For Nadav Guedj it really is a matter of sweet 16. The teenager, who has drawn comparisons to Justin Timberlake, has won “The Next Star” — Israel’s selection for Eurovision 2015 — and is headed to Vienna. His song will be chosen and revealed at a later date.
In an interview with wiwibloggs on the eve of the final, he suggested that he has no firm plans about what genre he would like to sing in at ESC. “I don’t know,” he said. “Just let me pass the final first and after that, god knows.”
About Nadav
Despite the comparisons to Justin, Nadav stresses that he’s just “simple and regular Nadav”. He’s certainly a showman though, and he can back up his powerful voice with some great performances. He’s much more in his element singing in English than Hebrew, which might also give him a boost at ESC. He’s obviously got the talent. But there’s also something refreshingly “unfinished” about him. He has an authenticity and realness that will likely win him fans. He’s listed Harel Skaat and Boaz as his favourite Israeli acts in the past.
Here’s his take on Beyoncé’s “Halo”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EJRgeVDMEE
The Next Star final
Going into tonight’s finals, our readers were firmly backing the ladies. Avia Shoshani, who sang for Moran Mazor at Eurovision, was the runaway winner of our “Next Star” of Israel poll. Sari Nachmias, a quirky rocker chick, came second, followed by Iky Levy & the Rasta Hebrew Man. Nadav came LAST. But when it counted most it was not a matter of ladies on top. During two sing-offs, which were decided on by the public, Ivy Leky slayed Avia, and Nadav out-maneuvered Sari. The jury saved Avia.
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You can listen to our thoughts on Nadav and all of the acts here
You can follow all of our Israel Eurovision news here.
Photo: IBA
I think ALL the MUSLIM terrorism in the world in recent years justifies Israel on so many levels.. so critics can just shut up.
Here is Daniel again and his famous “Meh” comment….coz I’ve seen this stupid one-word comment on other posts here!!!
Meh.
Good luck Israel! I like his voice.
16 ?! xDDDDDD
Are we sure he is 16? He looks 21…
Boy, in that recording of Halo, you can barely hear him over the other noise of the commentators and the audience screaming. The same is true for the other recordings – couldn’t they just cut out the audience and jury voices for some of it? Anyway, he sounds capable enough, though very much unrefined as you would expect from a young singer coming to fame on a singing show. The same comments apply here as for Loic Nottet, but I like Nadav’s voice more than Loic’s. He’ll need to practice a lot before he makes the final to make sure… Read more »
Shame on YOU Blair for bringing politics here they don’t belong. I would have answered your hateful comment but I don’t think Wiwibloggs is the right platform for it. Have a nice day.
Quite dissapointed that both of my top 2 lost their duels. I wasn’t even happy that Sari made it trough the duel, cuz I knew already that she wouldn’t get higher than the other two.
Anyways, Hope that Nadev got a great song.
I reckon Nadav could do well. He’s got a very interesting voice that’s very pleasant to listen to–still can’t believe he’s only 16 though!
But I reckon so long as he gets a good song, he’ll make it into the final. I liked Avia, but I think people outside of Israel might have seen her as too similar to Moran Mazor, just because of her association with her.
@beccaboo1212 In Israel minors can get tattoos if they have a parent approval.
BTW one of Nadav’s tattoos says ‘Maman’ – ‘Mother’ in french.
Hold up wait a minute. He’s 16, and he has tattoos? What the heck? :O
I don’t mean to make what is usually lighthearted…commentary and debate on this website…serious but here I go. Nadav was born in Paris. Given the recent attacks on both a Jewish store and free speech in that city, and the rise in anti-semitism around Europe, this is extremely moving for me, an Israeli Jew, to see a great young talent go represent Israel. He was not my first choice and this system was not my favorite, but I am really hopeful he will do well (and make up for the INJUSTICE of Mei missing the final in CPH!!). Shalom, salaam… Read more »
Look at you Wiwi readers, smashing a poor guy chances of getting into the Final of ESC only because you liked the other competitors. And not a word about the song which ISN’T EVEN SELECTED YET. Children.
