The finalists on The Next Star for Eurovision 2019, the singing reality show that will choose the Israeli representative for Eurovision, are dropping like flies.
Twenty lucky ones passed the long auditions process for the show and made it to the live shows. During this week’s episodes the head-to-head duels kicked off and only twelve survived to the next round.
Producers divided the twenty contestants into ten duels. In each duel the first artist sang in front of the judges and the audience. Their combined rating set the bar for their opponent.
The voting process went as usual: each judge voted yay or nay (blue or red), with a yay awarding the contestant a score of 8%. The audience in the TV studio voted in a similar way via a special smartphone application and the scores were added together during the performance.
The opposing artist then sang behind the screen. If the opposing artist managed to beat the score of the first artist, then the screen rose up, signalling that the second artist had won the duel. If not, the first artist won.
As judges Static & Ben El Tavori couldn’t attend to this round’s shootings, a guest judge, Itay Levi,was added to replace them. Itay is one of the new stars in the Israeli music scene in recent years. He released four albums that featured many hits, some of which have millions of views on YouTube.
Duel 1: Wanna Wanna VS. Maya Buskila
Wanna Wanna – “I Trusted U” – Score: 68% (votes from four judges)
Maya Buskila – “If I Were A Boy” – Score: 81% (votes from four judges)
Duel 2: Shahaf VS. Klara Sabag
Shahaf – “Déjà Vu” – Score: 60% (votes from four judges)
Klara Sabag – “Rolling in the Deep” – Score: 76% (votes from three judges)
Duel 3: Lior Chen VS. Osher Biton
Lior Chen – “Russian Roulette” – Score: 64% (votes from three judges)
Osher Biton – “Estader Levad” (I’ll Be Fine on My Own) – Score: 87% (votes from all five judges)
Duel 4: Naama Gali Cohen VS. Daniel Barzilay
Naama Gali Cohen – “Rockabye” – Score: 64% (votes from three judges)
Daniel Barzilay – “Ish Shel Layla” (A Night Person) – Score: 80% (votes from four judges)
Duel 5: Shefita VS. Tay
Shefita – “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” – Score: 41% (votes from two judges)
Tay – “Radioactive” – Score: 89% (votes from all five judges)
Duel 6: Kobi Marimi VS. Liat Eliyahu
Kobi Marimi – “Mad World” – Score: 57% (votes from three judges)
Liat Eliyahu – “Stone Cold” – Score: 51% (vote from one judge)
Duel 7: Avraham de Carvalho VS. Ketreyah
Avraham de Carvalho – “Viva La Vida” – Score: 67% (votes from three judges)
Ketreyah – “Just The Way You Are” – Score: 83% (votes from 4 judges)
Duel 8: Nitay Twito VS. Ofri Calfon
Nitay Twito – “Sorry” – Score: 68% (votes from three judges)
Ofri Calfon – Tocho Ratzuf Ahava (Filled With Love) – Score: 90% (votes from all five judges)
Duel 9: Nave Madmon VS. Danielle Mazuz
Nave Madmon – “Never Forget You” – Score: 53% (votes from two judges)
Danielle Mazuz – “Earth Song” – Score: 54% (vote from one judge)
Duel 10: The Shalva Band VS. Naor Cohen
The Shalva Band – “The Sound of Silence” – Score: 95% (votes from all five judges)
Naor Cohen – “Shtaim Balaila” (2AM) – Score: 66% (votes from three judges)
Second Chance
Among the ten losers of the duels, the judges chose two more acts to advance to the next round, and the lucky ones were Avraham de Carvalho and Shefita.
The 12 remaining hopefuls
- Maya Buskila
- Klara Sabag
- Osher Biton
- Daniel Barzilay
- Tay
- Kobi Marimi
- Ketreyah
- Ofri Calfon
- Danielle Mazuz
- The Shalva Band
- Avraham de Carvalho
- Shefita
Which artist do you like the most? Who do you think would do well for Israel at Eurovision 2019?
Read more Israel Eurovision news
Photo credits: Ronen Akerman / The Next Star for Eurovision
Netta won 2018 because she exudes brilliance, musicality, intelligence, fearlessness, and AMAZING innovation! She did not win because of the song she sang, or because of “difference” – but because she IS the total package, and the whole world “got it.” She is on a very high level, and her star will continue to rise globally for a long, long time. IMHO, the 2019 contestant should exude freshness, musicality, depth, and coolness. Ofri’s voice is great, but she is not mature enough to handle Eurovision or press. Ketria is a good singer, but still lacking “that thing.” “Shefita” should come… Read more »
There’s an issue I’m surprised no one is talking about. Shalva has members that are wearing Black Yarmulkes, as does Osher. These two acts are amazing, but they will likely not be able to compete in Tel Aviv considering Saturday rehearsals and Friday evening Jury shows. These two acts are likely not going to win, or if they do, they will need to turn down the opportunity.
