Singer Sia made an emotional return to the spotlight at an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) event in Washington, dedicating a song to survivors of the October 7 Nova festival attack. The event, hosted by Jewish-American actor Ben Stiller, featured the National Philharmonic Orchestra of the United States, Israeli Eurovision star Eden Golan, and Jewish producer Scooter Braun.

Stunning performance from @Sia who brought the house down. Honored to have her powerful voice here with us tonight and with us in the larger fight against antisemitism and hate. #ConcertAgainstHate pic.twitter.com/bqJfJi6Yok

— ADL (@ADL) November 19, 2024

Sia performed her hit "Titanium," which she originally recorded with producer David Guetta, dedicating it to Nova festival survivors who joined her on stage afterward. The singer, who had last performed in Israel in 2016 and had not previously commented on the war, declared, "We will dance again" before performing the song.

The singer and creator Eden Golan @Edengolan appeared this evening at the @ADL #ConcertAgainstHate produced by @scooterbraun

Scooter Braun invited Eden to participate in the show.
We love you Scooter 🩷

In the show hosted by the Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, the… pic.twitter.com/HuU4HgSujU

— Iris (@streetwize) November 19, 2024

 Golan performed the original version of the song she was meant to represent Israel with at Eurovision, but whose lyrics were rejected and rewritten for containing political messages. She performed "Hurricane" under its original title, "October Rain," with its original lyrics.

Eden Golan is getting ready to take the stage tonight and we can't wait! But her performance isn't just about music—it's about using her voice to stand up for what's right. Eden is here to amplify the fight against hate as she has bravely done many times this past year.… pic.twitter.com/wlq3DYjP4Z

— ADL (@ADL) November 19, 2024

When introducing her to the stage, Stiller said: "The lyrics of the song were rewritten, and they even changed its name. Eden represented Israel even though she was booed. Since then, she has been performing 'October Rain' for many." Following the performance, Sia met Eden backstage and complimented her on her performance.

The post Sia dedicates song to Nova survivors, Eden Golan performs 'October Rain' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris will commence on Wednesday. The Israeli delegation, comprising 27 athletes, has prepared for the competitions not only in terms of sports but also for potential unpleasant situations such as pro-Palestinian demonstrations or booing, similar to what occurred during the Olympic Games.

To provide the athletes with the warmest and most Israeli embrace possible, El Al, the official carrier of the Paralympic delegation to Paris, has established the "Flag Team" – Israel's cheering squad aimed at encouraging the athletes and giving them the feeling of playing on the most home-like field possible.

The Flag Team consists of about 30 Israelis who will fly to the games in Paris, sponsored by the company. Among the team members will be veterans injured during Operation Iron Swords with the potential to become future Paralympic athletes, volunteers working with disabled veterans, and representatives from the general public selected through a campaign conducted by the company on social media.

Also joining them are several influencers such as singer Eden Golan, content creators Danit Greenberg, Liel Eli, and Tal Morad, and actor-comedian Orel Tzabari, who will join the Flag Team and cheer for the Paralympic athletes in Paris.

Golan is well-acquainted with hostile environments, having experienced it at the recent Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden, where she bravely stood her ground and finished in fifth place. Before departing for the games, she took time for a few questions with Israel Hayom.

Q: Are you excited to be part of such a big event? What are you looking forward to the most?

"I'm very excited to go, and especially to see and cheer for our competitors on the field. I'll give them all the love I can."

Q: What do you think your presence and visit will provide to the Paralympic team?

"As an Israeli competitor who went to represent the country during wartime and faced antisemitism, I hope I can give them some indication and strength when they need to stand in such a situation. I'm looking forward to meeting them. I hope it will give them all the support and strength they need in such a moment. I know it closely and understand how significant it is."

Q: Tell us a bit about the Flag Team.

"It's a team that El Al is sending to cheer for Israel's athletes. Joining me are reservists who are 'sports fanatics,' who will cheer together with me from the stands and lift our athletes' spirits. We have an amazing team. Each one brings a different and special story. We had a very good connection when we met, and I'm truly excited to travel with them and unite our strengths."

