Five contestants remain in the race of ‘HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision‘: Yuval Rephael, Moran Aharoni and Red Band, Valerie Hamaty, Dolev Mandelbaum, and Daniel Wais. Yuval Gold was eliminated. Recap of episode 30.
Six contestants remain at this stage of the competition in “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025“, where the winner will represent Israel at Eurovision 2025 to be held in Basel on May 13, 15, and 17.
Tonight’s challenge was the “Duel Task,” featuring three duels. Six contestants performed, with the three lowest-scoring competitors facing elimination, leaving the judges to decide their fate. All performances tonight featured songs by the legendary Israeli singer Rita, who joined the judging panel for this special evening. In this task, two contestants could score up to 105% thanks to a bonus of 5% from the guest judge. The episode concluded with a dramatic elimination: Yuval Gold was unfortunately sent home.
Moran Aharoni and Red Band
Moran and Red opened the evening with Rita’s song “Cry,” delivering a rendition translated into English. What more can be said about this duo? They consistently bring fresh and intriguing performances, showcasing a dynamic collaboration that feels seamless. Their performance tonight reached the song’s emotional peak, captivating the audience with precision and emotion. They’re undoubtedly deserving of a spot in the semi-finals—and beyond.
Moran added a poignant touch by singing a line in Hebrew from the original song at the end, leaving a powerful impression.
Shiri commented: “Moran, in all her glory! There was a story and progression here. Red sang so beautifully. I told Rita I hoped you’d sing in Hebrew, and you delivered in the finale. Moran, I need you to go all the way!” Asaf added: “This feels like material you perform regularly. Your level is so high, and you beautifully complement each other with your voices.” Rita praised: “The emotion and voice merged perfectly. It wasn’t simple, but you pulled it off brilliantly.”
The duo received unanimous votes in their favor, scoring 88% and setting a high bar for Dolev, who followed them.
Dolev Mandelbaum
Dolev performed “Shir Ahuvat HaSapan” (translated as: “The Sailor’s Beloved”) ,and dedicated the song to his late stepbrother, Drew, who was tragically murdered in the United States. Beginning softly and gently, his signature style shone through. The accompanying musicians enhanced the performance, while the arrangement showcased Dolev’s vocal nuances. His ability to consistently surprise with fresh tonalities makes him a standout contender. By the song’s climax, he reached new heights without straining, delivering a brilliant performance worthy of representing Israel in Basel. Advancing to the semi-finals seems inevitable.
Eden remarked: “There’s something so warm and enveloping in your tone. When you hit those high notes, I was amazed by your control. Beautiful work!” Rita added: “It felt like you wove the lyrics and melody with silk threads. Stunningly gentle and beautiful.”
With unanimous votes, Dolev scored 89% and advanced directly to the semi-finals. Moran and Red faced potential elimination.
Yuval Gold
Yuval chose to perform “Mechaka” (translated as: “Waiting”), with a unique arrangement that reflected his distinctive vocal style. However, the performance lacked power, possibly due to nerves, leaving untapped vocal potential. Despite this, Yuval’s genuine delivery managed to touch the audience by the end.
Itay critiqued: “You’re filled with mannerisms, and it seems like you rely heavily on your high notes. Starting higher might have showcased your strengths better. Be more involved in the singing, not just the production.” Keren added: “You’re such a talented musician. I’d love to work with you—you’re excellent.” Rita commented: “Your gift lies in your pure, sincere singing. You don’t need vocal theatrics to convey authenticity.”
Yuval received mixed votes and scored 72%, setting the stage for Daniel’s performance.
Daniel Wais
Daniel performed “Ani Chaya Mul HaMayim” (translated as: “I Live by the Water”), starting seated on the floor with a voice so haunting it immediately stirred emotions. His vocal breaks were particularly moving. The song’s emotional depth suited Daniel’s unique tone, resulting in arguably his best performance ever.
Ran, visibly moved, said: “The emotion is a blessing, especially when it comes from someone on such a profound journey. Thank you for teaching us about humanity.” Asaf countered: “Musically, it wasn’t clean enough. Sorry.” Rita, however, praised: “Your voice is pure, like a child’s—clear and untainted. That’s a rare gift.”
