The drama in Israel does not stop. First media reports suggested that Michael Ben David was considering withdrawing from Eurovision 2022. Then broadcaster KAN dismissed those reports. Now Ynet culture editor Ran Boker has elaborated on the controversy, saying the matter revolves around the scarcity of accreditation passes the Israeli delegation has received for Eurovision. But the problem apparently goes beyond just that. According to Boker, “Michael Ben David [is] alone against everyone in different fights that weigh on the preparations for Eurovision to the point where he […] is considering withdrawing from Eurovision 2022”.
Tensions in Israel’s Eurovision 2022 delegation
In order to understand the root of the issue, we must go back to 2020. Following the cancellation of the 2020 edition of Eurovision, the European Broadcasting Union decided to make changes to the rules in order to avoid having to cancel the contest once again. Starting with the 2021 contest, the EBU reduced the size of each national delegation to just 17 members — part of its efforts to create a “more sustainable” contest.
According to EuroMix.co.il, this was the reason that the “Set Me Free” songwriters had to pay for their own trips to Eurovision 2021 and sit in the audience instead of the green room, while the directors, choreographers and dancers received accreditation from KAN. However, the songwriters of “I.M” are reportedly unwilling to settle for this solution, and are threatening to break their contract with KAN.
Michael Ben David is also reportedly upset that he did not get his own personal manager, while former Israeli representatives did. Also, the current version of Ben David’s song “I.M” is deemed an unfinished demo rather than a final cut, but as KAN are not willing to fund the revamp, the current version may end up being the final version for Eurovision 2022.
Back in 2015, disagreements between the songwriters and the public broadcaster in Albania led to the withdrawal of Elhaida’s entry “Diell”. KAN are hoping the situation won’t spiral out of control to the point where that would be necessary.
Do you think the situation will be solved? Should KAN allow the songwriters to join the delegation, or cover the revamp costs? Tell us in the comments below!
Despite not liking the song too much, I admire both Michael and the songwriters for standing up for themselves.
1. Songwriters are one of the most important part of the team. If they wanna go, they should. For free.
2. The song is awful in terms of the songwriting, doesn’t change what I said above.
3. Producer’s part is underrated too and they should get a free ticket, if they please as well.
4. Singers/songwriters are a gift and should be praised for having self-penned entries. We can still be critical of them, but appreciate the effort. And national finals through X factor kill creativity.
last year’s songwriters did not get their expenses paid so why would KAN make an exception this year??????????????????
The news should be: “Michael Ben David withdraws from Eurovision”. All these ‘he is thinking of…”, “he might…”, “it is rumoured that…” are unnecessary.
If I were him and saw Marvin Dietman, I won’t hesitate twice for accepting to work with him aha He’s so hot … I know I’m a thirsty woman lol
On a serious note, it’s cool he expresses himself when he doesn’t like something — form an artistic and managing point of view.
Eurovision began as a competition for Songwriters, it is shameful how little their worth is showcased and appreciated by broadcasters nowadays.
it’s also depressing how unoriginal these songwriters are with their recycled music and cringy lyrics…
I think that’s one thing that shows like Melfest and Sanremo are doing right: the songwriters are mentioned explicitly before every song. In Eurovision you have to use a magnifying glass to even see their names. And apparently they even have to pay for their own trip. It’s easy to make Michael Ben David seem like a diva, but these demands don’t seem too crazy to me.
It’s a disgrace how songwriters are treated. Completely invisible on the broadcast, completely invisible in life.
Right? Especially considering this is a song contest (emphasis on song) they deserve more of the limelight.
No. The number of delegation members is limited as was the case with last year due to covid, and with all due respect for the song writers they do not play a critical part in actually producing the act, which is the job of the delegation.
It’s a disgrace to take the spot of a person who would be critical for the success of the act on stage out of a sense of entitelemt and not necessity.
Songwriters were invisible long before Covid. Luísa Sobral was the only one to get the attention she deserved. In the twentieth century, the trophy was given to the songwriter – now it is given to the singer.
I would say that at least the songs producer should be a part of the delegation because he can help to tweak the live sound to the point that it sounds the best way possible. But the co-writers of some cringe as* lyrics are really not necessary in there.
My point is that songwriters are the ones representing their countries. That songwriters are the ones who should be getting the trophy. I’ve been seeing your comments here for two or three weeks. You are a prick.
