Israel: KAN has opened the submission window for songs
As the The 2019 edition of HaKokhav HaBa aka The Next Star Israel , is still unfolding week by week reaching to 8 acts remaining in the race of representing the host country, KAN, the Israeli national broadcaster, has opened the submission window for songs .
KAN who is co producing with Channel Keshet 12 the Israeli national selection format of HaKokhav HaBa KAN has published the terms for this year’s national final. The song submission window will be open until 17 February 2019. Composers interested can check out the details here
According to the rules Composers applicants must be Israeli nationals, should be Members of ACUM and the submitted songs must not be published before or composed in any other language. Applicants can send in their songs to KAN via the email address: eurosong@kan.org.il. Once the submissions are completed a special jury panel will determine the song that will represent Israel in home soil next May on February 24 while the final show of The Next Star will take place in a couple of weeks.
THE EUROVISION STORY SO FAR
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 40 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 this year 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, while Eden finished fifth in 1999. Israel has hosted the contest twice, in 1979 and 1999, both times in Jerusalem.
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
Lets remember last year’s Netta’s winning performance that brought the competition in Tel Aviv this year:
