Israel: Eurovision 2022 song to be determined in the final show of X-Factor Israel

Israel: Eurovision 2022 song to be determined in the final show of X-Factor Israel
Tuesday, 17 August 2021

  • The Israeli Eurovision 2022 entry will be determined in the final show of the X-factor Israel that has been chosen as the country's ESC 2022 selection format.

    Euromix has reported that the Israeli broadcasting cooperation will be selecting the country's entry during the final heat of the X-factor show which this year will determine the Israeli hopeful. 

    According to Euromix the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation has  released a "call" to Israeli composers for the submission of songs that will compete for Israel's representation in the Eurovision Song Contest that is expected to take place in Italy in May. The songs, selected by a professional committee, will be performed in the final episode of the X-factor Israel by the four finalists , similar to the process of selecting the representative and the Israeli song for Eurovision 2016 in the "Next Star" final. The "X Factor" final,  is expected to take place in January.

    Creators who want to get to the X Factor semi-final footage to get to know the finalists will be able to do so subject to signing a confidentiality document.

     

    The story so far

    Since 2015 the Israeli Eurovision representatives have been selected through the talent show 'The Next Star'. For the next edition of the contest the Israeli hoeful will be determined via the X-factor show which  premiered on Israeli television in 2013 and continued for several seasons up to 2018. Now it will return on screen to select the country's Eurovision 2022 hopeful, marking the second country that will be using the same show as their national selection method after Malta which selected its ESC acts in 2019 and 2020 through X-factor. 

    The show will feature a jury panel formed by Eurovision 2018 winner  Netta alongside with Ran Danker, Miri Mesika, Aviv Geffen and Margalit Tzan’ani.

     

    Israel in Eurovision 

    Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 42 times since making its debut in 1973. Israel’s first appearance at the contest in 1973 was successful, with Ilanit finishing fourth. Israel has achieved 4  victories, in 1978 and 1979, with first two wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, with the song “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” and Gali Atari and Milk and Honey, with “Hallelujah” .

    Its third victory came in 1998, with Dana International and “Diva”  and its fourth in ESC 2018 with Netta’s song Toy. The country’s best results apart from  its victories  were the second-place finishes for Avi Toledano in 1982 and Ofra Haza in 1983. Former winner Izhar Cohen returned to place fifth in 1985. Duo Datz finished third in 1991, before Israel achieved . Eden then finished fifth in 1999. Israel has hosted the contest three times, in 1979 and 1999, both in Jerusalem and in 2019 in Tel Aviv. 

    After the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final six times. In 2014, the country failed to qualify for the fourth consecutive year, when Mei Feingold finished 14th (out of 15) in the second semi final, despite being one of the favorites to qualify. In 2015, Israel reached the final for the first time in five years, with Nadav Guedj finishing ninth. The only Israeli entrant to achieve a better result in the 21st century before their 2018 win was Shiri Maimon in 2005, who gave the country its tenth top five result in the contest, finishing fourth. In 2019 Kobi Marimi winner of the Rising Star, rerpesented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest on home soil  with his entry Home.

    Last year Eden Alene  won the talent show “The next Star” and the ticket to Rotterdam where she was going to perform the nationally selected song Feker Libi. Due to the covid-19 pandemic the contest was cancelled interrupting Eden's Eurovision journey. 

    Nevertheless, Eden Alene had the chance to complete this year her Eurovision journey  performing "Set Me Free" in the 12 position of the first semi final and after qualifying to the Grand final she finished 17th with a total of 93 points. 

    News Source: Euromix / Eurovoix 

    Image: EBU / THOMAS HANSES