Yuval Raphael Reveals: “I Faced Hate from Every Direction”

Yuval Raphael Reveals: “I Faced Hate from Every Direction”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Yuval Raphael reveals everything: from online hate and death threats to winning the public vote and confronting global controversy face-to-face. Yuval Raphael — Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2025 — finished second with her song "New Day Will Rise". In an interview with "Daily Mail", she laid all her cards on the table - from her take on Nemo’s provocation and the trophy return to death threats and the emotional high of winning the public vote. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Love and Hate: Yuval Raphael’s Rollercoaster Yuval begins the interview with her heroic story from October 7th, describing how she survived in a shelter she calls “the bunker of death”, and how, just 18 months later, she found herself on the world’s biggest stage. She says that even there, pro-Palestinian activism followed her: “The love in my heart guided me, even when I was surrounded by hate from all sides—hate aimed at my people, rooted in a distorted perception...
Read More
HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 28: Tamir Levy Is the Thirteenth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 28: Tamir Levy Is the Thirteenth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Tamir Levy is the thirteenth contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 8 contestants remain in the race, including Shira Zloof, Gal De Paz, and Shaked Solomon. Full recap of Episode 28. In 10 days, the grand finale of "HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026" will take place, featuring four finalists. The winner of the competition will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th. 9 contestants remain in the competition so far, but by the end of tonight’s episode, only the top 8 will continue. The episode aired this evening was the first of two in the Shlomo Artzi special, in which each contestant chose a song by one of Israel’s leading singers, who also represented the country at Eurovision 1975 with his song "At VaAni". Artzi himself took part in the show for the first time, and the contestants rehearsed before him. Before the elimination announcement, Artzi performed his...
Read More
Graham Norton: “When People Are Booed – It’s Horrible”

Graham Norton: “When People Are Booed – It’s Horrible”

by Neta Geffen Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); British commentator and host Graham Norton addresses the controversy surrounding Eurovision 2026 following Israel’s participation and calls for the contest to return to its original musical spirit. As Eurovision 2026 approaches, set to take place this May in Vienna, the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation continues to resonate across Europe. Now, one of the voices most closely associated with the contest has joined the discussion – British commentator and Eurovision 2023's grand final host Graham Norton, who publicly addressed the storm and the recent withdrawals of several countries. In an interview on the talk show hosted by Lorraine Kelly, Norton was asked about the fact that ahead of Eurovision 2026 “countries are withdrawing for various different reasons”. His response was clear: “That’s what it started as”, he said, referring to the contest’s original idea as a festival of joy, music, and unity, adding that it's “sad that we’re in this situation”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Criticism...
Read More
Australia: Will Dami Im make a historic comeback in Eurovision 2026?

Australia: Will Dami Im make a historic comeback in Eurovision 2026?

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Australia's national broadcaster SBS considers Dami Im for Eurovision 2026. Ten years after "Sound of Silence", could the star return for victory? Speculation is reaching a fever pitch in Australia, suggesting the nation may play one of its strongest cards for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. According to reports by the Greek website Eurovisionfun, the most prominent name currently under consideration is the woman who nearly secured a historic victory for the country: Dami Im. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Journey to Close the Circle in Vienna Dami Im, one of Australia's most respected vocalists, remains etched in the memory of Eurovision fans for her unforgettable performance in Stockholm 2016 with the song "Sound of Silence". She finished in second place overall – Australia's highest achievement to date. Notably, she won the jury vote by a significant margin, and many enthusiasts still view her as the moral winner of that year. According to the report, the national broadcaster is seeking...
Read More
Italy: Madonna Rumoured to Guest Star at Sanremo 2026!

Italy: Madonna Rumoured to Guest Star at Sanremo 2026!

