Michael Ben David Israel IM Eurovision 2022 rehearsal
Photo: EBU / NATHAN REINDS

Eurovision 2022 second rehearsals take a break at noon. But before that, we got Israel’s Michael Ben David with “I.M”. What was the X Factor champ like on the Turin stage? Let’s find out…

Israel’s Michael Ben David “I.M” — Eurovision 2022 second rehearsal

Padraig: Israel’s 2022 entry owes much to RuPaul and her expansive back catalogue. And after today’s rehearsal, there’s a strong chance Michael Ben David will be hearing “shantay, you stay” rather than “sashay away”. He delivered a slick performance with tight choreography and on-point vocals. Michael starts off surrounded by mirrors, which fall away to reveal some highly effective LED. The delegation has opted to prioritise the on floor LEDs, which was a stroke of luck given the current staging circumstances. There are lots of angles from up above, making for some captivating aerial shots. He’s dressed all in white, similar to on the X Factor. His four dancers are in white too, donning mesh tops. 

Reaction to Israel’s second rehearsal at Eurovision 2022

@wiwibloggs_official #Israel’s @Michael Ben david slays at his 2nd #Eurovision rehearsal. @jonathanvautrey watches and reacts 🇮🇱 #ESC2022 #Eurovision2022 #IM ♬ original sound – wiwibloggs

What do you think? How will Michael Ben David do in the semi-final? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

74 Comments
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Liki
1 year ago

Michael we love you.. ignore all the haters..you Are awesome and amazing and so talented.

Azan
Azan
1 year ago

AMAZING He is a KING ready to SLAY!!!

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago

Awesome performance of a song that doesn’t invent the wheel again, but that is still very enjoyable. I hope Israel qualifies.

Karl Fradgley
Karl Fradgley
1 year ago

really well performed but the song is awful

Luk
Luk
1 year ago

Israel the Best

The truth
1 year ago

And just today the Israeli Supreme court agreed to the eviction of 1000 indigenous people from their homes. No criticism, no condemnation from the hypocrites.

Lucie
Lucie
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

You are an idiot!!! Get a life, stop portraying hate and leave Israelis to live their lives. We saw right now that 3 Israelis were murdered in Israel. Where is your solidarity with them??? Enough is enough!! Stop bringing politics and your hate to this web site!

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucie

Facts aren’t hate. They are just facts. If you don’t like them that is your problem and makes you an idiot. Solidarity with those dead people. I am very sorry to hear it. But now will you show the same solidarity with those who have suffered the same fate of are victims of human rights breaches?

Jojo
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

Human rights?
Never heard of gay man ( jews or Muslims or any other kind) being pushed from rooftops to their death in Israel, never heard of women not allowed to study, drive, work or loosing thier…so won’t enjoy sex , never heard of Israelis cheering dancing and being happy when someone on the other side getting killed .
Facts…you are a walking propaganda and it’s time for facts.
ESC IS A PLACE OF MUSIC AND COMING TOGETHER.
GO AWAY HATER

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Jojo

Wow what a load of crap from someone supposedly pushing for love. Propaganda you say? Yes you’re full of it.

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

And there go the down votes from the hypocritical crowd those who scream inhumanity only when the people concerned are non-Middle Eastern Semites.

Liki
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

idiot, and hater

Liki
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

Lie lie lie..feel sorry for your poor comments here..

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Liki

Yes every news outlet is lying. France 24; The Guardian; The Independent; The Irish Times; APnews; Reuters. Some people think Israel is a paragon of the truth.

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Liki

By repeating “lie” for 3 times won’t change the truth. Idiots are those who like the proverbial monkeys refuse to see, listen and speak out. Hate is not speaking up about injustices.

maria
maria
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

Sources?

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  maria

Maria I have tried to quote 4 different sources but it seems that there is someone at Wiwibloggs who isn’t in favour of free speech. You can check The Guardian, The Independent and The Irish Times.

goodone
goodone
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

It seems that the real hypocrite is you!
Israel suffers daily by islamic terror, people are murdered in the streets..
and you get your news from The Irish Times….
I stand with lovely Israel!

