“Feker Libi” is the entry that Eden Alene will represent Israel with at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.
HaShir HaBa took place tonight in Tel Aviv. Lucy Ayoub, one the presenters for last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, hosted the show. This was the first time since 2016 that the Israeli public were able to select their entry for the contest.
Eden Alene was chosen to represent Israel last month after winning HaKokhav HaBa L’Eurovizyon. She opened the show with her fellow HaKokhav HaBa participants, performing a medley of past Israeli Eurovision entries. The interval acts were Kobi Marimi, last year’s Israeli representative, Shefita, who finished fourth in HaKokhav HaBa 2019, Shalva, who performed during the interval of the second semi-final of Eurovision 2019.
The winning song was decided by a combination of a radio and producer jury (10%), a professional jury from the Song Selection Board (50%) and public voting (40%).
The results were as follows (jury + Song Selection Board + public vote):
- Savior in the Sound – 94 points (14 +68 + 12) 4th
- Roots – 205 points (20 + 116 + 69) 2nd
- Rakata – 159 points (18 + 68 + 73) 3rd
- Feker Libi – 282 points (20 + 108 + 154) 1st
The song was written by Idan Raichel, who appeared as part of the interval during the final of Eurovision 2020, and Doron Medalie, who wrote “Toy”, the winning entry of Eurovision 2018. “Feker Libi” is the first Israeli entry since 2014 to feature Hebrew lyrics, the second Israeli entry to feature Arabic lyics and the first ever Eurovision entry to feature Amharic lyrics.
Eden will perform in the second half of the first semi-final on May 12.
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Israel debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973, and were represented by Ilanit who finished in 4th place with the song “Ey Sham”. Their first victory came in 1978 with Izar Cohen and the Alphabeta. Israel won again the following year with Gali Atari & Milk and Honey. Israel’s third victory came in 1998 when Dana International performed “Diva” in Birmingham, beating Malta to victory in a tense voting sequence. Israel struggled in the contest during the early-2010s, failing to qualify for the final from 2011-2014. However since the HaKokhav HaBa selection process was introduced in 2015 Israel has seen its fortunes turned around. In 2018 Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Toy”, the song has gone on to be the most viewed Eurovision entry of all time on YouTube.