It’s the Eurovision SONG contest. Emphasis on song as while a singer may appear multiple times the SONG must be original. In decades past the winning song writer appeared on stage and given a trophy. Now not only do they have to buy a plane ticket they also sit in the Audience. Absolutely disgraceful.
It also is the EuroVISION song contest…
But it’s a SONG Contest.
a song contest that takes place on TV and not radio
KAN should find another READY song (no demo) and give it to Michael and problem fixed. The current song is a big mess of copyright infringement.
It is a song contest…..so the song should be the most important part. The writers should be reimbursed for travelling costs etc. How many times was the song of Israel of last year revamped? at least twice…. who did cover those costs? I expect it had been KAN, as I did not hear anything otherwise. So why should they not cover the costs this year? I believe it is also in the best interest of KAN to have a “good” finished product. Or do they not like the song this year? Well bad luck, bear with it this year and… Read more »
I hope they withdraw… now that Ukraine refused to withdraw, at least Israel can do the right thing. They deserve better.
Yes… and please, please… let Morocco, Lebanon or Tunisia join. Aren’t they full EBU members? At least one year… Let others enjoy the party at least once…
Nobody is keeping Arabic broadcasters from joining other than themselves. If they don’t want to join because Israel exists in the competition it’s not Israel’s fault.
They can all join as long as they adhere to the rules of the competition like any other country does, including the one about broadcasting all of the acts and enabling votes to each and every song. It’s the Lebanese (and their like) who keep themselves from enjoying the party by acting like babies.
BTW, FYI Morocco has full diplomatic ties with Israel, so their absence from the ESC has nothing to do with that.
Alright time for Inbal i guess
Even if Michael would withdraw, which he wouldn’t, the second place was Eli, with one point difference. So nobody would talk to Inbal before talking to Eli.
As if this song would be missed in Turin.
It wouldn’t it’s trash no one want the narcissistic lyrics either.
I’m all up for revamps because I want the best possible songs to compete in Eurovision.
Example:
Can you imagine Johnny Logan writing another song for Ireland and be told he has to pay for his own trip and buy his own ticket for the show?
Well:
Same situation here….
How many accomplished songs did you write Aria?
…yeah didn’t think so
Well I’m not the one making “smart” comments about how someone should “rest in peace” and be kept “out of ESC”.
It’s already happened. Eurovision winners Joy and Linnea Deb were songwriters for Finland in 2018, but YLE did not even invite them to Lisbon.
He’s just one person, plus KAN is doing it for covid-related reasons and the songwriters are more than one person.
Plus, the songwriters wrote an unoriginal, cringy song unlike Loga’s songs in late 80s
Y’all can dislike the song but you can not disrespect a Songwriter. Eventually the song/artist was chosen. It makes 100 percent sense that a songwriter wants accreditation. It’s a SONG contest! The songwriter should be the second person to give the accreditation… this is unbelievable!
It’s a song contest so the writers of the song are as important as the singer of the song and should be among the ones that receive an accreditation pass.
I find it weird that he just won X Factor and there’s no one who wants to manage him. Doesn’t it mean he was super popular? Why is the broadcaster responsible for his management? I’ve always said that a song contest should be represented by both singer and songwriters. If you’re allowed 17 people and there’s only 6 people onstage then it’s not 11 makeup and choreographers. Sounds like KAN wants lots of folks from the broadcaster to get a boondoggle trip—and that leaves people actually responsible for the song out.
Israeli delegation probably has some security as well but I’m not 100% sure. As for the management, it’s part of the x factor contract that the winner will be assigned with a manager, KAN are not part of this, it’s on Reshet and the recording label that they are working with.
Every single issue you mentioned has one solution – more money. It’s not a hard fix. There are very generous wealthy individuals who like to present Israel on a global stage. Like the guy who paid for Madonna at Tel Aviv. Why not just get a private sponsorship or is KAN against that?
It’s tricky, KAN are not supposed to get private sponsorships. Also they probably have more than enough money, they just not very exited to spend it on Eurovision as they already spent tens of millions on it from their own budget in 2019.
And on their first full year of operations as a newly-formwd broadcaster.
I’m glad Michael and the songwriters are standing up for themselves.
I dont understand all the hate tha this participant is getting from this forum. The song is not bad, it’s an uptempo, and this year we got a few. Personally, I like the song for the power that he puts when he is singing. It’s not garbage at all. Please, you should respect the artist.
Good . Stay home .
The songwriters of I.M want too much considering what garbage they wrote. I wish they could find some other song for him.
