X Factor Israel Finalists 2022

After over three months, we are approaching the finish line of Israel’s X Factor for Eurovision 2022. The live shows team of 17 participants was whittled down to the final four, and tonight, each artist’s song for Saturday’s Grand Final was selected. After a vote, where the jury made up 50% (25% panel, 25% committee) and the televote made up the other 50%, we have the four songs for the X Factor finale. Michael Ben David will sing “I.M”, Eli Huli will sing “Blinded Dreamers”, Inbal Bibi will sing “Marionette”, and Sapir Saban will sing “Breaking My Own Walls”.

Israel’s X Factor for Eurovision 2022 – the final four

Michael Ben David to sing “I.M”

 

Michael Ben David was first to perform in the show. He sang two dance pop numbers, “I.M” and “Don’t”. The former, a more high-energy track, penned by former national selection entrant Chen Aharoni, ended up advancing to the grand final as expected, with 83% of the vote (25/25 from jury, 20/25 from the committee, 37/50 from the televote).

In our poll results, much like in the actual show Michael Ben David’s “I.M” far outranked “Don’t”, with over 70% of your votes. In the overall poll, “I.M” placed fourth, with “Don’t” ranking last.

Eli Huli to sing “Blinded Dreamers”

Eli Huli then performed his two entries, both penned by him with the help of famous producer Roby Fayer. The more upbeat “Blinded Dreamers” and the sentimental “Nostalgia” both stood a fair chance, but “Blinded Dreamers” came out on top, with 67% (20/25 jury, 15/25 committee, 32/50 televote).

In our poll results, “Blinded Dreamers” was the massive favourite of Eli Huli’s two songs. Huli’s indie ballad “Nostalgia” only managed to score 31% of out readers’ votes, which is in line with the actual show results.

Inbal Bibi to sing “Marionette”

Inbal Bibi opened the night and performed her two songs, “Zaza” and “Marionette”. The songs are very different in style, but both showed Bibi’s vocal quality and stage presence.

In our poll results, our readers struggled to decide between Inbal Bibi’s two songs. The more low-tempo tune “Marionette”, which has trended highly on YouTube in Israel, eventually came out on top with the slightest of margins, beating “Zaza” 50.28% to 49.72%. In the overall ranking, the two songs essentially tied for the top two spots, which makes Inbal solidly our readers’ favourite of the final four.

Just like in the poll results, “Marionette” won by a hair, with 53% to Marionette’s 47%. It got 15/25 from the jury, 10/25 from the committee, and 28/50 from the televote.

Sapir Saban to sing “Breaking My Own Walls”

Sapir Saban’s two tracks, “Breaking My Own Walls” and “Head Up”, are probably the most different two of the four duels. Eventually, power ballad “Breaking My Own Walls” won again the ethno-pop tune “Head Up”, against what was widely expected. The jurors explained that the ballad was more suitable for her Middle Eastern singing style. It received all 25 points from the jury, 15/25 from the committee, and 29/50 from the televote, for a total of 69%.

The poll between Sapir’s songs was one of the closer ones, and the only one where you disagreed with the eventual results. Your favourite, with 56% of the votes, was “Head Up”. However, both songs ended up outside of the top five of all eight songs.

Which of the four remaining songs is your favourite? Which one do you think will go to Turin? Tell us in the comments!

58 Comments
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bee bee
bee bee
3 years ago

NONE OF THEM. Generic

GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
3 years ago

Marionette all the way.

Itai
Itai
3 years ago

Inbal is amazing and the most professional overall, I really think she should win. I really rooted for Zaza and believed in it but with the right dark rock ballad staging Marionette could also fair well

NoGeoblocks
NoGeoblocks
3 years ago

Eli is the only one that sounded amazing in both his songs. i preferred Nostalgia, but will take Blinded Dreamers too!

Michael is a mess, and Inbal was actually better at Zaza, Sapir is better in a ballad, but she sounds great in both too.

For me it is Eli all the way!

lidor
lidor
3 years ago

marionette for me

Maor
Maor
3 years ago

Plus we started our yearly bungee with the odds – from spot 23~24 to lower positions.
Our formula has stopped being effective from 2019, yet no-one is ready to change it.
It’s if the delegation has trauma from the years 2011 – 2014 that they prefer the safe qualification and reaching the 17 position in the grand final than to risk something new that won’t qualify.
If you don’t take risks and sometimes don’t qualify – you don’t play eurovision right.

