Noa Kirel, Israel’s biggest pop star of recent times, has dominated the charts in the country since the release of her #1 hit “Killer” when she was just 14 years old. After years of judging on X Factor, Kirel will take centre stage and represent Israel at Eurovision 2023.
The Israeli Eurovision committee, comprised of ten experts from KAN and Galats radio, chose Kirel from among 78 established artists, and gave her the right of first refusal. She accepted the invitation, and KAN immediately let the world know that Noa is the Israeli representative.
Noa Kirel to represent Israel at Eurovision 2023
The 21-year-old Israeli pop icon is probably the biggest name in the Israeli music scene. Over the past few years, she has had 12 different singles hit the top two in the Israeli charts, and racked up over 550 million views on YouTube. Known as a singer, actress, and dancer, she is definitely what they call a “triple threat”.
Other names that the KAN committee considered, according to EuroMix, were 2018 selection runner-up Mergui, 2020 runner-up Ella Lee Lahav, Static & Ben El, X Factor judge Ran Danker, and many others. The choice to invite Noa Kirel was unanimous, and the committee managed to agree on the decision within an hour.
Israel’s record at Eurovision
Israel maintained one of the longest qualification streaks in the contest, making every final from 2015 to 2021. However, in 2022, Michael Ben David and “I.M” placed 13th in the semi-final, marking Israel’s first non-qualification in eight years.
Deciding it was time for a change of air, KAN opted for an early internal artist selection. The committee chose Kirel, who was by many not expected to accept the invitation, but it is now official.
It is still unknown whether her song will be selected internally or via a national selection. However, sources close to the committee say the latter seems more likely at the moment.
Pageant fans may remember that Israel's #Eurovision 2023 singer @noakirel opened the Miss Universe pageant in 2021. pic.twitter.com/8Tfsl2cMbz
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) July 11, 2022
Noa Kirel
The 21-year-old singer, born Noya Kirel, first gained popularity in Israel when she released the song “Killer”, which was the centre of controversy in Israel. The majority of people in the largely conservative country viewed the song, by a then 14-year-old Noa Kirel, as overly provocative. The song reached 10 million views on YouTube within weeks, and launched one of the most successful careers in the history of Israeli music.
Noa Kirel has released 41 singles, mostly in the hip-hop and electro-pop genre. Her influences range from K-pop to EDM. She has won two MTV Europe awards by the time she was 19. She is currently storming the Israeli charts with her comedic dance-pop track “Shlosha Banot” (a corruption of Shalosh Banot, meaning three girls).
What do you think of the Israeli representative? What style would you like to see her bring to ESC 2023? Sound off in the comments!
Ofra Haza remains the biggest pop start Israel has ever produced. Don’t even compare her to the legendary Ofra Haza.
OK, I didn’t expect to have our first confirmed act for next year this soon but I’m all in, she sounds promising!
Hun you don’t understand how big she is in Israel. She dominates the charts in every single song she releases. She is like the biggest gay icon in the country. You should listen to Thought About That (her latest English single). She is a performer. I mean If she takes the ticket to Eurovision the performance will be lit / iconic / EVERYTHING a true Eurovision fan wants
I can only assume her “go to” producer will be the super talented JORDI.
And based on some of their previous tracks, it will be a banger!!!
Pouch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TUN30–lUw
Million Dollar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbh5Kvet04
You’re welcome (-;
This country is as bad as Russia when it comes to systematic human rights abuses. Yet we are all supposed to turn a blind eye and cheer them on at the ESC.
As an Israeli, this makes me so happy and excited especially given our (just!) poor results (and horrible choice!) last year!!! So no PED for me this year 🙂
For those who question Noa’s ability to sing live, here is her singing her song “Drum” live on the radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-CCDjLafk. Absolutely no reason to doubt her abilities. I think this was a really brave choice for Kan and an even braver acceptance for Noa. I think it means great things for Eurovision that already established artists come to the competition to advance their International careers (and that Atlantic Records where shes signed see value added from her doing this competition — she wouldn’t have accepted without their support). There is absolutely no reason to declare “winner vibes” in July.… Read more »
Don’t know her, but good development. More and more a-level local artists see the impact Eurovision can make. ESC as their gateway to a global career.
