Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Blogilkar's Bicycling recorter Robert had a quickie with Israeli Moran Mazor yesterday. Find out who she is and who she thinks should go for Israel next year and what are her favorite Israeli Eurovision songs. And if she wasn't a singer, what would she be and why? And why the song is in Hebrew only? And who is her backing singer?! Thank you for your time. What made you take part in Kdam, the Israeli selection? And did you think you had a chance to win it? Actually Eurovision is a childhood dream of mine, and I wanted to show the whole of Europe what I'm made of. And Kdam is the first step so when I was asked to take part I immediately said Yes! But not in my wildest dreams was I thinking to win it, so it was a pleasent surprise! Who do you think was your biggest competitor in Kdam? Ron Weinreich, he's so talented and had a great song. If he had won I would have been very happy, too. You sing the whole song in Hebrew, why did you decide to do so? Because...

Eurovision stars Sirusho and André from Armenia, Harel Skaat from Israel and Sarbel from Greece have released recently new videoclips. Sirusho goes with self-penned I like it and apparently is sponsored by Air Armenia. She will also be the guest star in Yerevan's Junior Eurovision song contest on December 3, 2011. André has teamed up by Georgian Nini Shermandini , also familiar name from national selections. Ov shirun, shirun recalls Argentinian tango and Buenos Aires more than Yerevan I think. Great track anyways, almost Gotan Project-esque, isn't it? And a very stylish video, too. Sarbel of Helsinki 2007 fame is making a comeback to the scene with Pou na girnas , a very Greek sounding song indeed. Very simple video but the song's nice. Last but not least Harel Skaat . His 21st century also features a very low budget video displaying the virtual life we lead these days.... But a very catchy nice song that grows with a couple of listenings. And Hebrew sounds great...

Harel Skaat seems to have dropped the ballads and going to up beats with this song and its video filled with images of night out where love awaits him .... or then not but good vibes even if the song itself maybe nothing extraordinary. However, coming out suits Harel it seems. His third album including this will be released later this year.

Israel returns to national final Kdam and there are ten acts battling it out including the 1998 Eurovision winner Dana International. Unfortunately Vladi Blayberg withdraw with his Lirkod and was then replaced by Adi Casare. Several artists from the local Idols are taking part but then we have already had three excellent ones in Eurovision: Shiri Maimon , Boaz Mauda and Harel Skaat so one can expect the Israeli Idols are a bit better than most! KNOB - Ohev et ze Dana International - Ding dong Hatikva 6 - Hakol sabata Adi Casare - Suicide for love Chen Aharoni - Or Michael Greylsummer - Tu du du Niki Goldstein - Amri itach Sivan Bahnem - Kach oti Adi Cohen - Al alhava Idit Halevi - It's my time

If Harel Skaat's name was mentioned most every year as the Israeli participant and it finally happened in 2010, will the other artist tipped every year become reality in 2011? Namely Tarkan for Turkey? This time Eurovision will take place in Germany, always a good country for him. Will that make him make up his mind this time? He is leading the fan polls who they want anyways. Again. If you are stuck with his kiss kiss days, here are his latest two hits from his 2010 album Adimi Kalbine Yaz : Sevdanın Son Vuruşu and Öp .

Timoteij with they folksy pop tune Kom won the 2010 Second Chance contest oranized by local OGAE clubs. Here are the winners over the year. Finland's Heli Kajo did rather well reaching the top-10. Finland has won this contest once with Anna Eriksson's Oot voimani mun in 2000.  1. Sweden - Timoteij - Kom (267 pts) 2. Denmark - Bryan Rice - Breathing (223 pts) 3. Portugal - Catarina Pereira - Canta Por Mim (203 pts) 4. Spain - Coral - En una vida (167 pts) 5. Israel - Harel Ska'at - Lean (161 pts) 6. Norway - A1 - Don’t Wanna Lose You Again (138 pts) 7. Germany - Jennifer Braun - I Care For You (105 pts) 8. Greece - Yiorgos Karadimos - Polemao (103 pts) 9. Finland - Heli Kajo - Annankadun kulmassa (87 pts) 10. Cyprus - Constantinos Christoforou - Angel (73 pts) 11. Serbia - Emina Jahović - Ti Kvariigro (64 pts) 12. Slovenia - Nina Pušlar - Dež (54 pts) 13. Poland - Anna Cyzon - Love me (24 pts) 14. Lithuania - Evelina Sasenko - For T...

Eurovision queen and apaprently everybody's darling Niamh Kavanagh managed to meet Kuunkuiskaajat ja they talked about everything between accordeon and king craps. And they also met Harel Skaat who thanks Finns for sending them to show everybody how Eurovision should be done: having fun.. And Bobbysocks.They say "three minutes can change your life". So true.  Here .

For me this is not going anywhere but on the other hand I don't know how it transmits then on TV. After all lies on this, on Harel's shoulders and his vocals and feelings. If left cold this will not survive the semifinal. A top performance... well, it didn't work for Patricia Kaas last year as well as deserved and expected. And after all she is a superstar and was singing in French that is widely spoken and understood in Europe and Hebrew is not. Hard to say how this ends. Apparently the Israeli delegation is not that happy either and now that would be the first in Oslo 2010 that I have heard of! As everything's running smoothly and in schedule. Also in Helsinki 2007 the Israeli delegation was the one with most issues and unhappiness about the staging done by YLE.  Video .