Q: Is it really possible to disconnect from all the background noise?

"It's not easy at all, but it's possible. I did a lot of personal work that didn't stop until the moment I went on stage and even on the stage itself. It's also important to be surrounded by good people."

Q: Did you follow the success at the Olympics? Do you have a special message you'd like to convey to the Paralympic delegation?

"Leading up to the games, I followed partially, as much as I could. Seven medals is incredible, and there's nothing like our country. My message to the competitors is to remember that we're proud of them and love them no matter what result they bring. There's no one like them in the world."

The post 'Having faced antisemitism, I hope to empower Israel's Paralympics team' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Eden Golan, who represented Israel at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, is set to trade her stage attire for military fatigues.

The young singer, who achieved a commendable fifth place in the international competition, has received her first military summons.

Despite facing adversity directed at both Israel and herself during Eurovision, the young artist delivered a stellar performance with the hit "Hurricane."

On Sept. 19, Golan will take her first steps toward military service by reporting for her initial summons. Her unique talents are expected to be utilized within the IDF, where she is likely to serve as a performer, showcasing her musical abilities for fellow soldiers as part of the military's cadre of exceptional artists.

The post From Eurovision to boot camp: Eden Golan prepares for IDF appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The Irish entrant for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, 31-year-old Bambie Thug, undoubtedly showed a special interest in Israel, being one of the most outspoken anti-Israel participants in this year's contest. The non-binary singer took an aggressive anti-Israel stance, including calls to remove Israel from the competition, wearing a keffiyeh, smuggling a watermelon-shaped plushie to the grand final, and attempting to go on stage with the word "ceasefire" written on their face. Such dedication has definitely sparked our interest in the self-described "goth gremlin goblin witch" according to The Sunday Times. Here's everything you should know. 

Thug, originally named Bambie Ray Robinson, was born in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland to a Swedish father and an Irish mother. They took great pride in being half-Swedish during their time in Malmo, Sweden. Would knowledge of the origins of their last name foster the same sense of pride?

According to the "Find My Past" website, Robinson is thought to be most often a patronymic surname that originated in England, but in some cases, it can be an anglicization of some Jewish names like Rubenstein and Rabinowitz. Coincidence? In an interview on the "Upgrade Sounds" YouTube show, they stated they have been practicing witchcraft from an early age, it being their "saving grace." They added they are using words as spells, "retraining speech to ensure you're not calling in anything you don't want." This might explain their "top six, minus one" remark in praising the singers who reached the first six places, ignoring Israel's Eden Golan. Unfortunately for them, Israel is still in 5th place. Extra practice might be in order, it seems. 

The singer has gone from practicing ballet in Ireland and studying musical theater in London to the world stage of Eurovision with "Doomsday Blue", an unconventional and startling blend that fuses elements of witchcraft and primordial screaming. Their unparalleled musical genre "ouija pop" also consists of metaphorical elements and underlying meanings, as their "radio-friendly, vulgar" hit song "Kawasaki" is essentially about a sexual act performed on a man. 

Thug's distinctive musical style and persona aim to convey strong and clear artistic messages that are meant to resonate throughout the world – whether in a song, a hex, or a pagan ritual. However, given the darkness and hardships surrounding the whole world, the last thing we need are demons.

The post Ireland's Bambie Thug witchcraft failed to cast a spell on Israel appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Eden Golan, who represented Israel at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, performed her song "October Rain" without the edits required by Eurovision on Saturday night at a Tel Aviv rally organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The gathering aimed to garner global attention and rally other countries to pressure Hamas into releasing the 128 hostages still held in Gaza.

"This is the first time I am singing onstage after returning from Eurovision," Golan told the crowd gathered at what has been named Hostage Square. "I wanted to do it on this stage, in this square. I wanted to sing 'October Rain' tonight and it is my prayer to bring everyone home. I will not stop making our voice heard in Israel and in the world, until everyone returns home," she said.

