Israel’s search for an artist for Rotterdam 2020 — The Next Star for Eurovision — began in mid-November. On 2 February, the expert panel and studio audience chose the final four. But now, they’ll have to narrow four down to just one. It is your turn to help the Israeli public decide: Who should win The Next Star for Eurovision?
The Next Star for Eurovision – The four finalists
The four finalists Israel selected are Eden Alene, Ella Lee Lahav, Gaya Shaki and Orr Amrami-Brockman. While the choices are genre-wise diverse, what connects the four is that they’re all 19 or younger. Now, it’s time to decide who our readers like most. Here are the four finalists with their semi-final performances. You can check them all out below and then vote in our flash poll.
You wont’ have to wait long to see if your expectations match reality, because the final takes place tonight, 4 February.
Eden Alene
Eden Alene (19 from Kiryat Gat) has already experienced winning a singing show before. The former X Factor Israel winner easily sailed through the early rounds but had some trouble in the semi-final. By virtue of her exquisite ability to sustain pressure, she earned a wildcard spot. Her soulful R&B performances make her special, and maybe it’s enough to make her the first Ethiopian Israeli to represent the country at Eurovision.
Ella Lee Lahav
By far the biggest favourite to win, Ella Lee Lahav (17 from Shoham) is already a star in Israel. She’s only 17, but on stage, she shows maturity and brilliant vocal control. It’s hard to believe that three months ago nobody knew her name. While she’s already reached the status of a star in Israel, the road to Rotterdam is not yet paved. The pop singer needs to live up to the expectations on the final night and earn the ticket to Eurovision 2020.
Gaya Shaki
Gaya Shaki (18 from Moshav Hadid) is definitely the dark horse of the Israeli selection. She shone with piano ballads throughout the season, and her semi-final performance of “Wrecking Ball” was a new high. With the help of her impressive performance, Shaki passed as a wildcard and beat Lali Kolishkin. She’s shown her ability to slay in different genres, from blues to pop – can the surprise finalist win it all?
Orr Amrami-Brockman
The only guy in this final hopes to live up to Kobi Marimi’s success in his female-dominated final. It’s the Ukrainian-born Orr Amrami-Brockman, who received endless praises for his stage performances. He also matched the highest score ever achieved in the contest (excluding jury-only phases) with a 97% audition. But the grand final will be a difficult obstacle on the way to Rotterdam.
Eden won!! I didn’t think this would happen but I’m so happy it was the right choice 100%. It wasn’t even close. Eden will be top 10 at eurovision!
Remember how we talked about how much all this focus on Ella Lee and Orr is actually a smoke screen for Eden (or Gaya)? Can’t wait for the comparisons with Destiny from Malta. It’s unavoidable even though wrong on so many levels.
@Sam yes I remember you said it could be a smokescreen, but I still didn’t believe she would win because of all the hype for Ella Lee and Orr. The choice though always seemed obvious to me. Orr and Ella Lee both looked like amateurs today compared to Eden. I’m so happy Israel made the right choice. I’m looking forward to a top place at the final in May!
It was fake hype by the production because they wanted one of them to win.
The Israeli audience showed taste tonight.
Wowee! We were saying it was between Orr and Ella-Lee, but we forgot about Eden’s powerhouse capabilities. Apparently (I couldn’t get the livestream working, sadly), she was excellent tonight. Well done! See you in Rotterdam, and here’s hoping the national selection bags her a good song too.
Also: yeah, I get it, we judge the contestants not by the color of the skin but by the content of their songs…but isn’t it amazing that we already have three people of color competing this year? Representation matters, y’all. It’s good to see Eurovision reflecting that.
Congrats, Eden!!! A deserved victory based on what I’ve heard tonight. Stunning voice. Now she only needs a stunning song too. 🙂
Eden’s Halo was WOW! No wonder she got so many votes. Orr’s song seemed very emotional. Even if I don’t speak Hebrew, it moved me. Ella has so much energy! Whoever wins, they have potential. It will all depend on the song. If I had to pick, Eden was by an inch the best one in this round, but all three did great.
Eden in the lead with the juries, but it’s still anyone’s game. (Thank you, whoever is editing Wikipedia!)
EDEN WON WITH 260 POINTS, ELLA LEE 182 AND ORR 158.
Has anything happened in the last thirty-five minutes? Are we any closer to a winner?
Orr won the final round for me
Eden almost had it and then there was a weird modulation which completely ruined it for her
Ella lee had a really off day today 🙁 she was my favorite
Ella Lee the worst of the three. Total fail today.
Comments were right. Ella and Orr won their duels. Jury saved Eden for top 3, but it’s probably between Ella or Orr. Only 2% difference (whatever that meant on a practical level) seem like something that can easily shift either way. Too bad that they reveal their song only in March.
The judges gave Ella Lee the lowest score today. She was so bad and unoriginal. Awful.
The judges had no say about who to save, just the public via app.
