Country Israel Selected entrant Moran Mazor | Selection process Kdam Eurovision 2013 Selected song "Rak bishvilo" | |
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Selection date(s) Semi-finals:
26 February 2013
27 February 2013
28 February 2013
Second Chance:
3 March 2013
Final:
7 March 2013 Semi-final result Failed to qualify (14th, 40 points) | ||
Israel participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Israeli entry was selected through Kdam Eurovision 2013, a national final consisting of three semi-finals, a second chance round and a final, organised by the Israeli broadcaster Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). Moran Mazor represented Israel with the song "Rak bishvilo", which failed to qualify from the second semi-final of the competition, placing 14th and scoring 40 points.
Contents
Kdam Eurovision 2013
In August 2012, IBA announced that a new format would be implemented for their national final, which includes three semifinals, a second chance round and a final with 10 songs. The budget for the national selection was estimated to be €400,000.
In mid-December, further details regarding the selection were released. Three semifinal with 10 songs in each were scheduled to take place on 26, 27 and 28 February 2013, with the top three songs qualifying to the final and the fourth placed song qualifying to the second chance round on 3 March 2013. Originally, the concept for the second chance round involved the songs that placed fourth and fifth in each semifinal qualifying, however the format was revised to include only the songs that finished in fourth place. Nine qualifiers from the semifinals and an additional qualifier from the second chance round would complete the 10 song line-up for the final on 7 March 2013. On 31 December 2012, IBA announced the full rules and regulations for the competition and opened the submission period which lasted until 16 January 2013.
On 29 January 2013, IBA disclosed the 30 songs that were selected by a special committee of artists, singers, composers, musicians, producers and experts from the music industry. The songs were later allocated into three semifinals on 6 February 2013.
The five shows for Kdam Eurovision took place at the Broadcast Studio Complex in Holon, hosted by Ron Shachar and Orna Datz One week before each semifinal, on 19, 20 and 21 February 2013, the songs competing in each semifinal were released to the public online.
The expert jury panel that evaluated the songs in the semifinals and final (unless otherwise noted) consisted of:
Semi-final 1
The first semi-final was held on 26 February 2013. Kathleen Reiter, Shany Zamir and Ron Weinreich qualified to the final, while Judah Gavra qualified to the second chance round. The results were decided by the 50/50 combination of a jury vote and a public SMS vote. On 6 March, Kathleen Reiter and the song "Ad elay" were withdrawn from the competition.
The interval act for the show was Moshe Peretz performing Israel's Eurovision Song Contest 1979 winning song "Hallelujah".
Semi-final 2
The second semi-final was held on 27 February 2013. Ran Sandler, Vladi Blayberg and Moran Mazuz qualified to the final, while Yarden Tsur qualified to the second chance round. The results were decided by the 50/50 combination of a jury vote and a public SMS vote.
The interval act for the show was Asaf Hertz and Eleana Tidhar performing Israel's Eurovision Song Contest 1981 entry "Halayla".
Semi-final 3
The third semi-final was held on 28 February 2013. Hila Ben David, Meital De Razon and Asi Tal and Moran Mazor qualified to the final, while Nicki Goldstein qualified to the second chance round. The results were decided by the 50/50 combination of a jury vote and a public SMS vote.
The interval act for the show was Omer Adam performing "Shvil ha'bricha" by Rita which competed in Kdam Eurovision 1986.
Second Chance
The second chance round was held on 3 March 2013. The fourth placed song from each semi-final competed for the last spot in the final. Judah Gavra and the song "Hayom" qualified to the final. On 6 March Nicki Goldstein was given a spot in the final in order to replace the withdrawal of Kathleen Reiter.
Final
The final was held on 7 March 2013. The public televote for the final was opened on 3 March 2013 following the running order draw that took place during the second chance round. On 6 March, Kathleen Reiter and the song "Ad elay" were withdrawn from the final and replaced by Nicki Goldstein and the song "We Are One". Each member of the jury panel awarded points to their top seven songs in the manner: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. A total of 301 jury points were awarded. The public vote was based on the percentage of votes each song has achieved. For example, if a song gained 10% of the public vote, then that entry would be awarded 10% of 301 points. After the combination of jury and public votes, Moran Mazor was the winner with the song "Rak bishvilo".
The interval acts during the show were Miri Mesika and Shlomi Shabat.
At Eurovision
Due to the approval from the EBU regarding a request made by the Israeli delegation to avoid complications with a national holiday coinciding with the date of the first semifinal (14 May), Israel competed in the second semi-final on 16 May for a place in the final on 18 May. In the second semifinal, the producers of the show decided that Israel would perform 10th, following Greece and preceding Armenia. The Israeli performance featured Mazor, wearing a black dress adorned with costume jewelry, joined by three backing vocalists, one of which also played a piano.
Israel failed to qualify from the second semi-final of the competition, placing 14th and scoring 40 points.