The song, which includes lyrics referencing the hostages and those killed by Hamas, was originally written for the Eurovision contest in Switzerland earlier this month. However, the European Broadcasting Union disqualified it for having political messaging. Golan finished fifth place at the international competition with a reworded version titled "Hurricane." Her performance was marred by animosity from other contestants, booing from some audience members, and anti-Israel rallies outside the venue in Malmo, Sweden, over the ongoing war in Gaza. Despite the protests, Golan remained determined, vowing not to be held back.

The song "October Rain" includes lyrics such as I promise you that never again.../Writers of history stand with me/People go away but never say goodbye.../I'm still wet from the October rain and a final section in Hebrew translated to: There is no air left to breathe.../They were all good kids, every one of them – believed to be a reference to those killed by Hamas on October 7.

The post Eden Golan performs her original song 'October Rain' at Hostage Square appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Throughout all its stages, the Eurovision Song Contest has put the Israeli delegation through many hardships. Hostile looks, public shunning, massive anti-Israel protests, and even deliberate slumbering as a form of opposition and boycotts reminiscent of the American high school movie "Mean Girls" – these were just some of the challenges Eden Golan, the Israeli representative, had to overcome on her way to the stage in Malmö, Sweden.

Over the years, Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has faced its share of challenges in justifying its place. However, this year was particularly fraught – condemnation, exclusion, and even hatred reared their heads in an unprecedented manner, following the horrific events of Oct. 7 leading to a war in Gaza. From the moment Golan and the Israeli delegation set foot in Malmö, the dramas were relentless.

"United by music," goes Eurovision's slogan, while the representatives of Ireland, Portugal, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands (who was eventually disqualified), Greece, Sweden, and the list goes on - represented their countries with proud ignorance and malice.

Receiving cold treatment backstage was one thing, but a significant additional front also emerged in the audience. From the general rehearsals to the finals themselves, we heard the struggle between the boos and the cheers trying to rise above them. Amidst the beautiful, moving lyrics of "Hurricane," we heard the voices of those who see no justification for giving Israel a stage to tell its story.

Facing these challenges, Eden stood tall, steadfast, with a heart-piercing voice singing of Israeli pain and strength. We were all awed by her excellent performances one after the next throughout the entire competition, against a daily reminder – you are not welcome here. Israeli citizens united for moments of awe in front of the screen, watching Eden's performance, which often moved many of us to tears. In the second semi-final, we found out we shared this reaction with many more citizens – around the world.

With Eden's grand final performance behind us, we waited with bated breath and immense pride for the participating countries' juries' votes. Country after country, 37 in total - and not a single "douze points" was given to Israel. Officially, the nations of the world turned their backs on Israel, on the song that conveyed its greatest pain. Not a single country wanted its name associated with Israel's.

And while the situation looked bleak, the public voting results started coming in - and in one moment, and 323 points later, Israel leaped from 12th place to 1st - if only for a few moments - with the 2nd highest number of public votes in the world.

First place or not - it was a victory. A victory of light over darkness. A triumph of emotion and artistry over brainwashing and ignorance. Much like the song's lyrics, even when it's hard to see - a small light of hope has shone through.

Cliché but true – unity, love, and strength are more powerful weapons than we thought. All that's left for us is to learn from and preserve the boundless power of a 20-year-old girl, as proof of Israeli resilience.

The post Nations' juries turned their backs on Eden Golan – but the public worldwide embraced her with love appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Switzerland on Saturday won Eurovision 2024 in Swedish host city Malmo, beating runner-up Croatia, after having been among bookmakers' top-three to win the competition.

Billed as a feel-good celebration of European diversity, this year's contest has been thrust into the political spotlight with calls for Israel to be excluded over its military campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' deadly attack on Oct. 7 in Israel.

