Every year a question mark hangs over Israel’s Eurovision participation and its selection process. This year has been no exception. Thankfully, after weeks of rumours regarding Israel at Eurovision 2017, the Israel Hayom newspaper has published the news that Israel will once again choose its Eurovision 2017 contestant through the TV show The Next Star for Eurovision.
The show will launch at the beginning of 2017 and will consist of 10 episodes. That’s a marked reduction in shows for the marathon national selection that, over the past two years, has stretched out over several months (and featured sob story after sob story).
The changes don’t mean that Israel loves The Next Star any less than before. The show’s broadcaster Keshet had originally planned to launch the show during October 2016, but, owing to scheduling problems, has had to push it back. No drama, y’all.
Surely that will put Eurovision fans at ease following the perceived instability of the Israeli broadcaster IBA.
As you likely know, IBA is due to be shut down and replaced by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC). The exact date of that change isn’t clear, as it is has been repeatedly postponed, and may be pushed back to 2018.
In any case, IPBC have already published a tender — aka, a public call for bids — for a TV show that will select the Israeli representative for Eurovision 2017.
As no other shows have submitted a bid, The Next Star for Eurovision won the day and will again serve as the Israeli national selection for 2017.
Israel has experienced a major Eurovision revival since The Next Star for Eurovision became the Israeli national selection for Eurovision.
After four years of not qualifying for the final, the country went on to achieve ninth place in 2015 (“Golden Boy” by Nadav Guedj) and 14th place in 2016 (“Made of Stars” by Hovi Star).
Expectations are high for 2017 and Israel is aiming to win the contest and improve its results.
The search for Eurovision 2017
After the success of Hovi Star at Eurovision 2016, the Israeli production team behind the show The Next Star For Eurovision 2017 are desperate to out-do themselves.
With that in mind they’re calling for contestants who took part in Kokhav Nolad (A Star Is Born), one of the most popular shows on Israeli TV, which was produced by the same company that produces The Next Star For Eurovision — Tedy productions.
Hovi Star took part in Kokhav Nolad.
During his season he competed against another famous Eurovision face — Mei Finegold, she of “Same Heart” fame.
Producers have recently approached Chen Aharoni, who took part in the show during 2007 (he also took part at Kdam Eurovision 2011 and in the UK X-Factor during 2013), but Chen decided to not take part this year.
They’ve also approached Diana Golbi, who won the show in 2010 and kept the momentum going by releasing two albums and taking part in a series of musicals.
Diana agreed to audition for The Next Star For Eurovision, according to reports.
What do you think about The Next Star for Eurovision 2017? Can it help Israel secure its fourth victory at Eurovision?
Hovi is great singer, “Made of star” is much better than time by izabo…that why Made of star qualified and TIME did not!
@MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease & @Kermit
I also really love Izabo and ‘Time’ and I’m glad we sent it even though it didn’t do well. I also like how they found an elegant solution for the (now defunct) “must have Hebrew” rule with the high pitched voices in the chorus.
If you’re watching ‘Orange is the New Black’ you may have noticed Izabo’s song ‘Cook Me’ was featured in S04E07.
of course, lots of good pop music
I must say I think the song by Izabo outclasses any other entryy from israel since 2000. It’s the kind of song which sounds like it could have a life outside the contest. Not all their entries are like that. Brilliant song
@MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease Being different and alternative doesn’t necessarily mean being decent. It’s funny how some people judge a song based on its genre and on stereotypes which say that pop music is crap and unacceptable and whatever different is something impressive, etc., and not on their actual personal opinion about the song. 😀 I’m not saying that’s what you are doing but I’m sure that’s what many people usually do. 🙂 You can check out the wiwi jury reviews and you will notice that many people post comments like “this is pop music so it’s crap”, “this is rock music so… Read more »
“Time” is brilliant, “Made Of Stars” is not 🙂
“TIme” was really an attempt of writing something alternative, different and credible. And it sounded very proffesional. It was also very catchy and feelgood. The experts loved it.
Made Of Stars hoever….just a rant of ESC-cliches. And that singer / his lookks din’t help. He was not a nice person either….
