Michael Ben David won the right to represent his country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 after wining the fourth season of The X Factor Israel. His Eurovision entry, “I.M”, is a bombastic, in-your-face performance all about owning yourself.

Scroll down for the “I.M” lyrics

Israel in Eurovision 2022: Michael Ben David “I.M”

Michael Ben David is a 2020 graduate of the prestigious Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts in Tel Aviv. The school has a strong cast of Eurovision alumni, including Rita (ESC 1990), Shiri Maimon (ESC 2005), and Harel Skaat (ESC 2005).

After graduating with great success from performing arts school, Michael found himself caught amongst the pandemic, working in a supermarket until he auditioned for The X Factor Israel, where his mentor was none other than Eurovision 2018 winner Netta. After dramatic renditions of ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” and “It’s a Sin” by The Petshop Boys, Michael made it to the grand final. For the final episode of the series, he performed his Eurovision entry “I.M” and won the public vote.

“I.M” was written by Chen Aharoni (Israel’s 2018 national selection), Lidor Saadia and Asi Tal.

What do the lyrics mean in “I.M”?

Penned for Michael Ben David, “I.M” on the face of it seems like a self-affirming power-pop song. The inspiration for the song, however, is driven from Ben David’s struggles in youth, having suffered being bullied for his high-pitched voice – which has ultimately become his trademark sound when singing.

Ben David’s relationship with his mother has also faced a strained journey, which also motivated the lyrics to the song. Michael opens with “Sometimes love can bring you down”, no doubt a reference to this strained relationship. His resilience, however, prevails, with repeated words “Keep your head up”.

Ben David no doubt references his journey to self-acceptance, entering performance arts school, by singing “Going for the things I should and maybe I’m ferocious”. But ultimately, we are reminded of his strong will, and his unwillingness to compromise for anyone else – “No one brings me down”.

“I.M” lyrics – Michael Ben David (Israel Eurovision 2022)

Music and lyrics: Asi Tal, Chen Aharoni, Lidor Saadia

Baby
Sometimes love can bring you down
But, honey
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Remember who you are

You can call me crazy
Or just call my name
You can say that I’m stunning
It’s not a shame
‘Cause I know I am
I know I am, hah
‘Cause I know I am
I know I am

I like this attitude
I like the game
You can say that I’m brave
I’m never the same
‘Cause I know I am
I know I am
‘Cause I know I am
Hah, I know I am

Baby, come with me, follow me
Tell me if we can take it to the floor
I’m the fire, the power
And if you’re asking
I was gonna take it all

You know I am
You know I am
‘Cause I na-na-na know I am, am
And no one brings me down
I’m gonna take the crown
Give it to me now

I’m shameless and I’m spotless and I’m flawless
Always take it up ’cause I’m a winner, I don’t want less
Going for the things I should and maybe I’m ferocious
Making you the one I want and I’m not even topless
It’s going down for real
Twenty twenty-two, let’s seal the deal
Is the new sex appeal
Bam, bam, this is how it feel

Baby, come with me, follow me
Tell me if we can take it to the floor
Ooh, I’m the fire, the power
And if you’re asking
I was gonna take it all

You know I am
You know I am
‘Cause I na-na-na know I am, am
And no one brings me down
I’m gonna take the crown

Baby
Sometimes life can bring you down
But I’ll remember
To always keep my head up
‘Cause no one brings me down
I’m gonna take the crown
Give it to me now

Do the lyrics of “I.M” resonate with you? Do you love the pop-power feels from Michael Ben David’s Eurovision entry ? Let us know in the comments below.

24 Comments
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Mindy
Mindy
1 year ago

Ridiculous

goodone
goodone
1 year ago

I tend to think that this will qualify!
great voice, perfect staging and a song wrote especially for the singer… he is telling his story even though it is not accepted by everyone…

Azan
Azan
1 year ago

Michael can PERFORM! He is literally BORN for the stage!

Jeep
Jeep
1 year ago
Reply to  Azan

Said no one ever!

Ana
Ana
1 year ago

On the positive note, if this indeed doesn’t qualify, KAN will have to review their song selection process. This “song” should not have been able to pass the committee that chooses the songs. Like a bunch of experts listened to this cr@p out of dozens of other songs and said “oooh, we must give THIS a chance, this is good stuff”. Who are those people? Are they drinking? Are they snorting meth in there? I don’t know, but they should do a better work.

Matt
Matt
1 year ago

Him performing is SO cringe!! Europe does not like this. He won’t do well acting like a diva.

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt

Matt everyone, the sole representative of the entirety of Europe. Let’s give Matt a round of applause.

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago

I posted this in a different post but since Wiwibloggs made a post about I.M’s lyrics I thought I’d post my own version for this song here. [Intro] Baby Sometimes life can bring you down But, honey Keep your head up Keep your head up Keep your head up Remember who you are [Verse 1] They type an essay Why not just say hey? They say that I’m crazy, but it’s on the contrary Cause I know who I am I know who I am, ha! I know who I am I know who I.M Despite what you go through… Read more »

Jesse O'Rourke
Jesse O'Rourke
1 year ago

Non qualifier

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jesse O'Rourke

We’ll see.

potaxio
potaxio
1 year ago
Reply to  Sir Stevia

I agree. It wouldn’t be the first time the fandom counts Israel out in the semis but they manage to make it to the final

Matrix 12
1 year ago

‘Resilience’ is a fashionword and has therefore no longer meaning.

Pete
Pete
1 year ago

As open and proud gay person, I’m sick and tired of those yaaas kween work it RuPaul wanna be where singers can not clearly distinguish self-empowerment and arrogance and egocentrism…. And the song is just BAD. B.A.D!

Yannis
Yannis
1 year ago
Reply to  Pete

but you not sick of songs about booty and bananas and spaceman… girl -_- sit down!

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Yannis

Don’t come for the Wolves Yannis.

John
John
1 year ago

Best stage performer this year except for Chanel. The stage show is going to rack up televotes in SF2 from people who want to see entertainment and upbeat songs. You can’t vote against songs in ESC only for them.

Yannis
Yannis
1 year ago
Reply to  John

He owns the stage! I even think it’s top 10 material.
Let’s wait for the rehearsal, I CAN’T WAIT!!

Yannis
Yannis
1 year ago

When you understand the background story of I.M it sound way more connected to the singer, I think it’s the best song for him, “This is who I am, deal with it!” I love the message of this song, be who you are don’t let anyone bring you down, that’s what Michael does.
The song capture the idea of who michael is and I love it! his stage present, his talent, he is born to be a performer!

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Yannis

A locked in qualifier. For me this is superior to Set Me Free (which I did not expect to make it).

Jeep
Jeep
1 year ago

This country needs to be given the same treatment as Russia. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeep

this country is staying unbothered at eurovision for the years to come, and you’ll keep seething

Yannis
Yannis
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeep

Nonsense!

Gil
Gil
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeep

I think that you are the one that has to get treatment, i guess you have no clue on the history of this region

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeep

I applaud you for your lack of hypocrisy and lack of double standards embraced by the EBU and so many who think they own the high moral ground. I spoke about this too. So you can expect a lot of downvotes, which will actually prove my point about hypocrisy