This must be a new record for picking an artist.
Not counting in several same/next-day confirmations from 2020 to 2021, of course.
Lena was confirmed to be representing Germany in 2011 back in June 2010!
maybe a stupid question, but why was lena chosen to represent germany again, when she had just won the contest?
After this super-early-wtf-it’s-still-July announcement, I’m willing to bet the actual song will be picked internally and only released on the very last day of the deadline.
Let’s just pray they won’t be revamping their song for like 5 times by the time 2023 contest starts.
For all you non-Israelis wondering what the big deal is: It’s like when San Marino sent Achille Lauro or The UK sent Engelbert Humperdinck.
She’s a huge artist within the country.
Achille Lauro didn’t qualify and Engelbert Humperdinck was second to last, with these examples this seems like a disaster incoming.
Well, hope she’ll do better than the 2 examples you gave :’)
The last time UK hosted the Eurovision and Israel send a famous pop singer – Israel won.
(1998 with Dana International)…
Europe get ready!
she can sing, she can dance and she will deliver. Just hoping for a good song.
Oh honey. Just wait and see.
I’ll bring you a nice hat so you could chew on on May 2023…
wow omg they aren’t playing. i’m familiar with her music and her performance skills, and she’s fantastic. i hope the song is great.
last place in semi material
i’m already feeling homesick for Michael now, and i wasn’t his fan, this one is even more annoying, how her entry is likely to go to 1 billion youtube views in less than a week or something
We’re not even halfway through July yet, and we already have someone the toxic yass kweener fandom won’t let anyone say a bad word about… great. Best of luck to her, but I can already tell she’s gonna get hyped to hell and back no matter what she does.
I hope she won’t have that beachy attitude she has on the promo pic.
she probably won’t. it’s summer now so it’s only normal she’s posting beachy pictures, while the eurovision promo happens in winter/spring when people think about the holidays less.
Lmaooo
Actually, she’s a real down to earth sweetheart!
Oooooo this is interesting! Having given a few of her songs a listen now, Noa seems like a very competent artist: good vocals, great at dancing, and some very good songs that she has sung.
My only worry is this turns into another Ronela situation where the artist is overhyped by the fandom and the live performance is kiiiiinda eh, but I’m excited to see what Noa is going to bring to the Eurovision stage! You go girl!!
To be fair… we know/knew that Ronela CAN perform because we’ve seen her do it. For some reason it just didn’t come together for her at Eurovision though which is a shame.
I would assume that it happens to even the best of performers for a variety of reasons.
I didn’t come together for her at Live on Tape performance as well, though.
It*
I think it may be related to the change in choreography and overall vibe I guess of the performance. I think prior to the rehearsals, there wasn’t real reason to worry about Albania because on multiple occasions, whether in pre parties or the original FiK performance, Ronela proved to be a competent vocalist with good stage presence and the performance worked with the song. Unfortunately it didn’t come together for the Live on Tape or her Esc performance and I do wonder whether it has something to do with the change in choreography, perhaps she felt underprepared. It didn’t come… Read more »
Is this the earliest we’ve ever had an artist announcement for Eurovision next year? Usually we get our first artist around September.
Can she sing live?
a friend of mine knows her somewhat personally and he told me she can sing live when not moving so much hope her team will craft a song that will balance her singing and dancing abilities respectfully
That is exactly what I’m thinking as well.
For the first time in years, Israel is going with an already famous star, chosen internally. I am sure that her massive success is a result of talent and effort. I hope that they let her do her thing, and don’t pressure her into accepting a by the committee ”perfect ESC song” (*cough* Emma Muscat *cough*). If she brings her A-game, I can see her doing very well. Welcome to ESC, Noa, and good luck, Israel!
