Kobi Marimi will represent the host nation in the Grand Final in 18 May with his internally selected song “Home”. And ever since its release, the reception has been mixed. Israelis may be concerned of a host nation bottom-place finish, as has happened in the past two years when both Ukraine and Portugal finished in the 24th and 26th positions as hosts nations in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The bookies also put Israel in a low position. Oddschecker doesn’t quite favour Kobi as a winner, currently ranked at 24th place out of 41 participants with odds varying from around of 1/100 (Betfred) to 1/200 (Bet365, SkyBet).
Our Wiwi Jury the reactions to the song were mixed, but supportive. Overall, it was ranked 31 with an average of 5.78/10.00.
The mixed reaction of “Home” encouraged the Israeli Head of Delegation and production team to revamp the song, making sure that “Home” will be indeed sweet, as the quote says. The new version of the song was released earlier today, and you can listen to it here.
The operatic intro vocalisation has been dropped for string instuments, which sounds of a lower pitch and brings an ethnic vibe. The second chorus has also undergone some changes, with more backing vocals and an a capella choir.
According to public Israel Hayom, further changes will take place it at the Grand Final. Kobi will be assisted by 5 backing singers. His face will be screened during his performance with lightning effects that will resemble the sunshine in order to emphasise his message, “I feel the sun upon my skin”.
We will have to wait and see the results at Kobi’s first rehearsal which according to KAN’s schedule, will take place on Friday 10th May.
What do you think about Kobi’s new vrsion of the song? Do you agree with the criticism and with the suggested changes to “Home”? In which position do you thinlk Israel will finish in the Grand Final?
Old version is so much better.
got used to it and now i love it…
I like some of the additions to the instrumental but I prefer the previous intro. It was very captivating
I think the issue was that The previous intro sounded exactly like the halo opening credits
To me, the instrumentation sounds totally disjoint and is distracting. The first version was very clear and focused on Kobi’s special voice. They still have time to make a final choice on the song edition. I truly hope they choose the original.
Kobi keeps building his wonderful “Home” with the same rocks you (toxic people!) are throwing at him.
Israel tried to save their ballad for the retired.
Jk I actually think it’s a beautiful song.
It IS a beautiful song.
Nice they have adopted the Arabic Oud in their song.
The original was kinda boring to me but it had appeal for some audience and some juries. Trying to remove what can make it feel boring to some audience did in fact worse to the song. Now it’s just a -very- forgettable song.
Yep, destroyed every good thing it had
it is not the final version for eurovision
I hope so because this one is a LO for me.
After few listens you get used to it…we are so used to the first one…the new actually not bad and you can build better and dramatic with it, keep that in mind
* can build better and more dramatic staging with it
Ok Israel will be last 🙁
No.
Impossible. Last spot is reserved for one of the Big 5. It’s in the contract.
A contract that encourages rigging in the competition? …mmm sure
This sounds worse lol, too bad.
last place confirmed
No.
I’m sad to say it – but no revamp can hide a strained and affected voice!
His voice is not strained OR affected. He was marvelous live too.
I might be the only one, but I think it’s better now.
How to destroy a perfect song…
Yes.
I don’t think it needed any revamp to be honest. Whatever, Kobi is still in my top 10 and I think it’s underrated by many. Good luck from Barcelona!
Damn, they made it worse 😐
The opening wail was the best part of the song. Why cut that part out?
The cynic inside me says: “Someone has to make sure that the song doesn’t accidentally win.”
Accidentally win? LMAO, you wish!
This goes nowhere, he will probably be last in televote and 15th with the juries, so 20th is a realistic place.
Because it’s too similar to opening credits of halo
They know what they do, it’s amazing! It really elevates the song keeping its essence, it’s now more anthemic and epic. Great job!
I’m surprised but I don’t like it. It really has lost a lot of its magic. That guitar is horrendous.
I have no idea why they’ve changed their song based on fan reaction. The fans who didn’t like it originally are not, all of a sudden, going to vote for it now. The fans who did like it, probably did so for Kobi’s voice and now you’ve distracted from that.
This version takes away the emotional effect and is too fast
I prefer the original. They’re risking to alienate those who liked the theatrical vibe of the song and haven’t changed the fact is still too old fashioned for most viewers. Of course, Kobi’s vocals remain great and the selling point here, but I don’t think it was a smart move. Especially when we won’t even have much time to get used to it.
I don’t like the revamp. New instruments are too distracting. The original was much better and was set to outperform expectations.
So the only part of the song that gave this any cultural identity has been replaced with strings. WTF I’m over these counties white washing their entries.
Also considering the album has been out for weeks and the deadline for complete song submissions to the EBU was a long time ago would he even be allowed to sing this version at the grand final?
Bilal is doing the same. They have also submit their “show” version on the deadline but keep their “official” version on the CD. EBU is aware of it, then artists can reveal it when they like to. I guess that for Moldova 2016 (first example that comes to my mind) there wasn’t an agreement before the rehearsals or too late with the EBU in order to keep the French/English version. A rule which is not so strict just to prevent too many changes (hi Alekseev)
Please tell me he isn’t singing this new version next week. It ruins the whole atmosphere, that made the song so beautiful and touching. I feel sad now. This was my favourite, but i’m not sure anymore. 🙁
It’s my second after Romania, I love the song and I love Ester, plus Romania has never won before. But yes, Home is my firm second.
????????????????????????
Also that lukewarm reaction of the euro community didn’t really matter as long as Kobi gave an extremely emotional performance on the night of the grand finale itself. “Home” sounds like an israeli anthem for their right on existence. So I kinda magined it being portrayed with some kind of lost dark desert theme plus a group of male backing vocals joining at the end to create some impressive harmonies and turning the whole stage light.
Sorry but I rally don’t get this revamp… they ruined that special atmosphere of the song. They took away that spectacular almost liturgical intro, they change the intimacy of the piano sound for that sterile sound base… sorry but, for me this is the worst revamp ever in an Eurovision song. If KAN was afraid of the bottom position, they are now direct to that spot
Agreed. Wasn’t my favourite before the revamp, but I thought it would do well with the televote due to the emotional power of the song. The main focus should be his voice, and the new instrumentation distracts from that. The piano works perfectly to allow Kobi to showcase his vocals and keep the rhythm of the song. Disappointing.
I really miss the mizrahi opening of the song. Which is what i really loved of azerbaijan from today that they threw in an ethnic high note at the end.
Mizrahi intro? That was much more Gregorian than anything.
Either way, when the song itself is bad, no revamp in the world can save it. It’s like adding sugar to an over-salty dish or spraying cologne over poo…
Mizrahi opening. lol That opening has nothing Mizrahi about it.
I understand why the changes were necessary on this occasion, and for the most part they work well.
But as a piano lover, I personally do miss that piano sound on the track.
Still the emotion of the song is still there, and Kobi’s vocal really stands out. Mixed positives. 🙂
Agreed!
As a vocal performance, I think Kobi gives a 12.
Shalom ahead of a significant day for Israel, the Memorial Day. Too many lives have been lost.
It had been turn to a filthy joke!
Fellow Armenians invade Azerbaijan and kill children like israel does because at the point many lives have been lost. You have every right to become a modern day killer
Please don’t hijack my comment. My comment stands true. And if you want to comment, you need to learn English because you are contradicting yourself.
wtf
“I am standing tall, not giving in”. #SHALOM, #home, #voteforisrael
@Whisker: Thank you for your message of remembrance. I salute your bravery.
You’re too kind. Thanks.