Last edited 3 years ago by Maor
Maor
Maor
3 years ago

As an Israeli, I’m kinda conflicted about this year. Will we qualify? I’m not sure anymore. I think that if we don’t qualify – that will shake the delegation and will push them to return the Kdam back, which will allow fresh blood to enter the eurovision field. So I don’t know. a part of me wants us to stay in the semi because honestly the direction we went with is a bit boring and repetitive (an OK pop song sung by a young pop singer, a few words in Hebrew here and there, a few seconds of Mizrahi music… Read more »

kohen
kohen
3 years ago

I really wonder what song Linet would have sung If she hadn’t been eliminated… still can’t believe the “professional jury” eliminated the best voice in the contest

btw
btw
3 years ago

where can you watch full performances, its geoblocked

myopinion
myopinion
3 years ago

The bridge on I.M sounds copy paste from Kat DeLuna’s Whine up.
I think it’s plagiarized completely.
I’d vote for Sapir Saban – Breaking my own walls was the only song I went back to after the first listening

Dani
3 years ago

As an Israeli this poor selection makes me want Eden to represent us for another year ;(

Last edited 3 years ago by Dani
West
West
3 years ago

I’m a bit sad that Nostalgia got eliminated, but Blinded Dreamers is my second favourite (from the entire show), so not that sad.

Robert
Robert
3 years ago

Well it won’t be Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or any city for that matter.. Blinded dreamers is the best option for me, the rest sound like X Factor winning torch songs and we’ve moved on from that I find personally.. Good luck Israel!

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago

Worst way of selecting a song definitely. The only song that really stood out was “Nostalgija”, so surprised it didnt make it… Its going to be a bad year for Israel now.

F@b
F@b
3 years ago

My favourite didn’t make it at all and my top 3 has already disappeared. I hope Israel will deliver live because it’s pretty confusing…

Rick
Rick
3 years ago

“Marionette” = Beyonce’s “Halo” vibes

Maya G
Maya G
3 years ago

My favorite is Blinded Dreamers, but I’ll be happy if Marionette wins too. They both still need work, especially in the staging department, but have a lot of potential.
Sapir and Michael are very good performers but I just didn’t really like their songs.

Ares
Ares
3 years ago

I truly hate this way of selecting a representative

Sam
Sam
3 years ago

Israel is becoming like Azerbaijan these last two years… get Idan Raichel back to compose a song!

Ana
Ana
3 years ago

I think 3 of the 4 are decent representors. I.M was too messy in my opinion, there is too much going on so I don’t thing it will be a good choice. The others need more work for sure, but it’s a good material to work with. I think it will be between Inbal and ELi

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
3 years ago

Head Up was the only song that stayed in my mind and which had memorable rythm and then they decided to eliminate it. I’m sorry, but I.M is very cringe and stupid song. Good luck with staying in the semi-final Israel!

Last edited 3 years ago by Eurovision fan
Ana
Ana
3 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

“Buhuu!! Because they eliminated the song I liked they gonna fail! Because my taste is the ultimate international standard of exquisite taste!”
Take your stupid tantrum elsewhere, are you 6yo or something?
There are plenty of good songs that passed, not to mention that the chosen song will get more work done before the contest.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Ana

No, I will not move my “stupid tantrum” elsewhere just because you do not agree with me. This is my opinion and I have right to comment the song, should I have mentioned it? Most of the songs (in my opinion) are boring and uninteresting, aimed at X Factor singer who were not even part of the song making process. I liked Inbal’s ZAZA, they did not even chose that song.

“You know I am
You know I am
‘Cause I na-na-na know I am, am”

Really ?

Ana
Ana
3 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

Good luck with staying in the semi-final Israel” is not expressing a personal opinion. It’s being a toxic little c*nt. But I see you are nothing else than that, and that is tragic to be honest.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Are you hardcore Israeli so you are offended by the comment or what? Because I don’t know how much offended I have to be to call someone “toxic little c*nt”.