Daniel received one negative vote but still scored 81% (including Rita’s bonus points), securing his place in the semi-finals. Yuval faced elimination.
Valerie Hamaty
Valerie chose to sing “Machol Metoraf” (translated as: “Wild Dance”) showcasing her unique voice and confidence. While engaging, the song choice didn’t fully highlight her strengths. Despite this, Valerie’s undeniable talent remains evident, and she’s a strong contender for the finals—and potentially representing Israel in Eurovision.
Keren observed: “We hold you to a higher standard. You’re the best singer in the competition. Even your less-than-perfect performance is outstanding.” Eden commented: “The consistent tone felt tiring at times, but I know you’re capable of dynamic range.” Rita added: “Song choice wasn’t ideal, but your talent shines regardless.”
With three negative votes, Valerie scored 63% (including Rita’s bonus points), leaving Yuval Rephael to perform next.
Yuval Rephael
Yuval performed a ballad rendition of “Ani Chaya Li MiYom LeYom” (translated as: “I Live Day by Day”), perfectly suited to her vocal tone. Her precise delivery, both in highs and lows, demonstrated her exceptional talent. The song’s delicate nature allowed Yuval to captivate the audience with her authenticity.
Shiri declared: “Yuval’s voice connects straight to the heart. You’re my favorite and the real deal.” Itay added: “You’re incredibly gifted. Thank you for this perfect performance.” Rita concluded: “The text is complex, but you carried it with truth and precision, making every word meaningful.”
Yuval earned unanimous approval, scoring 95% and advancing directly to the semi-finals. Moran Aharoni and Red Band, Valerie Hamaty, and Yuval Gold faced elimination.
The judges decided that Yuval Gold would be eliminated, just shy of the semi-finals!
Hosts and Judges
Assi Azar and Rotem Sela will host the 11th season. As most of you probably remember, Assi Azar hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, which took place in Tel Aviv. The judging panel includes Assaf Amdursky, Ran Danker, Shiri Maimon, Keren Peles, Itay Levi, and Eden Hasson – all returning from last season, which crowned Eden Golan as the winner. The season expected to conclude in early February.
Collaboration Between ‘Kan’ and ‘Keshet’
On July 23rd, we revealed that the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) and the commercial TV Broadcaster ‘Keshet’ agreed to continue their collaboration for Eurovision 2025. The agreement allows for the continuation of the popular program “HaKokhav HaBa“, which will select Israel’s representative for the competition to be held in Switzerland. This will be the eighth time the two channels collaborate in selecting the Israeli representative for Eurovision.
Impressive Ratings and Past Success
The success of the program is also evident in its impressive viewing figures. The last season of “HaKokhav HaBa” was the most watched since 2019, with exposure to 3.3 million viewers on television alone. The broadcast of the Eurovision 2024 grand final also achieved impressive viewing figures, with 1.129 million television viewers – 36.8% viewing rate, and a 62.9% viewing share. At the peak of viewing, during Eden Golan‘s performance, 1.709 million viewers watched the broadcast, representing 53.6% of households in Israel.
Challenges and Expectations
Despite the success, the last Eurovision was not without challenges. The political and security tension following the war in the Gaza Strip was strongly felt behind the scenes of the competition. However, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation hopes that next year will pass more peacefully.
The decision to continue the collaboration with Keshet also stems from economic considerations, allowing the KAN to save on the heavy costs involved in preparing for the competition.
The continued collaboration between Kan and Keshet promises the continuation of a successful tradition of selecting Israel’s representatives for Eurovision. We can only hope that the chosen representative will continue Israel’s tradition of success at Eurovision.
Israel in Eurovision 2024
“Hurricane” is the name of the song performed by singer Eden Golan, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the tenth season of “HaKokhav Haba“. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 194 points, and in the grand final reached fifth place with 375 points. In the public vote, Israel came in second place, just 14 points behind the first place.
This is the second consecutive time that Israel has reached the top five, an achievement it had not attained since its streak of successes in 1998-1999.
Eurovision 2024: This was Israel’s 46th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the competition in 1973 and has won it four times over the years. Israel’s last victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy” performed by singer Netta Barzilai.