The Israeli entry Milim by Harel Skaat has got a new meaning in this video . Excellent video that ads to the drama and makes understanding the message of the song so much easier and more evident. At the same time the French , the English versions were presented.

Harel Skaat has been filming the video for his song Milim in the desert in the Judean mountain with +34 C temperatures. The video will premiere in his first press conference in Oslo 2010, and the video will be also released in English, French and Spanish so there are several versions coming from the song, besides the already released dance remix .

"... if a super computer were to create the ultimate Israeli pop singer, the result would most likely be identical to Harel Skaat. Skaat has it all. First of all, he is an incredible singer, with outstanding vocal abilities. "  So it says in Harel's press kit. Indeed, no one can deny Harel's vocal skills. He has also good looks, likable personality and thousends of loyal fans to add to the packege Israel is sending to Oslo 2010 with a very strong song. My guess is no matter happens it will have no effect on his career, negatively that is. Maybe he doesn't have to worry about that either: Israeli is very high on all betting lists and some are putting him and his song to the same level as Patricia Kaas was last year. I agree. Skaat's talent was noted early on and at the age of 6 he won his firts talent contest, that opened him doors to TV shows and to be on stage and in studio with well-known artists. At 15 he was the lead singer in his hometown Kfar Sava's...

Israel has chosen the song Milim for Harel Skaat to bring to Oslo 2010. Yep, another ballad for you folks! (Funny how a ballad is ok for some people if they like the singer....) Beautiful three minutes. The jury groups were: Members of the Israeli parliament, OGAE Israel, Members of the Harel Skaat fan club, Mira Awad, Tzvika Pik and Moshe Datz IBA jury, televote. They all gave Milim full marks.                                                   1 Milim 12 12 12 24 60 120 - 240 2 Le'an 10 8 0 20 50 100 - 188 3 Elayich 8 0 8 16 40 80 - 152 4 Le'hitkarev       0 10 10 0 0 0 - 20   

Harel Skaat was chosen internally - finally - to represant Israel in Oslo 2010. he will sing tonight four songs and one will go to Eurovision. The hopes are high and the songs are indeed pretty good. I mean I like them but not sure how they will work in Eurovision? I would pick up Le'an or Ela'yich. When? 20.00 CET. Where? Here . 1. Le'an (Away) 2. Millim (Words) 3. Ela'yich (Towards you) 4. Le'hitkarev (Closer)

One of the finest Eurovision winners of all times is Tu te reconnaitras sung by Anne-Marie David in home soil in Luxembourg in 1973. She was visiting Israel recently and got together with Israel's 2010 hope Harel Skaat. Together they make magic again. A good song is a good song and actually Harel does a great job with it, too! This has made already most blogs and websites but it is so good I want to share it here, too. Enjoy !

The four songs by Harel Skaat for Eurovision 2010 are now online. Listen to them here . The Israeli KDAM of national selection will be held March 15. Four equally nice songs in my opinion. Hard to tell them apart in the first listening. That's not maybe a good sign is it?

Harel Skaat and his team have chosen the songs he will perform in the Israeli selection Kdam on March 14. The songs will be first presented in a preview program on March 6. Le'an? (Where to?)   written by Sahar Hagay & Eyal Shahar Millim (Words) written by Noam Horev-Tomer Hadadi Ela'yich (To you)  written by Noam Horev- Ohad Chitman Le'hitkarev (To get closer)   written by Sahar Hagay-Nitzan Keikov

IBA has in the end stick to their original choice and Harel Skaat (26) finally gets his chance in Eurovision! The final decision was made moments ago.

Looks like there's a cat fight in Israel involving two TV stations, money and managements. And in the middle two local Pop Idol runner ups Harel Skaat and Vladi Bleiberg. The Israeli parliament will settle the matter tomorrow, they promise. Let's see how this ends. Will Harel have to stay home when he finally accepted to go for it??? Will the fact Vladi has already made some name in the Eastern Europe turn the cards for him?

The rumours were true this time (finally!) and Harel Skaat will go for Israel for Eurovision 2010 in Oslo. Great! The national selection Kdam will be held later where Harel will perform 4 songs, out of which the winner will be chosen. It's quite remarkable that all four artists known so far for Oslo 2010 are male soloists! UPDATE: Today, December 26 IBA has announced the announcement was not ment to be announced so the saga continues at least until Monday: will he be or will he not be the chosen one?

Punctual as every year the news I have been waiting for have arrived: Harel Ska'at for Israel! This is the fourth year in a row he has been announced and then the news have turned not to be true. As it seems his management has thought the previous years it wouldn't be good for him "at this point of his career" but this time around he/his team have proposed themselves to IBA. Will IBA say "yes" after three "no"s? Waiting for official announcement, until then it's just an everlasting rumour.... Here he is in action: At ve'ani , Veat , something else . I for sure hope this time it's true!