The Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest, often just called Eurovision, is one of the most exciting and colorful music competitions in the world! Every year, countries from all over Europe (and some from outside Europe) send their best singers and bands to compete in a grand musical showdown. The contest has been held annually since 1956, making it one of the longest-running television programs ever.

How it works: Each participating country selects one musical act to represent them. These acts perform original songs live on television. There are two semi-final rounds and a final round. People from the participating countries vote for their favorite performances, but they can’t vote for their own country’s entry. The act with the most points at the end of the final wins the contest.

The spirit of Eurovision: Eurovision is not just about the competition; it’s about celebrating music and bringing people together. It’s famous for its dazzling performances, extravagant costumes, and sometimes very quirky acts. The contest promotes a spirit of unity and cultural exchange, highlighting the diverse musical traditions of Europe.

Israel has been a part of Eurovision since 1973, even though it’s not a European country. It participates because the country is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event.

First win, 1978: Israel won for the first time with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. Second win, 1979: the very next year, Israel won again with "Hallelujah" by Gali Atari and Milk and Honey. Third win, 1998: Dana International won with the song "Diva". Fourth win, 2018: Netta won with her catchy and unique song "Toy".

When a country wins Eurovision, it gets the honor of hosting the contest the following year. Israel has hosted the event three times: in 1979, 1999, and 2019. Hosting Eurovision is a big event for any country, involving months of preparation and the opportunity to showcase the country’s culture and hospitality to a huge international audience.

Language: originally, participants had to sing in their country’s official language, but now they can choose any language. Many songs are performed in English to reach a wider audience.

Audience: Eurovision is watched by over 180 million people around the world!

Cultural impact: some Eurovision songs have become international hits, like ABBA’s "Waterloo", which won in 1974.