song title was later translated from Hebrew to English for Eurovision and was titled "Together We Are One". Butler had represented Israel in 1999 as part of the band Eden.
Israel was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "HaSheket SheNish'ar" (השקט שנשאר), written by Pini Aaronbayev, Eyal Shachar, and Ben Green, and performed by Shiri Maimon. The Israeli participating broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), selected its entry through the national final Kdam Eurovision 2005. The competition took place on 2 March 2005 and featured fourteen entries. "HaSheket SheNish'ar" performed by Shiri Maimon emerged as the winner after gaining the most points following the combination of votes from five regional juries and a regional televote.
Yehuda Saado is an Israeli singer and the winner of the third season of the Israeli music competition program Kokhav Nolad.
HaKokhav HaBa is an Israeli interactive reality singing competition, created by Keshet Media Group and broadcast on Channel 2 and on Channel 12. It is the basis of the Rising Star franchise. The show is a continuation of Kokhav Nolad which featured aspiring singers competing for a winning title. The program's format combines the internet, smartphone and television and is filmed live. Between 2015 and 2020, and again since 2024, the show is used to select Israel's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The X Factor Israel is the Israeli version of the British television music competition The X Factor. Season 1 was first announced in late 2012. Auditions for the show began on March 5, 2013. Promos for the show started airing in early September. The first season started its run on Saturday, October 26, 2013. The show airs during prime time on Reshet network on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The season concluded on January 14, 2014.
Israel participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Made of Stars" written by Doron Medalie. The song was performed by Hovi Star. Israeli broadcaster Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) collaborated with the commercial broadcaster Keshet in order to select the Israeli entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. The reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa L'Eirovizion, which was organised by Keshet and Tedy Productions, was used to select the Israeli entry. The fifteen show competition concluded with a final on 3 March 2016 that featured four performers who were matched with potential Eurovision songs. "Made of Stars" performed by Hovi Star emerged as the winner following a public vote.
Netta Barzilai, also known mononymously as Netta, is an Israeli singer. After winning the fifth season of HaKokhav HaBa, she earned the right to represent her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. On 12 May 2018, she won the contest, held in Lisbon, Portugal, with her song "Toy", marking Israel's fourth win in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Rotem Sela-Rotter is an Israeli model, television presenter, and actress; best known for starring as Noa Hollander on the Israeli television series Beauty and the Baker (2013–2021).
Israel originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation collaborated with the commercial broadcaster Keshet and Tedy Productions, which organisied the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion. The competition was won by Eden Alene, with a separate national final, HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion, held to select her entry "Feker Libi". However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goody Bag is the debut extended play by Israeli singer Netta. It was released on 25 June 2020 through Tedy Productions and BMG Rights Management. It contains five singles released over a span of two years, including "Toy", the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Israel participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy with the entry "I.M" performed by Michael Ben David. The Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan) collaborated with the commercial broadcaster Reshet in order to select the Israeli entry for the 2022 contest. The fourth season of the reality singing competition The X Factor Israel, which was organised by Reshet, was used to select the Israeli entry. The competition concluded with a final on 5 February 2022 that featured four finalists with potential Eurovision songs that were selected for them through a song selection round in January and February 2022. The winner was selected following the combination of the votes from a public vote and two jury groups.
The X Factor Israel is the Israeli version of the British television music competition The X Factor. The fourth season run between October 30, 2021, and February 5, 2022, on Reshet 13, airing in prime time.
"I.M" is a song by Israeli singer Michael Ben David. The song represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 after winning The X Factor Israel, Israel's national final. A revamped version of the song was released on 14 March 2022.
Israel participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan) internally selected Noa Kirel to represent the country with the song "Unicorn", which was written by Kirel along with Doron Medalie, May Sfadia, and Yinon Yahel. Kirel was announced as the Israeli representative on 10 August 2022, while the song, "Unicorn", was presented to the public on 8 March 2023.
Gil Rabbi is an Israeli technology entrepreneur.
Israel was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Hurricane", written by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles, and Stav Beger, and performed by Eden Golan. The Israeli participating broadcaster, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan), selected its representative through the show HaKokhav HaBa, in collaboration with commercial broadcaster Keshet and Tedy Productions, while the song was internally selected. The Israel–Hamas war impacted the production of the show and brought Israel's participation in the contest into controversy.
"Hurricane" is a song by Israeli singer Eden Golan. It was written by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles, and Stav Beger, and released on 10 March 2024 through Session 42. Inspired by an Israeli perspective of the 7 October attacks and its emotional aftermath on Israelis according to Golan and its songwriters, it represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, where it finished fifth.
Valerie Hamaty is an Arab Israeli singer and actress. She finished in second place in the eighth season of the musical reality show "Rising Star".
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