We’ve now watched 32 episodes of The Next Star for Eurovision — Israel’s ongoing and never-ending national selection for Eurovision. On the three most recent episodes, we saw 11 narrowed down to nine, meaning we’re finally ready for the quarter-final. On the first of these two recent eliminations, all artists performed Idan Raichel songs alongside Raichel himself. The 11 remaining singers were split into two groups, and the lowest scored artist in the weaker group got eliminated. However, during the most recent elimination, the show once again used the duel format.
Episodes 29+30 – Idan Raichel special
Performances – Group 1
- First place: Eden Alene – “Shoshanim Atzuvot” (89%)
- Second place: Lali Kolishkin – “Im Hayita Ro’e” (78%)
- Third place: Loai Ali – “She’eriot Shel HaHayim” (77%)
- Orr Amrami-Brockman – “Ve’Im Tavo’i Elay” (74%)
- Ohad Shragai – “MiKol Ha’Ahavot” (56%)
- Last place (eliminated): Dor’el Sa’adon – “Lifnei SheYigamer” (54%)
Performances – Group 2
- First place: Raviv Kaner – “MiMa’amakim” (86%)
- Second place: Moran Aharoni – “Ahava Kazo” (85%)
- Third place: Ella Lee Lahav – “Mehake” (83%)
- Gaya Shaki – “Ulay HaPa’am” (80%)
- Last place (saved): Eden Zohar Sivan – “La eternidad que se perdió” (76%)
Summary
After all performances ended, Eden Zohar Sivan and Dor’el Sa’adon were up for elimination. Since Dor’el got the lower score, and was in the weaker group, the judges chose to eliminate him. So, Dor’el Sa’adon found himself out of the contest in 11th place. Meanwhile, Raviv Kaner and Eden Alene won their respective groups.
Episodes 31+32 – Final 10 first duels
Duels
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- Eden Alene – “Fuego” (79%) vs Raviv Kaner – “Human” (85%)
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- Ohad Shragai – “Feel” (73%) vs Lali Kolishkin – “I Lived” (80%)
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- Ella Lee Lahav – “Kill This Love” (59%) vs Gaya Shaki – “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (83%)
- Eden Zohar Sivan – “Shape of You” (44%) vs Orr Amrami-Brockman – “Sha’ar HaRahamim” (61%)
- Loai Ali – “Shnei Meshuga’im” (61%) vs Moran Aharoni – “Take Me to Church” (65%)
Summary
All five singers that were second in the duel’s running order won their respective duels. Since Eden Zohar Sivan scored 44%, by far the lowest score of the round, the judges chose to eliminate her. The nine remaining artists have qualified to the quarter-final.
Are you happy with the eliminations? Who should make it to the final?
Err, the links just go to a 4 sec Keshet Ad.
This show is just the worst. So disrespectful of its own contenders. Notice how every performance is focused on the judges overreacting and arguing among themselves and the hosting giving their bland insights from, with just a few random glimpses of the singer actually performing uninterrupted. It’s such an insult to the viewers’ intelligence, and though I am appreciative and grateful for the huge revolution “The Next Star” made in the Israeli perception of Eurovision and the great achievements that came with it – I am glad that next year we’ll have a selection method that is (hopefully) watchable and… Read more »
It’s a singer-centric show with questionable entertainment values and lousy workplace ethics (lack of transparency, arbitrary rules, selective editing, viewers’ disengagement in the voting process etc.). I’m totally aware that the selection process is a sideshow in a loud and vulgar ‘circus’ which reflects the Israeli temperament and the sense of loud familiarity among many Israelis (or at least among a large cross section of society). That still doesn’t excuse the almost constant attention deficit disorder going on there with all the silly and self-explanatory commentary throughout the performances as if it were a soccer stadium tribune. Even if it’s… Read more »
It is a reality TV show, produced like Israelis like it (heartwarming personal stories, craziness and shenanigans). Israeli versions of Reality TV shows (like Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race) have longer seasons to pay back the investment through ads. Point is – this is not really a selection show in the Eurofan sense. It is not aimed to the Eurofans, it is aimed for Israelis looking for entertainment, and it delivers. Every time. Only thing i’d change is talking over the songs. Assi & Rotem rule!!