PS. They can hardly do worse than I.M, so I am looking forward to an upgrade.
I love the enthusiasm to move away from the dreadful MBD and Noa is such a star but this very early announcement will increase the pressure to her. They should have waited at least until December.
Maybe they were worried she would show up at Festival I Kenges and take over from Ronela.
Im I the only one surprised we have a name announcement this early?
Well Susanne is ready should Andorra give her the green light and you also have Senhit/Serhat/Valentina on a revolving basis.
As an Israeli I have to say that I’m so happy that Israel finally selected our artist without the public votes. The public always think the singer and the song must be in “Eurovision Style”, which means he/she must be LGBTQ or has some other prominent sign: 2016: LGBTQ???? 2018: The looper and let’s admit it, sh is little bit weird (in the good way?) 2020/21: She was Ethiopian and so did the song in 2020?? 2022: LGBTQ and so did the song???? And of course I’m happy also because No’a Kirel is an amazing singer and I’m sure Israel… Read more »
You have spared us your wisdom on 2017 and 2019?
a very professional performer to represent Israel…Im sure her song will be well-produced…I do think this year we will get lots of Chanel-esque bops after having so few last year…I hope there will be some ethnic elements to this one
I would love for you to be right since I love that stuff, but Måneskin did not signal a flood of rock entries (despite being quite successful outside of the contest as well). In fact we got more ballads than in the average year. So… I guess we’ll wee what happens.
I think so too. So it is the perfect year to bring a good ballad.
From where we will bring the money to host eurovision again? Dam, what a mess
Call the guy who paid a million for Madonna to perform at eurovision. He’s got something to make up to us.
you’re right ?
I agree..lol
Good luck, Israel! And with an announcement this early, she’ll have plenty of time to come up with something amazing.
OMG! If she were competing with “Thought About That” in ESC she would probable have win. I knew her before, shes probably the biggest pre-star to be in Eurovision in the recent times. Amazing choice for Israel.
OK so I gave myself a bit to process this now I wanna comment on it: First of all I’m very happy my country is getting serious after getting eliminated this year. It makes me happy to see this kind of passion for the contest. Despite the fact that I dislike sending famous people to ESC, with Kirel (Whom I actually thought about going to ESC in my fantasies lol) I am not upset cus she’s young and only well known in Israel. Being famous won’t help in ESC if her song will be crap, we all know this. Second… Read more »
Sorry Bell is in Hebrew lol.
If anyone wants to listen to her songs, I wouldn’t recommend the ones she released in the past year. They’re all generic and over produced. 2 years ago and earlier, are her best ones, like -Million Dollar, Pouch, If you’re a man, drum, SLT and more (i like the hebrew ones best)… I really hope her song for the contest will be true to her original style before she signed the contract with her record label because they ruined her style imo.
First artist for 2023 that’s cool, I don’t remember an announcement so early from a broadcaster, it seems that Israel is really motivated!
Thank you for sending this icon Israel, hope to see you back in the final where you belong!!
Israel is not Playing next year, she wants the Gold again.
lol are you seriously comparing noa with senhit lol.
Since when Eleni was stagant on stage? Guy your Chanel’s obsession makes you blind.
Eleni remains largely the reference sorry. Chanel was inspired for her performance from Eleni’s and not the contrary. No Chanel has not and won’t make us forget Eleni.
Because Chanel didn’t use pyro and effects? Lol come on, without effects the slow motion moment can’t exist. Chanel was very good that’s not the point, she is a mix between JLo and Eleni for me while Eleni is Eleni. As far as I know Eurovision is not a contest about who has the most difficult choregraphy and who moves the most.
Chanel has unfortunately invented nothing sorry or maybe you don’t really watch Eurovision because there were and there will be divas with choregraphy before and after her, I mean Ruslana, Helena Paparizou, Eleni, Elena, Tamta, among many many others, so no I’m sorry the spanish act for this esc 2022 wasn’t something never seen! Chanel is a diva, ok but so not something never seen, really not sorry.