Swiss rapper and singer Nemo, 24, won the contest with "The Code", a drum-and-bass, opera, rap and rock song, about Nemo's journey of self-discovery as a non-binary person.

Croatia's Baby Lasagna, real name Marko Purisic, 28, came second with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim", a song about a young man who leaves home aspiring to become a "city boy" with better opportunities. Israel's Eden Golan, 20, finished fifth in the contest despite demonstrators' calls for a boycott of the country.

https://x.com/Israel/status/1789429203374354662

The female solo artist on Thursday emerged as one of the leading contenders to win after qualifying for the final. Booing was heard during Golan's performance but also applause, a Reuters photographer in the auditorium said. The noise was partly audible in the broadcast viewed by tens of millions of people in Europe and around the world.

There was also booing when the points of the Israeli jury were presented.

Police estimated that up to 8,000 people joined the protests.

Dutch fans disappointed

In another Eurovision controversy this year, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was expelled on Saturday from the competition final after a complaint by a member of the production crew, the EBU said.

"While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him (Joost) to continue in the Contest," the EBU said in a statement. A representative for Klein did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Klein was filmed despite clearly made agreements, just after getting off stage after his performance at Thursday's semifinal. "This wasn't respected," AVROTROS said in a post on social media platform X, adding "This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera."

Klein did not touch the camerawoman, according to AVROTROS, who said it found the artist's penalty "very heavy and disproportionate."

The evening the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Fianl (Saturday) kicked off, with 25 countries trying to be this year's champions, including, of course, the Israeli Eden Golan.

The final was supposed to include 26 participants, but earlier today the Dutch representative, Joost Klein, was disqualified from the song contest by the European Broadcasting Union after being involved yesterday in an incident where his behavior was deemed "inappropriate". Now, according to the betting odds at the time of writing, Golan has jumped to second place in the overall standings – and there are those betting that she could take the whole pot.

Phenomenal! #Israel #Eurovision2024 #eurovisiongr #Vote06 #Israel12Points #EdenGolan https://t.co/gu6rjwJLFm

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) May 11, 2024

Here is the liveblog that ran during the competition:

If this drama wasn't enough, outside the venue hosting the final in Malmö, Sweden, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered to demonstrate against Israel. Months ago, many on the continent had hoped Israel would be disqualified from the competition, but the European Broadcasting Union refused to do so – and now all they have left is to protest (and even clash with police on site), hoping they don't disrupt Golan's performance beyond the expected booing, as happened in the second semifinal she participated ib Thursday, as well as in the various rehearsals.

Voting for the participating countries in the final opened with the start of the first song performance and close after the last song performance. As a reminder, Eden Golan was the fifth representative to perform her song ("Hurricane") on the final stage, but her voting number will be 06 as the union decided not to change the contestants' numbers following Klein's disqualification, who was one of the notable competitors in this year's Eurovision.

Video: Eden Golan on stage at the Eurovision Grand Final / Credit: Courtesy of Kan News

22:37 Eden is on stage. Despite boos, she is steadfast and singing without fear. There are also many cheers.

22:37: #breaking Eden Golan is about to go on stage to sing "Hurricane", join us live here: https://tinyurl.com/p3s4hd62 #Eurovision2024 #EdenGolan #vote06

22:15

The grand final of #Eurovision2024 has officially begun in Malmo, Sweden. Despite all the challenges, #EdenGolan will soon go on stage and represent Israel with the song "Hurricane". Good luck, Eden!

Video: Eden Golan enters the stage in the Grand Final, May 11, 2024 / Credit: Eran Swissa

Video: Eden Golan reacts to making it to the Grand Final / Credit: Kan News

22:31: The fourth song performed tonight is "Fighter" by Tali, the Israeli representative from Luxembourg. How do they put it? She's one of ours!

22:17: The competition officially kicked off with the performance by Norweigian nationals Marcus and Martinus, Sweden's representatives at Eurovision, who performed their song "Unforgettable".