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  goodone

There is no doubt that Arab terror exists. But the hypocrisy lies that that terror is an answer to a greater terror. We praise Ukrainians who are fighting against Russian aggressors. Yet Arabs are called terrorists for doing the same.

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  goodone

Not just the Irish Times. The Guardian, The Independent , Haaretz, and all major news outlets.
This has nothing to do with standing with Israel. This is calling out wrong doing wherever it is coming from whether the Arab or Israeli side.

Yan
Yan
1 year ago
Reply to  The truth

As a gay israeli, that is a big fake news, israel is one of the most lgtb open countries in the world !

The truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Yan

Who said anything about LGBT rights.

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago

Its one of the few times that the personality of an artist makes me dislike his entry, seriously i cant stand him. Its ok to look for attention but he screams for it

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

Me neither .. he’s way too much

Jojo
1 year ago

And excuse me who are you to decide what’s too much and what’s not? He is what he is .like it or not isn’t that what art is all about ?

Gil
Gil
1 year ago

Israel start to climb up in the odds after this rehearsal, just as i anticipated.
Fuego 2 on the line.
Michael is a superstar, shame that only now
The odds realized it.
He cant loose no matter what song he gets, his stage presense cant be ignored, it will be a crime againt him

Sami
Sami
1 year ago
Reply to  Gil

It’s not a shame if you put your money on him :)))

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Gil

I hope Israel qualifies. But it is no ‘Fuego’.

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago

So fun!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
1 year ago

This went surprisingly well. Michael in particular performs very well and the staging and choreo are on point. My only issue is the song itself.

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

The song is great & ITALY needs it in the Grand Final.

Jake
Jake
1 year ago

It feels very Eurovision and that’s not a compliment. I genuinely like him and think his voice is on point. But I don’t think as a song that it stands on its own. I still think there’s an inside chance this qualifies given lack of dance songs.

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Jake

May the Lord hear you, Jake!

Lex
Lex
1 year ago

For better or worse, this is their entry and Michael Ben David believes in his work and his team. If you liked it before, you continue seeing the same ingredients… and same if you disliked it. In my case, I can’t with that attitude and those high pitch notes, but I respect the hard work behind it. Good luck, Israel!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

I just don’t see much of a purpose to this song if it’s not there to open the semi final tbh. It’s not very good and in this rehearsal clip, there’s a lot of “ad-libbing” and spoken parts added in, so it doesn’t feel they’re even trying to present this as a legit vocal performance.
It’s definitely not for me..but, as I said, I could’ve enjoyed it to an extent if it was purely there to open the show.

Gil
Gil
1 year ago

This is fire, i said from the beggining michael is sailing to the final and next week it will be prooved i was correct all the way

Xxx
Xxx
1 year ago

What is that choreo.

Liki
1 year ago

Amazing rehearsal.. Good luck Michael

Jghtl
1 year ago

I don’t like the song, but everything else (staging, attitude, vocals) is perfect. Good luck Israel.

Kalla
Kalla
1 year ago

I know I will be hugely unpopular, and I know it’s not the most original song ever. But this rehearsal gives me life! Can’t wait to party to it on Thursday in Eurovillage.

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
1 year ago
Reply to  Kalla

Maybe you should get out more

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Kalla

Can’t wait to party to it on Saturday night!

schlageresque
schlageresque
1 year ago

So cringey.. He can’t sing a simplistic (and terrible) song with a dance routine that was probably rejected by Elena Tsagrinou, looks like a ripe tangerine.. it’s just a cheap bait for gays, and most of them of course will fall for the camp and sassy attitude, so easy.

I just want to slap him in the face. Twice.

escfan24
escfan24
1 year ago
Reply to  schlageresque

you sound insecure

schlageresque
schlageresque
1 year ago
Reply to  escfan24

Yeah? Please explain? 🙂

TheOnlyOne
TheOnlyOne
1 year ago
Reply to  schlageresque

Have you forgotten your tranquillisers? Take a deep breath when you feel you want to slap someone

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
1 year ago
Reply to  schlageresque