“really not, sorry.”
You do Chanel no favours by taking down other artists to push her up. You are a bad fan. Both ladies massively elevated their songs with astonishing performances
Complicity of performance?! What is that? It’s Eleni who made rebirth the diva style in Eurovision in the best possible way, she managed to be the runner up in 2018, it’s not nothing, even if Chanel did well she didn’t do that. And this year for example Chanel was not the only one to do a difficult choregraphy and to sing at the same time, Michael Ben David did it too and you don’t talk about it, I mean Chanel did well ok, ok she is a great performer but she is not the only one so to want to… Read more »
well they’re similarly well off lol
but at least Senhit is quality, while Noa is the definition of planet plastique, britney wannabe *cough*
Damn, calm down a little bit XD we literally just know ONE artist and not even her song
I guess the Israeli fans are really excite to have a top tier singer representing us, especially considering she has some credentials where it comes to international appeal, but I definitely agree that the excitement is both premature and over the top.
I, for one, am sticking to cautious optimism for the time being. She has lot’s of potential to do well, but it’s a long wait until we hear the song.
I agree, it could be Darude all over again
But, but, she’s already the favourite with the bookies!
So not Malta?
In Israeli terms she’s a huge name, never thought she’d go for Eurovision.
There will probably be a lot of money and effort poured into the song and performance, as Kirel has a strong financial and artistic support from her international label, Atlantic Records (they paid $200,000 just for her to perform in the Miss Universe Pageant).
Not a huge fan of hers, but she is a hard worker and good at what she does, and she’ll probably come up with a competitive entry.
her dad might also be kinda rich too, he is a CEO of Glassco, a major glass company in Israel
In all honesty I’m really happy with this decision, Israel has struggled with the X factor format having rushed songs and inexperienced artists. This is a good idea.
As an Israeli I’m super impressed!!!! Noa is THE definition of a SUPER STAR!!!
Yes, I know we haven’t heard the song (or any other chosen artists/songs), but with her skills and records (literally!), Israel is already a top (!!!) contender for the trophy!!
I also like the fact that this time around , we know the artist well in advance and have enough time to search for the right and perfect bop for this amazing artist!!!
I’m sooooooooo happy!!!!!
Don’t see her winning, but she’d for sure qualify and performing somewhere between a Chanel and Tsagrinou
How can you say “don’t see her winning”? We haven’t even heard a single song, not hers not from any other country yet. How can you predict the fate of a singer in the middle of July 2022?
I’m shocked. This is the absolute best choice we could have made. No wonder it took them less than an hour to decide…
But what amazes me is that she actually agreed. It’s like Dua Lipa agreeing to represent the UK.
Looks like we’re going to Haifa next year. After listening to a few of Noa’s songs. She is already one to keep a eye on, even though she’s the first act announced.
Chanel did not flop
After this years fiasco Israel decided to go – very – big and I am here for it!! Maybe it would have been better if they didn’t announce it already though
YES!! She is a real firecracker, her songs are exactly the type of songs Israel does well with and if they give a coordinated performance they could really rack up the scoreboard! I’m already really excited for this one!
As an Israeli I am shocked ay that.
I never thought she would agree. Vocally She is an ok singer, but she has a huge artistic team behind her that can write a good song for her, like her non Eurovision songs which are all amazing and would have been top 10 imo.
PED IS FINALLY OVER YES! TEL AVIV 2024? WHY NOT
No brainer…. Great choice!
Great, we can all forget about Michael Ben David now. XD
Israeli Chanel
Who was Spanish Eleni! There’s a certain line of succession here.
Finnally, We can win again with her!
Wow, she is a big deal!
Ok!! Good choice Israel. Watching her songs on YouTube I think Israel will be a contender in 2023 for the win.
We will just have to wait for the song.
Here’s one heck of a bombshell! Kinda love how they made the choice in like an hour. “So, Noa Kirel-“ “YES. HER. GO WITH HER.”
i mean she’s a big star so it’s obvious haha… i would do the same.