22:05: The performers participating tonight are coming on stage with their countries' flags. When Eden Golan came on stage, there were many cheers of encouragement – but also quite a few boos.

22:03: The evening officially opened with a performance by Swedish singer Bjorn Skifs, who performed his huge hit "Hooked on a Feeling", which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

22:00: Here we go! Before the artists take the big stage, a few videos are being shown to get the viewers ready for the long evening ahead.

The post Eden Golan finishes 5th after dazzling Eurovision performance; Switzerland wins appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Despite the immense pressures and challenges, Israel's Eden Golan triumphed in Thursday night's Eurovision Song Contest's semifinal. At 11:26 p.m. Israeli time, Israel's representative took the stage and performed her entry "Hurricane." Her performance was stirring, powerful, and precise – despite the boos by pro-Palestinians who tried to drown out her voice only to have their own noise canceled by organizers who turned off the crowd's microphones. Immediately after qualifying for the finals, Eurovision betting sites elevated Golan's ranking to second place in the Grand Final, which takes place Saturday.

Video: Eden Golan reacts to making it to the Grand Final / Credit: Kan News

The Countries Advancing to the finals from Thursday's semifinal are Latvia, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia, and Armenia.

As expected, upon her entrance to the stage, boos were heard, and although not many Palestinian flags were visible, one person waving a Palestinian flag was removed from the venue by security personnel. Outside, there were massive protests and Eden had to arrive in a convoy of cars with helicopter escorts from above to make sure she was secure.

In total, 16 countries participated in this semi-final: Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino, Georgia, Estonia, Norway, Netherlands, and of course, Israel.

According to a leak from the Italian broadcaster RAI, Israel won the semi-final in Italy with 39% of the votes – a strong showing from the home audience.

Eurovision 2024 has been particularly challenging for the Israeli delegation and fans of the competition. All Eurovision venues in the city are heavily secured by hundreds of local police officers, and even at the EuroClub's dance floor – the official party zone – and in the city's mall, police officers can be seen patrolling throughout the evening, even when the Israeli delegation is not present. Sharp-eyed observers also noticed snipers positioned on rooftops near the competition area.

Hours before Eden Golan's performance at the Eurovision semifinal, thousands of pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated throughout Malmö, demanding the removal of the Israeli delegation. The protesters claimed that Israel was committing war crimes in Gaza and called for the liberation of "Palestine".

The pro-Palestinian chants resonated across Malmö, with demonstrations taking place simultaneously at several central locations. Among others, environmental activist Greta Thunberg appeared wearing a keffiyeh alongside Palestinian flags. The Israeli delegation in Sweden has been met with a hostile atmosphere, with Eden Golan and the entire team receiving close security protection.

Many fans chose not to attend the competition due to justified safety concerns. Those who did attend remained cautious, avoided confrontations, but did not hesitate to wave the Israeli flag during Golan's performance and throughout the competition area.

The post Eden Golan defies Israel's Eurovision haters; poised for 2nd place after shining in semifinal appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Eden Golan, representing Israel at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, aims to bring people together through her music when she performs this week in Malmo, Sweden.

The 68th edition of the world's biggest song competition takes place as protests occur in many countries against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.   Golan is competing with the song "Hurricane," initially titled "October Rain". "I come here to show my voice, to share my love, my gift from God and to hopefully make people feel something and leave a mark in their souls and to unite by music," Golan told Reuters on Monday.

Israel modified the song lyrics after the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the event, took issue with verses from the original submission that appeared to reference the October 7 attack. The EBU's decision to allow Israel to participate this year despite the conflict in Gaza has drawn protests. Malmo is preparing for potential unrest during the week, although police have not reported any specific threats against the contest.

When asked about the possibility of protests in Malmo, Golan responded: "It's up to the people what to do. They have the right to speak their voice, but I'm focusing on my part which is giving the best performance. It's a super important moment for us, especially this year," Golan said. "I feel honored to have the opportunity to be the voice of my country." The Eurovision Song Contest enjoys immense popularity in Israel, which has won it four times. Oddsmakers currently rank Israel's 2024 entry among the top 10 contenders. The Eurovision Grand Finale takes place on Saturday.