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Will the Queen of Pop appear at Sanremo 2026? Reports suggest Madonna may guest star at Italy's Eurovision selection following her recent Italian cover In the past 24 hours, extensive speculation has surfaced regarding a possible guest appearance by pop singer Madonna at the Italian Eurovision selection, Sanremo 2026. This event will select the country's representative for Eurovision 2026, held in Vienna, Austria. These rumors emerged after she released a full Italian version of the beloved hit by singer Patty Pravo, "La Bambola". The singer, who is competing in the festival this year for the 11th time, published the cover for a campaign with the Italian fashion brand "Dolce&Gabbana", creating a reimagined interpretation of the famous 1968 song. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); According to the Italian news agency Adnkronos, the national broadcaster RAI is interested in hosting the singer. The proposal is currently on the desk of the festival's artistic director, Carlo Conti,...
Read More
HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 27: Dorin Or Is the Twelfth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 27: Dorin Or Is the Twelfth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Dorin Or is the twelfth contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 9 contestants remain in the race, including Shira Zloof, Nave Levi, Agam Hazan, and Shaked Solomon. Full recap of Episode 27. In 13 days, the grand finale of "HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026" will take place, featuring four finalists. The winner of the competition will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th. 10 contestants remain in the competition so far, but by the end of tonight’s episode, only the top 9 will continue. The production presents tonight the continuation of a new challenge that has not been done in previous seasons. Each contestant chose a hit song to perform alongside a live band. However, during the song, a signal appeared on the screen - after which they had to continue singing a-cappella, without the band’s backing. Keeping rhythm, staying in tune, and maintaining composure became crucial. The two contestants who received...
Read More
HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 26: Eitan Aharon Is the Eleventh Contestant Eliminated From the Show

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 26: Eitan Aharon Is the Eleventh Contestant Eliminated From the Show

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eitan Aharon is the eleventh contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 10 contestants remain in the race, including Noam Bettan, Gal De Paz, and Alona Erez. Full recap of Episode 26. In exactly two weeks, the grand finale of "HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026" will take place, featuring four finalists. The winner of the competition will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th. 11 contestants remain in the competition so far, but by the end of tonight’s episode, only the top 10 will continue. This evening, the production introduced a brand-new challenge never before seen in previous seasons. Each contestant chose a hit song to perform alongside a live band. However, during the song, a signal appeared on the screen - after which they had to continue singing a-cappella, without the band’s backing. Keeping rhythm, staying in tune, and maintaining composure became crucial. The two contestants who received the lowest scores of...
Read More
Eurovision 2026: Semi-Final Draw Reveals 30 Countries Grouped by Voting Patterns

Eurovision 2026: Semi-Final Draw Reveals 30 Countries Grouped by Voting Patterns

by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); EBU reveals Eurovision semi-final allocation draw, grouping 30 countries by voting patterns to limit bloc voting and enhance competition drama. As every year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) conducts an allocation draw to determine the semi-final participation of the competing countries. This year, following the withdrawal of the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, and Iceland, 30 countries are expected to compete in the two semi-finals and were divided into five different pots (with the sixth pot consisting of countries automatically qualified for the Grand Final). The allocation is based on historical voting patterns between countries over the years and is intended to reduce neighbor and diaspora voting in order to increase suspense around the show, according to the official statement released. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Voting Patterns and Allocation Logic Each of the six pots contains countries that share a common pattern of mutual voting at the Eurovision Song Contest or close geographical proximity. Each pot...
Read More
HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 25: Elior Shemesh Is the Tenth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 25: Elior Shemesh Is the Tenth Contestant Eliminated From the Show

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Elior Shemesh is the tenth contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 11 contestants remain in the race, including Shaked Solomon, Michael HarPaz, and Tamir Levy. Full recap of Episode 25. 11 contestants remain at this stage in "HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026". with the grand winner set to represent Israel at Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th. The next stage is the “Surprise Duet” — a challenge in which each contestant from the team performs a duet with a famous singer whose identity they don’t know in advance. The celebrity singer surprises the contestant during the performance itself. Four contestants took the stage to perform their duets, with the contestant receiving the lowest score being eliminated. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Shaked Solomon Shaked Solomon chose to perform the song “KsheAt Atzuva” (originally by Amir Benayoun). Throughout the song, Shaked showcased impressive vocal trills and a strong, powerful voice, though at times it felt...
Read More
Eurovision 2026 Betting Odds: Israel Leads the Table

Eurovision 2026 Betting Odds: Israel Leads the Table

by Talor FishlerNo Comments
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Eurovision 2026 betting season has officially launched, with Israel securing the top spot. Sweden and Ukraine follow closely. Where do Montenegro and Albania with their released songs begin their competitive journey? All the details - Right here! International betting agencies are already opening markets for the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. To date, only two songs have been officially selected for the competition, representing Montenegro and Albania. Although the season is in its infancy and many representatives have yet to be named, Israel is currently leading the forecasts. This follows a high-profile year where Yuval Raphael secured second place with the song "New Day Will Rise", an achievement that firmly re-established the nation as a central force in the contest. At this stage, the rankings are primarily influenced by William Hill, one of the industry's largest and most prominent bookmakers. As the season progresses, the list will expand to include additional agencies. Currently, Israel holds...
Read More