Also, Shalva has more than 6 members- and I do not see them pulling a Russia 2012 and leaving some members at home. It will be all or nothing for them.
Osher is not that religious. I am quite confident that he can go to his rabbi if necessary to get an “exemption”. Thats for example how Ivanka and Kushner were able to travel to Israel on a Sabbath (they got their rabbi to allow it).
As for Shalva having more than six members – the rule only applies to six members on stage. The rest can be off stage doing back-up vocals etc. There can be ways around it.
I’m pretty sure that the rule is 6 participants, doesn’t matter if they are on stage or not. Besides, except the two girls, none of them are singing. So those who’ll be left off stage will pretend to play instruments off stage?
Religious exemption is a fair point for Osher. But it’s definitely going to be dramatic regardless until he can confirm with his Rabbi that performing is allowed.
As Ana says though the rule is 6 on stage period. And besides the logistics of it, Shalva seems like a tight knit group that will not be willing to leave a member behind.
Regarding all or nothing – I disagree. This is a great opportunity for their community to shine, and if the rules say only 6 can be on stage so only 6 will shine. The rest will root from the backstage 🙂 About the Saturday rehearsals, I think they can choose not to be a part of them. It is a sacrifice they’ll have to make and its their problem. What takes me to Friday evening Jury shows – shabbat starts at 7pm so they can perform till 6:55pm and then go and spend their weekend in a nearby hotel (and… Read more »
If you isolate the judges, below is what each of them got just from the audience from highest to lowest. I want to be very clear about this — there is absolutely no way that Kobi, Shefita, or Avraham will win this competition with such low audience approval ratings. Period. If someone tells you otherwise, they are a gay cliche who are fascinated by the most flamboyant participant (Shefita) or ones who wish to throw their support at the LBTQIA community members (Kobi & Avraham). People like to say that Maya Buskila and Ketreyah are clearly in the finals –… Read more »
You’re forgetting that the people who vote during the season are not the people who vote in the final. During the season only the audience at the venue can vote (almost 100% teenagers ages 11-16) while at the final it’s a televoting system and everyone can vote, so you can’t really make any assumptions based on the voting
They won’t make it to the finals to see that televoting system is what I’m trying to say .. only four finalists do.. the rest will fall way sooner and it will be based on the audience vote!
Netta had to be saved many times by the judges as well. In the final Netta lost the public vote. The Israeli audience is very conservative. They think that eurovision is still Hallelujah and Abanibi. They’re looking for a pretty pop star like Ketreya, and afraid of anything unique. Kobi and Shefita can do wonders on a Eurovision stage
I am sad for Shahaf and Lior, but i guess only 1 can win and all the others will have to go eventually. I am happy Shefita managed to escape elimination! uff!
I still dont have a clear favourite. Maybe Shalva Band or Ketreyah. I am not rooting for Maya this time but she will be in the final i think. She is the darkhorse of the competition.
i nearly had a heart attack when maya buskila wasn’t in the thumbnail
I Think 3 are sure in the final: Kobi Marimi,
Ketreyah and Maya Buskila
and the rest fighting for the last tickets
My prediction is Tay or Osher.
I think it is going to be the same situation as France
Ketreyah=Bilal
Maya Buskila=Chimene/Emmanuel
Kobi Marimi=Seemone
4 place=Silvan
I can’t watch any of the performances. After the 4 second clip, it doesn’t load. Does anyone know any ways around it?
Download MAKO TV app to your device. I’m in the US now and this is how I watch it.
just reload the page and try again. it happens to me too
At this point, the Shalva Band are the stronger contestants. They delivered a good peformance and they have the sympathy vote in their side, so it’s difficult to not see them in the final.
I am amazed by Ketreyah and “Just The Way You Are”. That voice and visuals. #TelAviv2019
Ahh legend Shefita is safe
It was so cringy, I am shocked about her version…
I really like The Shalva Band (their version of Sound of Silence was amazing imo), Tay (even if I think she could have done a much better job with Radioactive – it was still pretty good, but I’m sure she could have done better and transform the song even more), and Ofri (again, brilliant voice).