The post Eurovision contestant Eden Golan focuses on spreading 'good vibes' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Just before her big performance in the Eurovision Song Contest, Eden Golan speaks candidly with Israel Hayom.

"It's my dream coming true, representing the country and doing something big in front of the whole world," Golan said. "This year, it takes on a different and greater meaning, standing on that stage and showing that we are here. We went through a hurricane [the name of the Israeli entry] to get to this. I really want to succeed and believe that we will advance to the Grand Final, but our mere participation is an achievement.

"You can't say I'm happy to be the representative in such a complex year, but it's an honor. The performance this year is completely different from any other year, and the message is that they are relying on me. The viewers sent me and believe in me, and that's insane. I believe that everything is for the best, and that I have the strength. All the years that I prepared and worked on my abilities built me up and made me strong enough for this moment.

"Some Eurovision fans probably don't like us, and that's something that really surprised me. I didn't know there was such an option. After I found out, I didn't think 'Why me and why does it fall on me,' but what can be done and how to fix it and make this Eurovision happen. There's no point in dwelling on the 'why,' because that's how it happened, and that's what we have."

Video: Video: Eden Golan speaks with Israel Hayom / Reporter: Ortal Cohen and Moshe Ben-Simchon

Eden also shares more information about her upbringing in the interview.

On her life story

"I was born in October 2003 and grew up in Kfar Saba, and when I was 6, we moved to Moscow, for my father's assignment. We returned two years ago when I was 18. I had a different childhood because from a very young age, I was in show business, and by the age of 14, I was already flying alone outside the home for two weeks. I started a career there, signed a contract, and it's a world where you have to grow up very quickly.

"I'm a sponge of information, I love learning, and I want to do everything myself. This trait also affected my social side. My environment has always been more mature.

"At our home, they insisted on speaking Hebrew, but we couldn't read or write. When we visited Israel, I would get annoyed that I couldn't read the signs, so I asked my parents to buy me textbooks. When we returned to live in Israel, my Hebrew improved a lot. I got back the warmth that I had been missing and felt like I was home.

"We rented an apartment in Ramat Aviv Gimel [a neighborhood in Tel Aviv], across from Yair Lapid, and there were protests in front of our house. Now we live in Shikun Dan. I arrived without friends or a career here, and I started everything from scratch. And here, two years later, I'm already representing Israel.

On being sent to Eurovision

"I am proud to represent the country, and I promise to do everything I can for it.

"When Dana International won Eurovision in 1998, I wasn't even born, let alone planned. Dana is a diva who shattered the world, and you can't help but appreciate or love her."

On her parents

"I'm very close to my parents, Adi and Olga, and I have their full support. My parents didn't push me, it didn't come from them, but they know how important it is to me."

Q: Which one are you closer to?

"Dad, don't get offended, but my mom is with me day in and day out throughout this process, all the time. They are both my souls, and so is my younger brother, Sean. My mom and I are best friends, even though there are natural boundaries. I feel like I can share anything with her. She knows me better than I know myself. I don't hide anything from her because she's a very wise woman, and she also wants the best for me."

On her singing

Q: Have you ever sung out of tune?

"Everyone does. There's no singer who hasn't. I recently saw what happened to Harel Skaat at Eurovision 2010 [Skaat missed the high notes], and my heart went out to him. I saw in his eyes how he wanted to kill himself. If I were in a situation like his, I would have also wanted to die. On the other hand, we are human, and every singer has those moments, including Beyoncé. It happened to him in a difficult situation, but other than that, he had a wonderful performance.

On love

"I'm not in a relationship, and I haven't had much time. I'm not looking, but I do believe that when the right moment comes, at the right time and with the right person, whenever that happens - it will happen."

Q: Has your heart been broken before?