Ana
Ana
3 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

I’m just reflecting you what you are, if you choose to turn it into something ugly it’s your problem. Not my fault that you are a little c*nt, some people are like that and there’s nothing to do about it.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

Yes really and I love that.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

How stupid? Every Eurovision song has to be a philosophy thesis to not be categorized as stupid? It’s a song to entertain and to dance, is it that stupid? Verka’s song for example was stupid? Chanel’s song is stupid? We are domi’s song is stupid? They are songs to make you move and they don’t pretend anything else.

Carldo
3 years ago

I might be in the small percentage of people that thinks Breaking my own walls is the best of the bunch, with a substantial revamp, it has potential.

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago
Reply to  Carldo

The need for a revamp shouldnt be there actually… I hate when they include entries that obviously need a revamp to be good… They should make them great right away so people actually know what they are voting on…

MartyMCCU
MartyMCCU
3 years ago
Reply to  Carldo

Agree , it’s a beautiful song, her voice is unique and captivating . She sounds a lot like Sarit Hadad , one of the best singers Israel has to offer in my opinion. Before anyone says anything , her vocal capabilities, style and tone of her voice is unique as you see many artists both Arabic and Israeli having a similar touch and tone . The vocal range rand tone suits the Hebrew and Arabic language with this style . Only draw back it does sound slightly odd in English, but still the best on my opinion together with blinded… Read more »

Joey
Joey
3 years ago

Why can’t Israel give us original songs with ethnic elements anymore? The only song that delivers that now is “I.M.” because the other songs are eliminated and traded for basic pop songs. We’ve seen Israel going into this direction since 2019 and it’s no fun.
I want the crazy ethnobops from Israel we used to have. Or at least a ballad with ethnic elements. Let us know that the entries are Israeli and not Swedish!

Ana
Ana
3 years ago
Reply to  Joey

Why don’t you demand Azerbaijan to give you ethno pop every year? Like, there are plenty of countries that could deliver ethnic sound to the contest but choose to buy songs from Swedish writers. At least Israeli songs are actually made by Israelis.

Joey
Joey
3 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Because this is not a post about Azerbaijan, but if it was I would’ve definitely said the same thing.

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
3 years ago
Reply to  Joey

I’m so done with this constant demanding that countries like Israel, Serbia and Albania only send ethnic sounds while it’s perfectly acceptable for Western countries to send “safe” and radio friendly songs.
Has anyone ever complained that countries like The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy… never send songs that have traditional elements? Greece and Russia can send whatever they want and no one complains.

Joey
Joey
3 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

Clearly you don’t know me. I don’t want safe radio-friendly songs from any country. So it’s bold of you to assume that. And yes, sometimes a country cannot deliver that. I mean, I live in the Netherlands. What would you want us to do? Sending a song with an orgel sound all the time? We don’t have a real musical culture apart from that particular sound and it doesn’t go well with many genres. Our music scene is all very Americanized and quite boring, to be honest. I also would like to see Serbia, Greece and Russia send ethnic stuff… Read more »

Jenny
Jenny
3 years ago

Because Zaza lost I’m hoping for I.M or Blinded Dreamers

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

Disappointed but not surprised that “Nostalgia” lost to “Blinded Dreamers”. So now it’s just “Marionette” for me, even if Inbal’s performance still needs work (she seemed more comfortable with “Zaza”).

The best performance was actually from Michael Ben David, he’s fun. The problem is that I don’t like “I.M” at all.

ImpressiveInstants
ImpressiveInstants
3 years ago

Studio versions are much better. I’d choose Marionette but as of today, every act sounds weakened live.

volt
volt
3 years ago

the marionette performance was overflowed with dance and those strings that inbal was standing between were just unnecessary in my opinion,also they all were nervous performing the songs for the first time so no wonder they’ve been sharp and out of breath .

Tedd
Tedd
3 years ago

All possible non qualifiers unfortunately. Best ones were eliminated. ZaZa and Head Up were the best

Film4o
Film4o
3 years ago

Marionette is the stand out for me.

