Since late October, X Factor Israel has begun its search for Israel’s newest singing star — and their entry for Eurovision 2022. Now broadcaster Kan has confirmed that it has selected the eight potential Eurovision songs that the eventual X Factor finalists will sing. The broadcaster has also revealed more details about the show format.
The broadcaster confirmed the show news with the Israeli Eurovision news site EuroMix. Songwriters were keen to get involved — over 130 entries were received. After putting out a call for potential Eurovision songs, the broadcaster’s expert committee shortlisted eight songs.
Each of the four finalists will be given two songs to perform. Leading up to the grand final, the finalists will each perform their two potential Eurovision songs. The audience and the X Factor judging panel will vote for the one song that each act will take to the grand final.
At the grand final of X Factor for Eurovision, the four finalists will each perform their potential Eurovision entry. They’ll face a vote and the winner will take their song to represent Israel at Eurovision 2022.
The broadcaster has not yet confirmed the date of the X Factor Israel grand final, however EuroMix reports that the show will take place sometime in early February 2022.
Israel selects its Eurovision 2022 act with the X Factor
For its 2022 Eurovision selection, Kan is using its version of the popular international talent show franchise. The X Factor Israel judging panel consists of Eurovision 2018 winner Netta; Israeli rocker Aviv Geffen; Margalit Tzan’ani, who is famed for her Israeli oriental musical repertoire; Eyes Wide Open actor Ran Danker; and singer and actress Miri Mesika. Those judges represent several ends of the musical spectrum, suggesting this year’s contest has a place for everyone and room for big surprises.
The show is currently in the midst of its auditions stage — a long way from the grand final. Since early October, dozens of hopefuls have performed in front of the judging panel, hoping for a place in the contest — and the chance to represent their country at Eurovision 2022.
Earlier this year, Israel was represented by Eden Alene. The singer had previously won X Factor Israel in 2017, but won her ticket to Rotterdam by winning the talent show The Next Star.
What do you think? Who would you like to see represent Israel in Turin? What sort of songs would you like to see performed in the X Factor final? Tell us your thoughts below.
But why?
i absolutely despise this type of selection. a bunch of songs being chosen before the finalists are even known and then having to be assigned to the artists, without them having much of a say about it. italy is one of the most successful countries at esc bc artists are allowed to be artists, choosing their own songs to submit and pouring their soul into them, and yet we have countries like israel completely erasing artistic involvement which is sad.
The finalists have already been known since the show’s penultimate episode was recorded in mid-September. At least the Songwriters who were eager to know who the 4 finalists were signed a non-disclosure agreement and were allowed to attend the recording or watch it later at the production house. The episodes currently airing were recorded last SUMMER if you believe it or not. The 8 songs are either written for each of the 4 finalists in particular or assessed to be most the suitable for them. The finalists themselves could have submitted any song they wrote by themselves or in partnership… Read more »
You got it right. Every songwriter who intended to submit a song to the song selection committee could have gotten to know the identity of the 4 finalists by attending the recording of the decisive episode back in mid-September (based on prior application and an nda to the song committee). Some took advantage of this while others chose not to for their own reasons, but the option was equally open for anyone interested…and yes, Eden did a great job given all the turmoils she had to go through with the 3 different incarnations of ‘Set Me Free’. I’m glad she… Read more »
I believe the final foursome was selected by a combination of votes from the judges and the studio audience, and only in the final the viewers would be able to vote via app. This is exactly how it went in every season of The Next Star except for the 2015 season, all of the episodes but the final were taped in advance, though they taped them about two weeks before airing and not months in advance as is done now by the X Factor production. The up side here is they had plenty of time to come up with songs… Read more »
this type of selection feels kinda problematic to me. are the songs given to each finalist personalized to each singer’s vocal abilities and style or will they be given randomly? are the Israelis gonna vote for their favorite performer instead of the song?
i may be wrong but i think many things can be improved in this way of selection.
Each finalist got songs that were personalized for him. Some even wrote their songs or were involved from what I understand.
Also, I do trust the viewers that they will vote for the best combination. The Israelis can be very critical and want to send the best song.
The thing that can mess everything is if the level of songs is low like 2021 and not strong as 2020.
ah that’s great then! hope it won’t be like 2021 🙂
Do take note that the auditions phase of the competition had already been taped long ago so by now, the show would have by then already be selecting people for the live shows if not already.
The audition episodes used by covered by another Eurovision news site, but it trailed off as more news and reports on other countries’ national finals and internal selection announcements took off. I kept looking up for updates on the x factor Israel on its wiki page, and I am stunned that the audition stage is still ongoing as of this time–18 episodes?! Do we really need that many singers to go through this? Then again, I have never seen X factor so I don’t know how the show works. I’ve brought this up on previous articles on X Factor Israel… Read more »
Nobody understands why there are so many audition episodes..
The finalists already got picked in September and some spoilers went around the web about it anyway.
I will just wait for the final.
It’s done in Israel to every reality format, they always stretch it to as many episodes as possible. On the X Factor and The Next Star they do it by showing way too many auditions, and on Survivor they pad every episode with way too many idle beach conversations and unnecessary testimonials. It’s probably in order to get as many episodes (=advertisement time=money) from one production, and I guess they’ll keep doing it as long as people are dumb enough to keep watching this sh!t. This season of the X Factor is getting very low ratings, and they’re getting lower… Read more »
Dunno but I’m 100% sure Sapir Saban is in the final, and quite confident that Eli Huli and/or Inbal Bibi qualified as well.
I’m actually not worried about the singer. As boring as this season of the X Factor is – they do have some very strong options and the final four is probably going to be stronger than most of the final fours we’ve seen on The Next Star, The crucial element is the songs and I hope they came up with good ones.