Israel at Eurovision 2025: Yuval Raphael took the Eurovision stage for her first dress rehearsal with the song “New Day Will Rise.” Stay tuned for all the updates from Basel, Switzerland…
After the rehearsals held earlier this week, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael took the stage today for her first dress rehearsal at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, performing her song “New Day Will Rise.” She is set to perform 14th in the second semi-final on May 15. A total of 37 countries are competing in this year’s contest.
Yuval Raphael, Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2025, took to the stage with one of the most dramatic and emotional entrances seen so far in the rehearsals. Her performance began as she walked in from the front stage, with the entire arena shrouded in complete darkness. The lighting was entirely off, and the contrast between the darkness and the flickering audience lights behind her created a sense of intimacy and power. Yuval appeared to carve her way toward the heart of the stage, both physically and emotionally, as the sounds of the crowd echoed in the background, yet all attention remained solely on her.
Israel at Eurovision 2025: More Details About the Rehearsal Performance
During the performance, as the second chorus begins—sung in French, and considered one of the most talked-about moments in the song—Yuval circles the massive chandelier, which has already become a central visual symbol of Israel’s staging this year. Right after, she climbs a staircase positioned beside the chandelier, and at that moment, the camera switches to an overhead angle shot from the ceiling of the arena—an especially powerful frame that emphasizes the dramatic pathos of the song and the stature of the performer.
As the song approaches its climax, just before the finale, an especially striking effect is revealed—a waterfall of fireworks cascading behind Yuval for several seconds as she continues to sing. The visual is spectacular, evoking a sense of height and intensity that aligns perfectly with the song’s narrative. At the very end, the entire stage is washed in blinding white light, leaving an impression of purity, renewal, and hope—just as the song’s title, “New Day Will Rise,” suggests.
However, it’s important to note that during the song’s most intense sections—particularly toward the end—there were some noticeable vocal issues. Yuval sounded strained at times and occasionally struggled to hit the higher notes with full stability. While these problems didn’t persist throughout the entire performance, they were certainly present and could affect the overall impression and Israel’s chances of reaching the top of the competition—or even winning it.
There were also issues with camera angles, including one moment where a camera visibly blocked Yuval Raphael while she was inside the chandelier. During the press rehearsal, no “boo” sounds were heard, but that could potentially change during tonight’s jury rehearsal.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the name of the song to be performed by Yuval Raphael, who will represent Israel as song number 14 in the running order of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will take place on May 15 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was written by Keren Peles, who also wrote “Hurricane,” Israel’s entry in last year’s contest. The song is performed in English, French, and Hebrew.
“New Day Will Rise” touches on one of the most universal and profound themes — the life-giving power of love and hope. The lyrics speak of coping with loss, separation, and pain, but also about the possibility of renewal and overcoming adversity. The song conveys the belief that every ending holds the promise of a new beginning, that pain will eventually fade, and that love will remain with us.
As of now, Israel is ranked fifth in the betting odds ahead of Eurovision 2025.
Yuval Raphael – Who are you?
Yuval, 24, from Ra’anana, lived in Geneva, Switzerland, during her childhood. She disclosed that she escaped from a Hamas terror attack on October 7th, during which grenades were thrown and shots were fired at a party. Many around her were killed, and she had to pretend to be dead to survive. What strengthens Yuval is music and advocacy for Israel. She has spoken in front of world leaders, met influential people, and even spoke at a Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. She has become a focal point for international advocacy, presenting the true face of Israel and correcting the false image portrayed in the global arena. Her insistence on presenting the truth has made her a central and influential figure in both Israeli and global culture.
Yuval has never sung professionally and only started performing in front of audiences in recent months. The echoes of her performances quickly spread on social media, garnering warm praise and responses from viewers.
Yuval won first place in the TV show “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025” after being chosen by the panel of judges and the home audience. She will represent Israel in Eurovision 2025, to be held in Basel on May 13, 15, and 17, in hopes of bringing Israel its fifth win in the competition.
Eurovision 2025: This is Israel’s 47th 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.