Roro31
Roro31
3 years ago

Inbal Bibi or Eli Huli for me!!! I hope Michael won’t win because his song annoys me to the highest point especially with his effeminate gestures (be careful I’m gay myself so I don’t judge I respect, it’s just that I’m tired of seeing that the media shows too many effeminate gay guys and not enough very masculine guys when there are a lot of them !!!People can then believe that all gays are necessarily effeminate when we know very well that it is false but with Michael this cliché is present! This is my opinion after so here it… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Roro31
Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Roro31

Come on, open up, he is not pretending he represents all the gays, and if some people are not able to not categorize all the gays as effeminate persons, it’s not his fault, he is not responsible for the stupidity of some people, he has the right to perform the way he wants, his song is actually really good imo and he deserves to win as much as the others. What about your thoughts about Bilal then….. Eurovision is tolerance, acceptance but some eurofans (gays or not) seem to not be in this mood, and to forget what is the… Read more »

Roro31
Roro31
3 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

But yes but after as I said I respect ^^
But for me it puts forward a cliché of the effeminate man that’s all, like the media, it only shows this side of LGBT men but not the very masculine and virile gay men that’s all after personally, yes I thinks he is the best “prepared” for Eurovision, but I’m sorry, Inbal Bini is much better!! I’ll try to listen to his live performance several times (if I find it…) but I’m not at all thrilled already during his first live performance!

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Roro31

Inbal was not good live I’m sorry, Marionette in the studio version was wonderful but in live omg I was so disappointed, I.M. is the best package for me, and would stand out in Eurovision.

Roro31
Roro31
3 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

She had a bad voice? she sang perfectly well you have your ears blocked and then on Saturday during the final, she may be going to improve!

In any case the guy he brings back a cliché of the effeminate man it’s really great we love my god… All gay guys are not effeminate but Michael represents the “effeminate part” of LGBT while there are also ultra masculine guys it’s really abused!

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Roro31

My ears are not blocked, on the opposite of your mind it seems, but sorry she didn’t sing perfectly at all, go to re listen the studio version and you will see, for me it losts its magic in live, is it that important and serious for you to the point to make you angry?! Breathe. And yes there are gays who are effeminate and yes there are gays very masculine nothing new, everybody has the right to live. On one hand you have Michael more extrovert for example and on the other hand you can have Mahmood less discret… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Esc addict
Roro31
Roro31
3 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

I don’t know if you can read my first message (obviously not) that I said that I was gay myself and I find myself very open-minded because yes guys who wear makeup or who are “effeminate” I accept them all the same, they are humans first and foremost, I have nothing against him either, it’s just that the media side which puts too much emphasis on the effeminate side of gay men knowing that there are a lot of ultra masculine guys who are gay pisses me off!!! Afterwards yes I agree with you on the intolerance to avoid but… Read more »

John
John
3 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

Aren’t you over reacting a bit. When the contest was won by Duncan, Mahmood, and Sergey (1,2,3) in Tel Aviv and they all represent different aspects of masculinity.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  John

I’m not over reacting it’s exactly what I’m saying, imo all sides are represented now.

Roro31
Roro31
3 years ago
Reply to  John

but Sergey he is “straight” so what is the connection in fact ?? we are talking about lgbt…
Beautiful kids like him for me are always hetero unfortunately….
Afterwards, there are a lot of handsome gay guys like Mahmood who look very masculine, but apart from him, I haven’t seen many at Eurovision!! afterwards in everyday life there are a lot of them but they don’t show enough!

and Duncan, sorry but he is still effeminate…

Last edited 3 years ago by Roro31
John
John
3 years ago

There’s one option here for a complete ESC package and that’s I.M. The other 3 are just not comfortable as performers on stage and they are being asked to do choreographed numbers (not ballads where they just stand there). This result hopefully will turn out just like Spain’s – Michael for the win.

Sale
Sale
3 years ago

Blinded Dreamers for sure!

Zisk
Zisk
3 years ago

Quite generic but I think that Marionette stands out the most vocally and IM has that pretty infectious ethnic beat. I don’t dislike any of this, I don’t see a grand final top half song, but I see qualifiers.

Fabio
Fabio
3 years ago

Marionette or Blinded Dreamers for me. I don’t really care about the other two songs.

Harry
Harry
3 years ago

I feel like none of them looked happy with the song that was chosen for them (except Michael). My favourites are Inbal and Michael, Michael really surprised me and Inbal was amazing as expected!

Tom
Tom
3 years ago

Actually these were all quite poor songs. I miss Isreael golden days , now it is jest zero originality. Michael Ben David stood out but only because he was fun and the rest was just bad.