Sometimes dreams come true: The participants of “The Next Eurovision Star” had an unforgettable moment last night (Thursday). The familiar stage, where they regularly perform their numbers in the show, was joined by familiar – but surprising – guests. Ones that made the contestants extremely excited and provided them with an opportunity that every beginner singer dreams of – to sing together with their favorite singer, and more in front of the eyes of the entire Israeli people.
The contestants came to the duet when they had no idea who was behind the screen. Without joint rehearsals or special coordination, several of Israel’s most well-known and beloved singers joined in a single moment for a one-off performance. The surprised reaction of the contestants could not have been predicted in advance – after all, we probably wouldn’t have reacted differently either.
Or Cohen won a duet with the singer Margalit Tsanani, Mika Moshe sang with the Eurovision winner Neta Barzilai, Dor Shimon in an exciting union with Nasrin Kadri, Eden Golan shared the stage with a graduate of the program Valerie Hamati, Shai Tamino in a special number with Roni Dalomi, Lian Biran performed alongside Tamir Greenberg and the piano and Arik Sinai in a nostalgic moment alongside Gali Atari. Moments after the duet, we caught up with some of the guest singers for a short chat about the exciting meeting with the young singers.
Or and Margol’s performance made us just jump out of our chairs and dance. Beyond the excellent combination of the two voices, it was impossible to miss how much fun they had on stage together. Or, who was very excited before the meeting, welcomed Margol with a huge smile and together they conquered the audience and the judges. A moment later, the legendary judge of “Kohav Nold” shared her feelings and complimented the light.
How was the duet with Or?
“She’s a great singer. Or was so amazed when I went on stage, I think she recognized me even when I was singing behind the screen because I have a very recognizable voice. It was lovely to sing with such a good young singer, it’s an honor for me.”
She was very excited to see you.
“I saw that she was excited, I was also very excited to see her. I looked at her and saw a little spy, one who is not afraid to perform. She challenges herself with songs and it is very beautiful.”
As an experienced judge, what are your tips for Or and the other contestants?
“What I’m going to say will just be a cliché – I have no tip. She should continue on her way and believe in herself, I don’t want to speak clichés because I’ve already said them thousands of times to a lot of contestants. Life proves that if you continue on your way and keep creating and doing – something will come of it.”
How do you imagine the big performance at Eurovision?
“Days will tell, we are not in normal times and you never know. There are those who do not want us and insult us, we are facing a very hostile world. It is hard for me that there should be such hostility in the music world as well.”
Alongside the pain from the current situation, Margul managed to add her own twist regarding the performance that will bring us national pride in Europe: “What has always proven itself is pop. In my opinion, this style can be reached to the level of art, there is excellent artistic pop. If you add a little Mediterranean in this arrangement can be beautiful, but there is no rule.”
The acquaintance between Dor Shimon and Nasreen Kadri takes us back years, to a time when the young singers competed against each other in the program “Eyal Golan calls you.” Nasreen took the first place and the talented Dor won the second place, but the dream of starting a musical career remained in his heart. That’s why the meeting between the two on stage was much more than a pleasant, professional and precise performance – it closed a circle for both of them, as Nasreen says.
How do you feel after the reunion with Dor on stage?
“Wow, so exciting. First of all, it’s been a long time since we’ve been on stages like this, and this class is so exciting. I’ve known Dor for 12 years.”
You are closing a circle.
“It’s really closing a circle and it’s exciting. I’m so happy to see him in such a position, a very talented generation, he’s such a good singer and he deserves to win. I think his music and what he broadcasts is something that should be given a place in Eurovision as well. I wish him the best of luck “.
What is your vision for the biggest show in Europe? How do you imagine her?
“I imagine an Eastern song with Western sounds, bringing this combination creates the most interesting thing.”
From your experience as a competitor in the competition and also as a successful singer, what tip would you give Dor and the other contestants?
“I was also in this place, I think persistence is very important, believing in yourself and bringing your music and your ‘I’. This is the only recipe for success.”
Eden Golan doesn’t know many Israeli singers, but she recognized Valerie Hamati from the first sound. The amazing connection between the two on stage made Aden tremble with excitement, perhaps also because Hamati herself is a graduate of the program who gets to go on stage as a well-known singer, a success story that every contestant dreams of.
What are the feelings after the duet with Eden?
“I was surprised that she knew me at all. I realized that Aden is not from Israel and doesn’t know everyone, but she actually knew me. Aden was really excited and I was excited with her, she is an amazing singer. We sang a song that is a timeless classic by the Beatles, ‘Let It Be’, which transcends To perform on the show is a very strong message, to sing this song together with a contestant on such a stage in prime time on Channel 12 is a significant message.”
As a graduate of the program, what was it like to come back here as a guest singer?
“In one word: anxiety,” Hamati laughed and added: “It’s a lot of fun because this is my home, the first place where I expressed milk in the industry. Suddenly arriving as a singer who surprises one of the contestants is a lot of excitement and fun.”
You experienced exactly what the contestants are experiencing right now, you finished the program and won a huge success. What do you advise them?
“Wow. It’s a bit unpleasant to say, but they’re doing a season in a very complex time, I’m short of giving them tips for when the season ends and what will happen here in the country. Nevertheless, the biggest tip I can give is to stay true to themselves throughout, to listen to their gut – and that’s not a cliché . When there are many professionals around you, it is very easy for everyone to pull you to their side, everyone wants to pull the strings and take a taste and a piece of this thing. The best thing is to stay true to yourself and not be tempted – even if certain things sound the most tempting, stay in some sort of center. This is the tip The best I can give.”
How do you imagine the big performance at Eurovision, specifically this year?
“This year it’s really different. I imagine someone standing in the center of the stage when the spotlight is on her and she wears such a big dress, not excessive but big and present. She sings in English and Hebrew a huge ballad that tears the heart. The text is so important, it should really talk about our country, about Everything we go through and who we are, who the people are who live in this country. This is the message that Eurovision should send to the world. Less show – more heart, full of heart.”
A surprise duet for Eric Sinai is a little different than any other contestant, when you are a star yourself and most of the singers are your colleagues, the rules of the game are a little different. When Gali Atari took the stage, it was possible that despite the seniority and familiarity – a surprise is a surprise, in any situation. Atari, who as mentioned won Eurovision herself, gave her tip to the contestants competing for representation this year.
What are the feelings after the duet with Eric?
“It was amazing, I felt great together with Eric, we went back many years to the times when we used to sing this song together in joint performances.”
How does it feel to be on the show as a guest singer?
“Pleasure and great joy. I visited ‘The next star’ in previous seasons as well, but it was amazing to participate in a season that is filmed during such a difficult time, and yet to appear and have a little joy.”
What tip can you give to the contestants as a singer with an illustrious career – and also as a Eurovision winner?
“Simply be themselves, hear the inner voice and flow with the inner feelings. They can receive reinforcements from different places, but the bottom line is to flow with your nature, in my opinion this is the most correct and beautiful thing that a singer or a person in general can do for themselves.”
And how do you imagine our number at Eurovision?
“On the one hand, we cannot ignore what is happening here, and on the other hand, we are in competition with quite a few other countries who are not interested in what is happening here. We have to find the balance in the middle and it is not easy, we have to be winners at the show and make the people of Israel happy.”
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