"No, but I've broken hearts. In my youth, I would get a little close to someone, and as soon as I felt it was getting serious, I'd stop and break their heart. A few good songs came out of those situations for me."

Q: Have you ever been in love?

"I don't think so. I know what familial love is, but I don't think I've felt that kind of love for a partner, something special, butterflies. That hasn't happened to me yet."

Q: Is it related to your profession?

"I think the right person hasn't come along yet, and in my profession, I need a partner who understands my lifestyle, the sleepless nights, and everything it demands – and can handle that. Everything is connected, and there's probably a correlation between my career and not having a partner, even if it's not done consciously.

"I'm very focused, and my professionalism is at the top of my priorities –- after my family, of course, which comes before everything – and it has implications. I'm not in the mindset of having a mission to find a boyfriend and get married. I want a family, but not now."

Q: Do they hit on you?

"Before I became famous, people would hit on me a lot on the street, and today they do it on Instagram. I don't really respond because it's a bit weird, and I also can't get to all the messages. I believe that if something is meant to happen, it will happen."

Q: Maybe you're just not interested?

"I don't want it right now, but I also believe you don't have to look for it. I'm of the opinion that souls need to meet, and with the right person, it will happen. Even if I don't feel like being in a relationship right now, if someone comes along who feels right – I won't stop it. But it hasn't happened.

On anxiety

"When the war started, I had terrible anxiety, like many people in the country. I had anxiety at every moment, but now I'm in a better period. Anxiety is not something I experience a lot, but there were periods in my life, in my youth, when I felt nervous.

"When I'm nervous, I feel like everything is going to crash down on me, sometimes dizziness, but over the years, I've learned to stay balanced and control my emotions. If I feel I'm under pressure, I stop to breathe, meditate."

Q: Have you ever had stage fright?

"My heart palpitates, but it's more adrenaline. Before I go on stage, I'm under insane pressure, and the moment I'm on stage, I feel like I get my air back. Sometimes I'm anxious even after a performance because then I start thinking about where I could have been better and what I didn't do right enough."

Q: Do you see a psychologist?

"No, I'm my own best doctor, along with my mom and my dog, who is the cure for everything."

Q: How are you dealing with the situation in the country?

"It's not getting easier, but I've decided not to get too close to the news. I feel like we're in this together, and somehow we have to move on. It's weird for me that while I'm going through everything I'm going through, there are hostages in Gaza, and who knows what they're going through there. I believe that my participation is part of a very important mission for the country, and on a personal level, it's something that helps me get through this period.

On mistakes

"I don't constantly think about where I made mistakes, what I did right or wrong. If I don't succeed at something, I say 'okay' and try again. I'm sorry for my fights with my mom because she's so close to me and doesn't deserve it, but it happens to everyone. Professionally, I believe that everything is for the best. Even if, say, I made mistakes in certain places, or in choosing a song on 'The Next Star,' [reality singing competition show] ultimately the mistakes brought me to this point. I don't think there was any critical mistake that, if I hadn't made it, something would have looked different.

On her looks

"I love how I look, but it was a process to get to this stage. During my teenage years, my body changed, my face changed, and even the way boys treated me – and there were things that shook me. I'm 5'4" and in Israel, I'm considered tall, but in Moscow, I was a tiny girl. I lacked confidence because everyone there is very tall, and I always wore heels. Over the years, I learned to love being petite. Even the things I didn't like, I learned to love, because they're what set me apart from others."

Q: What didn't you like about yourself that you learned to love?

"I have very problematic skin. I've suffered from skin issues from a very young age. I was on antibiotics and treatments, and it keeps coming and going. I'm at war with my face. Recently, I started being treated by an aesthetician, and we began an excellent process. Now I'm on drying acids that I have to take for my face, and I hope everything will be sorted out by the time I go to Eurovision. I don't let it affect how I accept myself, and I won't deprive myself of going out on a day when I have acne. But I will put on makeup."

Q: Has beauty helped you in life?