No, you’re not alone with ‘revamp’ issue, J(Esc) Fan. I remembered me putting far aside his new cliched and very discharged version back then. Only his performance in semi was quite earnest to be worried again about his qualification…
Of course you have the right to write your opinion OR, and I respect your opinion even though I don’t share it. You, however, were disrespectful of MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease’s opinion and wrote him an aggressive comment just for having different musical taste than yours, and I think it was really uncalled for.
Shabat Shalom.
@OR
It’s kind of ironic how your country sent a song I really hate in 2012 and then two songs I adore in the following years. I also like “Golden Boy” and “Made Of Stars” very much 🙂
To be honest, I know I’m in the minority but I like the original version of “Made Of Stars” more than the revamped one. I think it was dramatic and more powerful. 🙂
(J) Esc fanatic i agree with you izabo was not good at all
Maya G @ You should cool down men… Im israeli too and i find hovi preformance and vocal one of the best this year..izabo not so much… So i also have the right to write my opinion.. Shabat shalom
@OR – Hey man, cool your jets, s/he has the right to express her/his opinion, doesn’t s/he? I’m Israeli and I also found ‘Made of Stars’ to be awful in every sense, a really weak song and a singer who is a corny Eurovision cliché. Just my opinion.
I would love it if my country sends more unique songs like Izabo’s ‘Time’, but hopefully something that would appeal to a wider audience than they did. I really hope we’ll have a special, memorable entry, be it Diana Golbi or someone else.
@MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
I disagree, Hovi is a great singer and he had a pretty good song. Izabo was horrible, one of the worst Eurovision entries ever.
I still can’t understand how masterpieces like “Rak Bishvilo” and “Same Heart” could have the same fate with “Time”.
Israel generally sends great entries but Izabo was a major exception.
MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease @ Hovi Was Amazing in all aspects!!!!! You can keep your awful comment to your self!!
Let’s hope for a better act, song and singing voice than this year! Hovi was AWFUL in all aspects!
Send some indie or rock please! Izabo in 2012 was brillliant! One of the best entries ever 🙂
@Polegend Godgarina
I agree that Eden Ben Zaken would be a great choice, but she found fame on the X Factor which is broadcasted on the IBA’s rival network Reshet.. Sadly I don’t see Eurovision happening anytime soon for her..
Let’s remember that Hovi qualified despite being 16th in televote in the semi-final (and I’m not surprised, his song was pretty bad). I hope Israel sends Eden Ben Zaken – she’s super pretty and has a good voice. Her songs are all bops!
Never thought Diana Golbi would even consider Eurovision, but she’s an incredible performer and a great choice for Ukraine 2017. With the right song she can do very well, though I agree with Daniel that an oriental song would be a safer choice for IL. It does seem unfair that a former winner competes against inexperienced unknowns, but ‘Next Star’ was always rigged in a very obvious way, you can tell at a very early stage of the season who the production’s pet was, and they always end up winning. And if they’re going to shove their favorite down our… Read more »
Kiara Duple
Historically speaking, Israel has done extremely well in Eurovision when they sent more ethnic Mizrahi songs. Their successful songs in the 80s and early 90s were all Mizrahi. And all three of their winners were of Sephardi/Mizrahi descent. In recent years their top ten finishers, Shiri Maimon (2005- 4th place), Boaz Mauda(2008- 9th place), and Nadav Guedj (2015- 9th place) all sang Mizrahi-style songs or are of Sephardi descent. I do hope Israel recognizes that Eurovision appreciates this specific genre given its track record in the contest and continues to send these style of songs. Nothing against Ashkenazi singers/song-styles, it’s… Read more »
I think this time they should choose the song after the show, to see what fits better the artist
That Diana Golbi girl is an excellent performer, would be a great choice, it’s a shame Chen can’t take part though
TAL PLEASE!!
Go israel, Tel Aviv 2018!!!!Diana Golbi is top Vocalist- Good Luck to her :).
Well if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’s. The current Israeli selection process clearly works for them, so I would have been surprised if they didn’t use it in 2017 after two successful qualifications. Hopefully they send something good.
Israel should just send Shiri Maimon and win .