Hahah
Lollalol and Dhani are completely right… However it is not just a matter of the wiwireaders, but of the average ESC fan, I think. When you visit the most well known Spanish ESC forum (I’m from Spain) and you see the results of the polls they always seem to support the same!! Women with strong voices, that’s it…
Hopefully in the ESC one never knows, and it is always different =D
Hopefully he can wow us with a good song and can have the San Marino 2014 effect where people are sick of them not qualifying and will vote for them because regardless of whether the rightful person-which in my personal opinion, didnt- won or not we need Israel back in the final. For heaven’s sake, they have given us three of the most iconic Eurovision winners of all time. Avia should have won though, she was by far the best in my opinion! Good luck Israel!!
Are you sure he’s sixteen? I really can’t believe. Anyway, he’s handsome.
I will show you, how would look Eurovision, if the singers and songs would be choosen by wiwi readers:
1st country: woman, song with powerfull chorus
2nd country: woman, dance song
3rd country: woman, song with powerfull chorus
4rd country: woman, dance song
…
until 40
What a boring taste have you. Tfu! Thanks god, people in different countries have better taste and we will have interesting edition with diversity, men, women and groups, and not boring female-gay-ESC by wiwi readers. You want to kill Eurovision or what? I hope, Nadav will rap in Vienna!
All I want is to see is Israel take another victory at Eurovision but I’m not sure if this kid has it in him.
With my dear no1 favorite contestant Avia 4 the victory getting eliminated early finishing just last 4th unfortunately,my main interest 4 Israel’s Final ended there and i stopped caring anymore to be honest about the actual outcome result.. But from these 3 acts that went through to admit he was the most liked {or the least bad to say better..} participant 4 me so its not bad that it was him that won tonight…It could be actually worse with Sari or the Rastafari men winning so i think that its just ok after all.. Good luck though to the proud… Read more »
A much expected and well deserved victory. Nadav brings a soul/groove singing style that Israeli music lacks, he is unique in his genre here and should have a successful career considering his young age. He is quite versatile and could sing different types of songs, I hope he will choose something more groovy and cheerful than the typical Israeli ESC tunes. It’s time we go back to being a happy country on the Eurovision stage! No peace/love/harmony songs for Israel please, just FUN.
Looks like Israel will be staying in the semi finals once again. I don’t see him standing out against the other countries competing in the same semi final
@William Adams – understandable, I myself couldn’t understand wtf has just happened
Wow the participants get younger everytime!
I don’t like his voice that much, but he’s better than Iki Levy and that lot. It’s a shame Avia wasn’t given the wildcard and that she and Sari lost their battles.
I just pray that Nadav gets a good song and qualifies. If in doubt, Israel should just send Harel Skaat again.
@William Adams, the jury saved SARI, not Avia, you might wanna correct that sentence in the article.
He’s only 16?? I thought he was in his late twenties… :O
yeah we’re all feminists you got us there
but I guess there have to be countries that’ll send males and bands, so they could get eliminated in the semis.
and of course I’m just kidding. We wanted Sari or Avia because uhmm I don’t know, they had great, big, and unique voices/styles? But yeah whatever
Don’t like his voice,if the song will be not great,no final again for Israel 😛
Pleasantly surprised with that result. His song choices were the best and most contemporary unlike the others. Not sure if he’s mature enough to go on an international stage: It’s a world apart from the homey feeling in a small tv studio.
Well Done Nadav. TBH , Im happy that the band didn’t win. I hope the song will be great : Israel have really deserved the final in the past few years
of course wiwibloggs readers are unhappy with this, cause they always want only women…. every country needs to send a woman according to them.
i was really shocked when i found out he just 16 years old. he looks like 25 or something !!
I still think it should have been Sari or Avia. I’m just glad the Rasta band didn’t win.
I’m just outraged that both Sari and Avia have lost their duels… and only one could get saved by the judges. I’m ok with Nadav, but I need to say that I rooted for him only because I didn’t want this weird-ass band to win