Eight songs will compete in the "X Factor for Eurovision" final tomorrow.
Two of them are excellent, one very cute, and the rest less so.
To sum up gently, and without ruining joys: Eurovision 2023 will not take place in Israel.
Still, there are already those who are angry.
The Association of Israeli Artists and the Jewish Agency came out against the songs of the competition, since they are all in English.
"As a national body, it deserves to be an example and role model of preserving the character of the Jewish people and to demand that the Israeli representative to the Eurovision Song Contest appear before the world in his national language," they explained.
On the face of it - sounds logical, especially when many of us like to feel grades.
But in practice, this is an archaic argument and a lack of understanding of the competition.
History has already shown that Hebrew songs do not cross the European ear.
In the last three years in which we sent a song in Hebrew, we returned home with great embarrassment: in 2012 it was the band "Izbo", which settled for 13th place in the semifinals;
In 2013, Moran Mazor finished 14th in the semifinals;
And in 2014, Mae Feingold came to the same place.
Even the few words that Feingold instilled in English did not help her.
In 2015, the rules were changed, and the late Broadcasting Authority aligned itself with the world and allowed songs to be sent in English as well. With "Toy", a few years later, there is no need to mention anymore.
Eurovision is first and foremost a song contest, and the main idea is to screw as high as possible - and thus, through local talents and creative music, pay homage (and sometimes shame) to the sending country.
The insistence on sending songs in Hebrew is not only irrelevant, but creates the exact opposite effect.
Those who think that Hebrew should be sung do not understand the competition and its target audience, nor do they understand current international music.
The chance of conquering Europe in three minutes with a song in Hebrew is the same as the chance that all Israeli singers trying to break into the US will do what Gal Gadot did in Hollywood.
With all my love for the language, singing in Hebrew does not generate interest, does not bring respect and significantly reduces the chances of bringing the trophy to Israel for the fifth time.
In short, how do you say in Hebrew It's not your business?
Erans@israelhayom.co.il
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