Hear the voices and raise that wall! The search for The Next Star for Eurovision 2018 continued in Israel last night with the next episode of the singing reality show. We got to meet a cool mix of stars, including teens, adults and one familiar contestant from Israel’s Kdam of yesteryear.

EPISODE 3 QUALIFIERS

Rinat Bar

Hardcore Eurovision fans might recognise Rinat from the Israeli national selection Kdam Eurovision 2005, where she sang “Kmo Chalom” (Like a Dream) and finished in seventh place. But Kdam wasn’t Rinat’s first experience on stage, as she has been performing since the age of 12 and has released nine albums so far. She has enjoyed a relatively successful career working as a singer and a composer — especially within her genre of pop-oriental music — but she has never become a full-fledged star in Israel. She made everyone dance during her audition, so maybe she will make us dance at Eurovision as well?

Audition score: 79% (votes from four judges) 

Tslil Goldman

Tslil (which means sound/tone in Hebrew) is a sweet 22-year-old from a huge family of messianic Jews: She’s got 12 brothers, y’all! She has never watched the Eurovision Song Contest since she doesn’t have a TV at home. But she’s definitely used to colour and eccentric personalities, as she works in circus fire shows for a living. Her beautiful voice and sense of fragility reminded us of Blanche, just with a much more childlike voice.

Audition score: 88% (votes from four judges) 

Riki Ben Ari

Age ain’t nothing but a number and Riki is the perfect example of that. Now in her 50s, she claims she was born a singer, but only sings in the office and while making her children lunch. The judges and the audience were shocked by her powerful voice and self-confidence during her audition, as she sounded like a professional singer that had been on stage for many years.

Audition score: 93% (votes from four judges)

Jose Steinberg

Jose, as his name implies, came to Israel from Colombia and fell in love with the country and its women. His personality and Latin charm impressed the judges and the audience, although he chose the most unoriginal song possible for his audition. Yes, it was “Despacito”.

Audition score: 93% (votes from four judges)

Eden Meiri

He’s only 17 years old, but he has music experience as a DJ and has been creating electro music since he was 13. He chose to sing an oriental ballad and earned endless compliments from the judges, with the exception of judge Harel Skaat, who wasn’t that impressed.

Audition score: 76% (votes from three judges) 

Shir Baruch

Shir, 26, lost her mother when she was 17 and hasn’t sung much since that tragedy. When the story came up just before her audition, she got emotional and took a few moments to pull herself together. She passed the audition with a song that had touching Hebrew lyrics and put her emotions on fine display. At one point she had to wipe away her tears. We wish her nothing but happiness.

Audition score: 72% (votes from two judges)

In case you missed any of the previous episodes, you can read and watch all the performances in our previous posts.

The auditions will continue in the coming weeks. This season is reported to have 20 episodes so you can expect the grand final around the end of February or early March.

Which artist do you like the most so far? Who do you think would do well for Israel at Eurovision?

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR ISRAEL EUROVISION NEWS

Photo credits: The Next Star for Eurovision

26 Comments
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Rita
Rita
6 years ago

I like Tslil, Riki (good job on a hard song), Jose, Eden, and Shir. Shir is probably my most favorite, though. I felt her voice.

Circle of Bibles
Circle of Bibles
6 years ago

I really liked Tslil, I’m rooting for her! I enjoyed all of these auditions though, Israel has a good selection of singers going for them.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

It’d be so cool if there was some Colombian representation in Eurovision! Hopefully with something more original than Despacito, but still.

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago

I’m Israeli and I’m so upset with our selection process for Eurovision First, the judges treat it like a normal cheap reality show and forget that in the end of the day, it’s Eurovision Also, they barely broadcast any other people who didn’t qualify Moreover, we don’t get to have a say when it comes to choosing the song, actually, the public can only vote in the final… I just wish my country would stop treating Eurovision like that.. Most of the people here hates the contest anyway and they don’t get a good reason to like it :/ We… Read more »

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Forgot to add that in episode 3, in my opinion, Riki was the best and probably one of the very few who actually should have a chance to reach the final and maybe go to Eurovision

Tali
Tali
6 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

I share your frustration but as long as Keshet Broadcasting calls the shots and not the newly formed IPBC it’s bound to stay this way. IPBC needs to get its act together. I’m not sure it’s a top priority for them and wouldn’t be surprised if they keep this arrangement going. I don’t mind seeing a mature woman like Riki making it, but she needs to prove herself in different music genres and show she’s versatile and genuinely cut from a different cloth.

Monique
Monique
6 years ago

So what’s the point of all these early stages of Rising Star if all of them qualify for the next round? Not a single elimination? Is this a contest or charity? So far only one girl had under 70%, but…she was saved by the hosts… And they can save another 4 rejected contestants! It’s all too obvious, all of them passing through… Foreseeable show, unfortunately Episode 1: Netta Barzilai 82% – Qualified Jonathan Mergui 88% – Qualified Jaki Gaforov 76% – Qualified Adva Omer 73% – Qualified Mor Karbasi 59% – Saved by the hosts (Qualified) Episode 2: Chen Aharoni… Read more »

Owen
6 years ago
Reply to  Monique

Wiwibloggs, just show the Qualifiers if you watch the full episodes you can see the other none qualifiers. Also, before the next round they cut some out, kind of like the shows within the Got Talent franchise.

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago
Reply to  Monique

One contestant did not pass whose his name I do not recall, got merely 6%

Sheila Reiss
Sheila Reiss
6 years ago
Reply to  Monique

I’m an American Jew and agree with Roy. When I sent this link, I thought it was just a reality singing contest and did not realize that it was a contest for Eurovision. But I liked Rinat as an Israeli contestant for Eurovision because her song and Mizrachi singing voice feels authentic to Israel. I liked Riki, but would need to hear her singing an Israeli song to know for sure if she would be a good contestant representing Israel.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

How is that lady in her 50s?! Youthful queen. Literally a fetus.

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

She’s gorgeous, from the interior, and exterior.

quirky girl
quirky girl
6 years ago

I like Israel, but the most free country in the world is Russia. Fact.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  quirky girl

Delete it fat

quirky girl
quirky girl
6 years ago

What are you talking about, Italian? Is your country more free than Russia? Sure not.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  quirky girl

The world freedom index disagrees, but you can keep living in a bubble-bubble, henny.

quirky girl
quirky girl
6 years ago

Italy blames Asia Argento for being raped in Hollywood, and she had to escape to Berlin, Germany. Italy is living in Middle Age. In Russia rapists go to jail, and there, they have an mysterious accident. HAHAHA

Escfan96
Escfan96
6 years ago
Reply to  quirky girl

what the heck

quirky girl
quirky girl
6 years ago
Reply to  Escfan96

You can search online and you will find all the information. I just hope that those countries like Italy and others will stop thinking they are superior to Russia. They are not.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  quirky girl

Girl… stop talking nonsense. Asia Argento’s rapist is an American, so this is the American justice system’s business to deal with. I guess you’ve never stepped outside of Russia.

quirky girl
quirky girl
6 years ago

As long as you will think you are better than Russia, I will always have something to say to prove that your country is not perfect as you are told. No country is perfect, why do you insist to make Russia the worst?

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

The essential is missing from the article: all 6 of them pass through the next phase? It’s not very clear….

Jaccobabe
Jaccobabe
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

I think so, since the headline says Episode 3 qualifiers?

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

Yep. You need to get at least 70% the get through.

Sasha
Sasha
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

Yes, if they reach 70% then they go to the next phase.