She’s the vivacious songstress that was due to represent Israel at Eurovision 2020. But while this year’s contest may have been cancelled, Eden Alene has already been confirmed for the 2021 edition.
Now, in a recent interview with our William, the “Feker Libi” songstress has revealed that she thinks every Eurovision 2020 act should have the opportunity to go to the 2021 contest.
Eden Alene: Eurovision 2020 acts deserve to be at 2021
Before broaching on the topic of 2021 comebacks, Eden told us about the moment she first learned of Eurovision’s cancellation. She had presumed that the contest would be postponed rather than called off and, so, was completely shocked to learn of the news on live TV.
“When it hit me, I was devastated. It was hard. And I also cried”. But like everyone else, she understood that Eurovision is “a small thing” compared to the coronavirus.
The worst part about the cancellation, according to Eden, was missing out on the chance to meet the other artists. The X Factor and Next Star winner tells us that she listened to all of the other entries as they were released and was particularly excited about talking with Malta’s Destiny and Sweden’s The Mamas.
But many of the 2020 acts won’t be back for 2021. On countries changing their representatives, Eden says: “It’s sad. Because they deserve to go there”.
And, for a while, Eden was unsure herself about whether she’d be asked to sing again at Eurovision 2021. “I was very nervous because, in those days that I didn’t know, I saw other countries change their representatives. So, I thought ‘ok, this is going to be the end'”.
But, of course, it wasn’t the end. And, on live TV once more, Eden was told that she would sing for Israel next year. “I felt relieved. Because I really wanted to do that”.
Eden Alene — Eurovision 2020 Interview
In the almost 25:00 minute interview, Eden touches on a multitude of topics — from her pride at representing Israel’s Ethiopian community to her boyfriend Yonatan. All the main talking points are listed below along with their respective timestamps.
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Coping with lockdown
02:00 – Eurovision’s cancellation
04:45 – Representation at Eurovision 2020
05:45 – Eurovision 2021
07:15 – From X Factor to The Next Star
07:50 – Ethiopians in Israel
09:25 – The Next Star experience
10:35 – “Feker Libi”
13:00 – The 2020 song selection
13:30 – Her boyfriend
14:20 – Her backing vocalists
15:00 – Eurovision 2021 plans
16:15 – Favourite genres
16:50 – Eurovision 2020 staging
17:15 – Postcard cancellation
18:20 – The Wiwi Jam At Home performance
19:30 – The secret to happiness
20:15 – Eurovision 2019
Are you excited for Eden Alene’s 2021 return? What kind of song do you hope she brings? Let us know in the comments below.
Eden categorically says that she can’t be involved in the songwriting process for 2021 because that would project a bias toward one particular song over others. That statement is actually incorrect because back in 2018 Netta submitted ‘Bassa Sababa’ to the selection committee as part of a three member songwriting team. The rules haven’t changed since: Just because Eden isn’t a songwriter doesn’t mean she and her management can’t approach potential songwriting teams and closely work with them so that her own input is taken into consideration. It doesn’t mean that the song/s won’t be rejected by the selection committee,… Read more »
William looks different with the longer hair.
At least some countries like Israel are wise with their choices. I think Ben & Tan, Aksel Kankaanranta, The Mamas, Sandro and Ulrikke should all get their chance.
Ben & Tan have said they want a new winner for DMGP 2021 as they see themselfs as the winners of the 2020
Aksel Kankaanranta can submit a new song and participate as others
The Mamas might get invited to Melodifestivalen if they can find a song for them
The truth about Sandro is still a rumour
Ulrikke was offered a place in the final but se said no
Don’t spread rumours and bad attitude for fun!
Not sure if you understand the point…
Well said Eden.
The countries that ditch their acts and never give them the chance to represent the country in Rotterdam should be ashamed
I just hope when all the returnees return next year, the posts/comments are not going to be similar to “the song wasn’t as good as 2020” as I think most fans are just going to compare the songs and styles.
That’s inevitable though. It’s human nature to compare, so I suggest getting used to the fact that everyone will be judging based on that as well as their own taste.
I don’t think anyone will be saying that about Tom Leeb if he comes back.
Agree with her that this year’s Next Star was really strong (lowkey really want Ella Lee in ESC, she has something special). Back to Eden… she really is a star and so young! And I the reason why there are many black representatives this year is not their colour, but their talent, I hate it when people pick black people just for the sake of them being black, NO we should pick because of their talent and I think all of the black singers were chosen that way (glad we aren’t turning into USA…). I wonder what she will give… Read more »
Hi, I think Eden might send something a bit like Roots from HaShir HaBa
That’d be good I loved “Roots”
The best season was the 2019 season.
Kobi, Shefita, Kitria, Avraham de Karvalio, Daniel Barzilai, Maya Buskila.
this season was good, but it didn’t reach the heights of the 2019 season.
God, if we’d only sent Kitria or Shefita..
Arabs are not black so how is it a ‘blackface’?? And Shefita is Yemeni anyway. Smh
Let’s send her to Europe and see for ourselves what’s the reaction.
@Idan 2019 was strong but Israel chose the weakest candidate that had one of the worst placements for Israel in any Eurovision final in history. They had two very strong singers in Ketreyah and Maya Buskila, either of which would have done much better.
Cyprus deserves to flop next year idc
That is not fair to the new singer, who will get selected. + We do not know the reasons behind not selecting Sandro. He may have not been great to work with (u know a possibility) and also heard that Cypriots didn’t really get behind their entry so why selecting him again + Eurovision is expensive for small broadcasters so maybe they don’t want to spend a lot of budget for an act that didn’t get much hype (as Eleni and Tamta did) 🙂 With respect to Sandro, I do think he is talented, but there may be a lot… Read more »
Good news to the amazing eden, destiny is coming next year
Whoever came up with the “broadcasters can either send a new artist or send their artists again in Eurovision 2021” rule should be fired.
Why is it always the singers that deserve to return and never the songwriters?
They both should.
I agree, no shade to the singers I love them, but I do think it’s harder to write and produce a good song than to sing good if u know what I mean. And songwriters should get more credit. Respect to both singers and artists of course!
The songwriters tend to come with the song package, and that’s a whole different thing. The singer serves as the face of the country in such a high-profile international competition such as ESC that everyone else will get to see so that’s a whole other thing either.
Ever heard the term one hit wonder ? They’d need different songs, it’s not really the same thing. Countries who bring their 2020 singers back will be helpful to songwriters, they’ll have longer to create and a specific singer/style to cater to.
They all should return next year they are all amazing
They are all amazing. ESC 2020 was SO strong. 2021 might be even better