Introduction

• Participant(s): Eden Alene
• Song: Feker Libi
  
• Writer(s): Doron Medalie & Idan Raichel
• Composer(s): Doron Medalie & Idan Raichel
• Broadcaster: IPBC/KAN
  
• Social media:       
  
• Team review: 

Israel had the honour to host last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv. The stunning show has made a very good impression, even if the host entry “Home” by Kobi Marimi only made a 23rd place in the Grand Final. The Israeli broadcaster KAN has made a national final in the format of HaKokhav HaBa („The next star“), which can be decribed as a casting show. The winner was Eden Alene. The song “Feker Libi” has been chosen at a later stage.

Eden Alene was born in Jerusalem in 2000. She is the daughter of Jewish-Ethiopian immigrants and grew up in Jerusalem, where Eden Alene went to a religious school. In her high school time she joined a choir which consist of Arabian and Jewish children to support friendship without borders. Eden Alene decided to start a career in music.

In 2017 she won the X Factor show in Israel and in 2019 she took part in the HaKokhav HaBa („The next star“), where she received the ticket to Rotterdam. Regrettably, the ESC in Rotterdam has been cancelled, but Eden Alene has been selected by the Israeli broadcaster KAN to represent Israel in 2021.

The song “Feker Libi” means “My Love” and is a rhythmic dance song with African sound and dancing. There are five languages used in this song: English, Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic and a fictional African language. This is an uplifting song with an unusual atmosphere at Eurovision, it would have brought another colour into the ESC.

History

• Debut: 1973
• Participations: 43
• Victories: 4
• Finals: 36 (10 since 2004)
• Top 10: 20
• Chances for Top 10: 45%
• Chances for Final: 59%

Last year Israel hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the fourth time in history. This victory made Israel to an even stronger contender in this competition. Tel Aviv has been the host city for the first time and made a brilliant impression and the Israeli broadcaster KAN made a great an unforgettable show.

Israel joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973. The debut entry “Ey-Sham” by Ilanit made a very good 4th place in Luxembourg. Since then, the Israeli entries brought a new energy in the contest full of good music, dance and joy. In the ESC history of Israel there were many strong, outstanding and unforgettable songs. Israel is also popular for great choreographies, especially in the 80’s and 90’s the traditional formation dance was strongly used in the Israeli contributions and has been mimicked from other countries later, but not as successfully. The traditional “Hora” dance has become a new dimension, when this was the name of the 1982 entry “Hora” sung by Avi Toledano (2nd place).

The first victory could make Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta with “Abanibi” in Paris 1978. One year later, when Israel hosted the ESC for the first time, Israel was able to win in its own country with “Hallelujah” by Gali Atari & Milk & Honey. The year after, Israel paused and the Netherlands jumped in as a host country.

The extraordinary victory of the Dana International was legendary, when she sang her anthem “Diva” in Birmingham 1998, she was the first transgender to win the ESC. And another 20 years later, Netta could follow this 20 years victory interval with “Toy” and brought the ESC back to Israel.

Due to the introduction of the Semi Finals in 2004, Israel is not always among the finalists, out of 17 times, Israel could only qualify ten times.
The ESC is enjoying a great interest and popularity in Israel and has huge viewing figures every year.

Biggest successes

• 4x 1st place
  “Abanibi” | Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta (Paris 1978)
  “Hallelujah” |Milk and Honey (Jerusalem 1979)
  “Diva” |Dana International (Birmingham 1998)
  “Toy” |Netta (Lisbon 2018)
• 2x 2nd place
  “Hora” |Avi Toledano (Harrogate 1982)
  “Hi” |Ofra Haza (Munich 1983)
• 1x 3rd place
  “Kan” |Duo Datz (Rome 1991)

Video Nostalgia

• “Ey-sham” | Ilanit
  Rank 4, Luxembourg 1973
  
  
• “Ben Adam” | Yardena Arazi
  Rank 7, Dublin 1988
  
  
• “Lakahat Shiru” | Shiru
  Rank 24, Millstreet 1993