Well, I think “The Next Star” is just bad TV, and I’m not saying this as a Eurofan but as an Israeli TV viewer looking for entertainment. I accept the fact that it does well rating wise (as would almost any show on channel 12), but it doesn’t make my opinion of the show is any less valid, and I find it to be total garbage. Including Assi and Rotem. Assi did great work as a Eurovision host because he had to more or less stick to a script, the open mic he gets on the next star makes his… Read more »
No, common sense rules. 6 seasons of ‘Next Star for Eurovision’ are enough for now. The format has run its course for the purpose of Eurovision selection because it disproportionately centers on singers and not on original songs. There are supposed be two parallel tracks and any separation between them is artificial and counterproductive. It only alienates potential creative forces which otherwise don’t stand a chance as long as ‘Tedy’ is calling the shots and looking out for its own pack. The Next Star can find another big prize as a motivation for keeping the brand as it is. Nobody… Read more »
Not saying that you’re right or wrong. for me, both a Eurofan and an Israeli, I prefer to watch this entertaining show, as long as it takes, then to watch a melodifestivalen type event or a Kdam (Israel is just too small for a successful Kdam with 36 original songs and these events always feel like a flop.). I agree about Assi – he is unbearable, but Rotem balances him out, and also shuts him up. To me, this is great TV, even if it is not a classic Eurovision selection show
32 episodes is too much omg
Dont forget that every episode is also about 85% annoying, endless bullsh!t like an interview with the hosts, interview with the judges, dumb useless sh!t Asi and Rotem do, dumb useless sh!t the judges do, pranks, guests behind the scenes that promote other Keshet shows, items about a f*cking nobody that laughs like a horse at everything the hosts say (I bet they keep her just for that). I mean, even when the contestants do FINALLY sing, most of the time they will cut every 3 seconds to the reactions of the hosts and judges that won’t SHUT THE F#CK… Read more »
Why are you even surprised? The performances were always a sideshow in this vulgar and self-serving circus. This entire process is about shameless self-promotion and product placement. Keshet12 got too cocky and negligent with its work ethics and questionable entertainment values so someone at Kan had to put an end to this charade. There is no real contest going on, eliminations are completely arbitrary at times and a lot of what’s going on is fabricated for artificial drama with frantic and noisy editing techniques. Contestants know what they get themselves into and what the terms of their contract stipulate, so… Read more »
And the award for the best name I’ve seen on here goes to Talentina Monetta
I feel Israel have the worst selection methode of all 41. Ofc i like long shows but this is to long. No hate
You mean 36 (four more to go) Monetina Valenta
Talentina – this show is first and foremost an entertainment show. The Israeli public watches it for 1 main reason: wackiness of the hosts and panel. If you’d watch an Israeli watching the show you’d find him cracking up every 2 minutes. It is highly entertaining and the selection process is secondary. (also it is very easy to find weeks with 3 episodes. This should be counted by weeks,not by episodes, but it is still too long, just like any other talent show)
Fair enough. We’re not the target audience.
Why do many of these contestants choose the same songs from last year’s show? This seems dumb to me because it is not original and they will be automatically compared to last year’s performance of the same song.
Didn’t mean it to be that long but anyway… Most of them really blew it with the ‘Vision for Eurovision’ challenge. I applauded those who already know their worth and are consistent in bringing unique interpretations to songs that really fit them like a glove. Others may have gotten bad advice or wrongly assumed that an elaborate stage show was going to upgrade them while in reality it only overshadowed their vocals or made them sound technical. Lali, Raviv, Gaia and Ohad made the best out of their comfort zone. Ella Lee deserved a higher score for taking a risk,… Read more »
Still in team Orf. He hasn’t let me down once. Amazing voice and presence.
As a Mets fan, Raviv Kaner broke my heart a bit with his hat. Great voice, though.
Wow, Raviv Kainer! Both his voice and looks:-)
Loved Ella-lees performance. But only the 2nd time I heard it. This style of music is not communicative, but she preformed it really, really well.
Orr is still my favorite to win this. Good luck to all, and please don’t reply to me just to trash Orr. Thanks!
I could see a decent handful of really good candidates here. Ella-Lee and Orr are both wonderful and either one of them would do Israel proud in Rotterdam.
It really boils down to these two unless a major upset takes place. I am more optimistic this year because the time period for submitting songs was extended to 1 month (January 12 till February 11) unlike 7-10 days in previous years which was outrageous. I assume that some potential teams of local and perhaps foreign songwriters and composers are waiting to see who wins this on February 4th so they can hit the right target. All it takes is one song out of 4 that perfectly exploits the full potential of a singer to stand out.