They will decide 50% of tonight’s final vote based on the last 3 renditions (or perhaps the overall impression). The four songs for tonight’s winner will be revealed on February 27 on Kan’s website.
I know. He wrote “Jury saved Eden for top 3”, so I corrected him. The save was 100% public vote.
Sorry, it was meant as a reaction to Colin.
Ella Lee was the worst so far. She’s SO bad
She sounded out of tune. Everyone has their off day, I guess she was very nervous
Let’s see how she does next
Eden was the best on the final round with that extraordinary rendition of Halo filled with passion, soul, heart and gospel. She left Orr and Ella Lee eating dust.
Yes it wasn’t close.
Right now I’m betting that Orr wins this contest because his insistence on singing in Hebrew touches a chord with both judges and voters, even if those songs are outdated. I’m afraid this will be so predictable.
Should have trusted my earlier instinct/s about Eden, but I caved in…
Orr or Ella
Anyone but Gaya, can’t stand her. So, obviously it’s going to be her.
First duel: Eden vs Orr
Second Duel: Ella Lee vs Gaya
They said it’s based on averages. I thing that’s rubbish. They want Ella Lee and Orr in the final 3 even if one of them loses his or her first duel.
direct non register live link https://www.mako.co.il/tv/Article-3bf5c3a8e967f51006.htm
you can also watch live on: https://www.twitch.tv/bimdkiofhdh7hn
in lower quality than the official link.
Based on these clips I liked Gaya and Ella the best. But my original winner isn’t in the final *sigh* 🙁 Good luck to all four of them though.
I didn’t know Belarus 2019 is trying to come back again under the name Ella Lee
Ella is much more talented
No she’s not. Belarus was actually more talented.
Please no wannabe brittany spears Ella Lee! Gaia is amazing! Eden too!
Brittany Spears can even lip-synch as well as Ella-Lee can sing…
Hello from UK. Eden is the best of these by far . Gaia second best
12 points to Eden!
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Looks like Eden Alene’s managers are working overtime…
Yeah..she will not win
She’s the worst of the bunch. Technically awesome. Zero feel.
For the first time I’ve watched them performing, liked them all. Voted for Ella, because her tone is so beautiful and unique. But Orr with a cute song in Hebrew could do very well in Eurovision.
I know Gaya won’t win, but really surprised she didn’t get more votes in this poll. I absolutely love all of her performances
I got a friend with a curious theory on who’s winning. She follows this youtube channel about a pack of house dogs and she says they kinda look like Israel’s songs on a dog form. There’s the funny, a bit crazy Golden Retriever (Golden Boy), the black and white big Newfie who loves her toys (Toy) and the more placid and homey older GR (Home)
So, she thinks the winner is the one with the most sassy catlike attitude, to match the fourth animal in the house, a grumpy Persian cat.
Love me some Orr, but would be very happy if Gaya or Ella-lee win as well. First time I have more than one favorite this season! (previous years I was very pro Kobi and Netta, but these were the only years my favorites won). Fell in love with Orr and Gaya in their first audition, and with Ella-Lee on her second. Eden still doesn’t touch me in any way. Wish Moran was there
Can’t wait to see who wins!!
Really hope israel has a lot of good song submissions this year because all of these singers are capable enough to absolutely smash the scoreboard with the right song.
They should send Ella and Eden as a duo. Btw, Gaya looks like Danielle Simmons.
I really like Orr’s voice and stage presence, but i feel Ella Lee is going to win.
easy…ella lee. she had better performances than the one here
If I could choose it would be Orr Amrami-Brockman. His voice is very beautiful. Please Israel make the right choise with the right song.
If Ella wins, I just know it that they’ll give her a camila cabello like song
Where can I watch it live please??
I think if you’re outside of Israel, to join the live stream you have to register and may have to pay…not 100% sure
No payment. Some browsers have to register (for free) though.
Thank you so much 😉
Gaya Shaki is my favorite here.
How will we able to watch the show live?
https://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-live-tv/VOD-6540b8dcb64fd31006.htm?Partner=interlink
Thanks 🙂
Hi!
Just checked the live stream, and it is blocked unless you pay for people outside of Israel (I am in the US here…).
Thanks!
No…it’s free, After you register. Just click on the 12 logo and then watch live. I am outside Israel too 😉
In the future, you can watch live Israeli tv with a roku, on isratv channel. It’s free.
No matter who wins, just end it already!
You don’t have to follow y’know
Is that still a question? Orr. I don’t actually know any of the others, but I know he’s a good choice. Please give him a more interesting song than ‘Home’, though.
”I don’t know anything but here’s my opinion about it”.
I know of Orr. And you might wanna learn how to read.
He delivered the best vocal from those 4 videos but his baritone voice is too deep for the twinks here to like. The highest voted in the poll so far, Ella, was a mess in parts.
You are literally the most annoying person in the wiwi comments
It’s interesting to be given so much power over literally nothing. Who the hell are you, besides another obvious snowflake?