I’d smack him three times

JONNY
JONNY
1 year ago
Reply to  schlageresque

LMAO!! LOVE IT.. I AGREE 100%

Voix
Voix
1 year ago

I find it extremely pretentious when certain gay artists in Eurovision come with their homosexuality as the only position statement to usually cover up a bad song, he literally couldn’t answer a question in the press conference without going yas honey slay shamazing gurl. When people scream for attention is when they realize their staging doesn’t work out (ronela entered the chat)

Voix
Voix
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

It’s not about his sexuality it’s about his attitude, they asked them how we feels and he lifted his leg all the way to his head lol

Chingiz
Chingiz
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

Completely agree with you!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

Being gay isn’t the reason for his annoying behaviour. Being Michael Ben David is the reason for his annoying behaviour. :3

Tadhg
Tadhg
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

I’m gay and I get what you’re saying, It’s just attention seeking, I’d accept it from a kid but not from a grown man, I don’t think guys like this do the LGBTQ+ community any favours, he reinforces a very common gay stereotype. I’m not interested in a gay performer who’s only there for camp entertainment value, is that all people like us are to straight people? People should be judged for their talent, camping it up isn’t talent but you’re also right in saying attention seeking isn’t a gay preserve, there’s a lot of it in ESC.

Sami
Sami
1 year ago
Reply to  Tadhg

Maybe that common stereotype is based on something. Sure, we’re not all like that. But some of us are. So what? Are those people not allowed to express their true self?

Tadhg
Tadhg
1 year ago
Reply to  Sami

I’m talking about attention seeking, some people will do anything to get noticed, it’s a real sign of immaturity. I’ve obviously hit a raw nerve.

Shift_key
Shift_key
1 year ago

We want Eden Alene back

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
1 year ago

Cringe !

Shift_key
Shift_key
1 year ago

Generic and bland, if this qualifies over Iceland I’ll rage

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago
Reply to  Shift_key

Thankfully it’s on the second semi-final, where whoever qualifies (apart from Cyprus, Serbia and Sweden), almost nobody gives a crap, hahahaha.

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Shift_key

Over Iceland? Iceland and Israel are not in the same semi…

Aisling
Aisling
1 year ago
Reply to  Shift_key

Maybe they meant Ireland?

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago

After all the bullcrap…the annoying “songwriters” creating drama, people saying he cheated to win X Factor, him getting a plethora of hateful comments from hardcore ESC fans, people hating on the revamp, people assuming he’s an arrogant individual because of the way he likes to performance this song, him performing in the pre-party in his own country after there was a shooting a few blocks away, him not knowing if he will go to Torino…TWICE! After all that I really want my country Israel to qualify this year. I want MBD to qualify this year. Will it happen? We will… Read more »

sam
sam
1 year ago
Reply to  Sir Stevia

wouldn’t it be hilarious if both israel and latvia end up qualifying out of running slot #2

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  sam

I mean the EBU kept putting dead certain NQ’s in those slots so it makes sense why the 2nd slotters kept NQ’ing. Latvia and Israel are not the type of songs that get death slotted so we will see. It’s possible both will qualify from those slots. It would be really wonderful : )

Nicomro
Nicomro
1 year ago
Reply to  Sir Stevia

I truly appreciate how you word things here. I gotta Say i most if the Times agree with you. Thank you for being my voice haha (il not from Israël but France)

Sir Stevia
Sir Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Nicomro

Thank you, that’s very kind of you

Escfan
Escfan
1 year ago

Good singer, terrible song and performance, he should drop that sassiness…
This just doesn’t work for me unfortunately, but I think he will make it to the final, even though I think he shouldn’t

Nitzan
Nitzan
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

“He should drop that sassiness”?

Rule number 1 for Eurovision success: Never listen to ESC fans.

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

His performance is everything.

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
1 year ago
Reply to  Im so fab

To whom ????

TheOnlyOne
TheOnlyOne
1 year ago

Yessss! Some good news finally about this entry which has become very hated amongst fans since released

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
1 year ago
Reply to  TheOnlyOne

There may be are reasons for that. It’s juste a very bad entry.

TheOnlyOne
TheOnlyOne
1 year ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Perhaps: but it doesn’t mean it can’t make it to the final… maybe the performance and his charisma can overcome this

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
1 year ago
Reply to  TheOnlyOne

May be. May be not.