Good. Pick up abother singer cuz he cant sing anyway and his song sucks.
You can dislike the song but it’s undeniable he can sing really well.
It’s ridiculous songwriters can’t go. It is a song contest after all, without writers you would have no contest to begin with. I rather pay for songwriters than choreographers and directors. Surely they can pay for themselves?
And they should go intead of whom? the singer, dancers, head of delegation, makeup artist etc’? it’s known that the amount of people that can go is limited because of covid, so it’s unfortunate but that’s how it is.
The singer, songwriters head of delegation and that’s it..
Actually read the article in Hebrew and a couple of things are not the way they been presented here. The delegation has a place for 1 song writer while the marvel “I.M.” took 3 geniuses to create. KAN and Reshet (the x factor producers) are both seeing the current version as a demo and willing to work on it further to prepare it to the contest, but the creators are not willing to work on it before they are granted a spot in the delegation and additional funding of tens of thousands of shekels (which is probably fair for the… Read more »
I hope all this drama ends well for Michael, because he won fair and square. But 3 composers for a song in ESC is even “average”. I’m still traumatized with “Adrenalina” last year which had 10.
For some reasons awful pop songs tend to have like ridiculous numbers of co-writers. It’s beyond me.
imo there’s no way He’d withdraw. Do you you think the composers will preffer to not having their song at all in Eurovision over funding their own trip (something that already happened last year as mentioned)? eventually they will compromise and there will be some sort of agreement. and of course the manager problem is so easy to solve.
I suspect he’ll still go to Eurovision for Israel. However this issue does highlight the mass produced, lack of creative control that some delegations pursue when it comes to their Eurovision entry. Israel is one of a number of countries that do this, Malta being another. Not all songs suit all singers, there is a certain lack of organic creativity involved when a delegation picks a song (that could have been involved in 10 NFs that particular year or been tied to many different singers for different countries before it reaches the final country/singer). Picking a song in advance and… Read more »
1: I understand that it sucks for the songwriters that they don’t get a free trip to eurovision but when you hear that it’s because of covid measures implemented into the delegation size shouldn’t they atleast be a bit understanding about the situation? At the same time the broadcaster could also just book a hotel and flight for the eurovision week and the problem is solved. 2: KAN not funding the revamp of the cringe rupaul demo they themselves decided to select for the xfactor final is simply stupid and outrageous. I’d fully understand and support Michael if he doesn’t… Read more »
I think the songwriters are not actually obligated to go. I mean they had places in the green room but it’s totally fine if they don’t appear. Their job is already done before the semis.
For me it’s one of The best songs for now and weird thing with this whole drama.
Actually he has a very good voice. But the song lacks originality and also performing as a JLo wannabe will entertain some Eurovision fans, but it won’t help to build his artistic career in the long term.
If the main problem is with the “song” writers, it’s actually a blessing. Taking a couple of international hits and clumsily gluing them together with egocentric dumb lyrics is not song writing. KAN should quickly find Michael a decent song/a team that will write him a more decent song, maybe in a similar vibe and send him with that. The bar is very low anyway so I believe anything will be an improvement than what they currently have. Another great solution is to send Eli, the runner-up. He wrote himself a fine song so he doesn’t need an extra place… Read more »
I despise the song but it’s a song contest, you can’t just tell the songwriters to pay their own trip if they want to go..
Well, it’s pretty obvious that KAN lost almost all interest towards Eurovision. They outsourced the national selection and now even the staging of the number. I guess they are not planning to spend too much on an entry especially as it’s not predicted to do very well anyway. They are really successful in many other stuff they are doing, but Eurovision seems like a non priority to them. They probably took the BBC path.
Which is surprising to hear because of their victory in 2018. Was hosting in Tel Aviv really expensive?
This kinda shows the level of faith KAN have on their entry this year if they allow this issue to go on for this long. The demands are not that unreasonable anyway.
Is it a coincidence that several broadcasters stopped outsourcing their national finals and now have problems? I don’t get why he doesn’t have a manager and they are fighting, Israel has done so many talent shows and they still can’t figure out the logistics? Unnecessary drama alert
I’ve always found it a little cruel that songwriters — without whom there is no Eurovision — don’t automatically get accreditation.
They used in the older video contest but as the contest has gone on they’ve been getting less and less recognition.
if that’s true, it isn’t a fair treatment of michael. he should be granted representation, and the correct people should be credited.