"Yes. It's especially helpful in my profession, but there are many talented people who don't fit the old beauty ideal and they're still very successful – and it's good that way. Some will think I'm beautiful, and some won't. I'm not, and that's okay."

Q: What rating would you give yourself from 1 to 10?

"10, you shouldn't think less of yourself.

On her dog

"My dog Leo is my life. Dogs are the most loyal pets you'll find, as long as it doesn't come to food. I don't know what I'd do without Leo, and I'm afraid of the day he's no longer here. I want him to beat old age, to be the oldest dog, and to break the record of 23 years for a dog's life. I don't know what I'll do without him when I'm in Malmö.

On her upcoming performance

"On the Eurovision stage, I'll be joined by five dancers. Vocally, I'm the only one singing without backing vocalists. I can't go into details, but it will be amazing, and it will have an impact on the results of the competition."

Q: Was there a point where you were afraid you wouldn't go?

"Of course I was afraid, but there really was no reason to disqualify us, and the fact is that our participation was approved. If we had been disqualified, it would have said a lot about the organizers. From the moment we were approved, we started making changes, and I went straight into the studio. There was one night when I only slept for 20 minutes, and if I didn't love what I'm doing, I wouldn't have survived that. When the camera is on, I'm at my peak."

Q: You also seem like someone who doesn't complain.

"A lot of people tell me that, but I don't notice it. During one of our fittings, I had blue marks on my shoulders, and the stylist, Itai Bitzaleli, asked me, 'What's that?' I told him it was from the dress. He was in shock that I didn't complain at all. I told him, 'The dress is beautiful but a bit heavy, no big deal.'"

Q: What color will you wear in the final?

"White, but there are all kinds of shades of white.

On her protection

"I'm traveling there on April 28, and it still doesn't feel real to me. As far as I'm concerned, it was just yesterday that I won 'The Next Star'. I'm a total control freak, I always want to know what's planned for me, what the schedule is, and what it will look like – and in this case, I don't know anything.

"I don't know what to expect, but I'm preparing myself for bad things that will happen too, for the worst, so I'll be ready for any scenario. There will be increased security this year, and I'm letting them handle everything related to security and protests. I believe they will protect us and not let us go to places where there is danger.

Q: You received explicit threats to your life, prompting the contest organizers to issue a condemnation of hateful or harassing messages aimed at artists and anyone involved in the contest

"I feel protected with the delegation and trust the security guards. As far as I'm concerned, I'm focused on doing my best on stage and not on everything surrounding it. There will undoubtedly be protests and voices against us, more than ever this year, but I have the pressure of the competition, so I'm trying to let go. I may be young, but I know to say that everything in life comes at a price. I wanted Eurovision, and this is the price of representing the country. There have been other things in my life that I paid a high price for, like not having a normal childhood, but if that's the price – I'm going for it wholeheartedly."

On past Israeli Eurovision performers

"Noa Kirel is an inspiration. Her performance at Eurovision and the results were amazing. She's an abnormally hard worker, and I sympathize with her. I, too, am a workaholic when it comes to work. I've known Noa since her first song, but I only started really following her and her music in recent years.

"I met her and got to know her. We may not have sat down for coffee, but from what I did get to know her, she's an amazing and very warm person."

Q: Did you ask her for advice?

"When I asked her, the first thing she said to me was, 'Why do you need advice from me?' But we did talk about the situation, about the strict schedules. And it's insane that she trusts me."

Q:Have you met Netta Barzilai?

"No, but Netta is talented, special, and full of energy. I started following 'The Next Star' in the season she won. I remember her performance at Eurovision and the win – it was amazing.

On Passover

"We do the Seder every year, and even in Moscow, we insisted on it. This year, I'll be a guest at my aunt's Seder. I'm not able to host because then I'll get anxious from the pressure of it not being perfect. I love preparing things in the kitchen, I make sushi, jachnun, and more.

On her career

"I'm glad that people are finally appreciating and seeing what I've been working toward and am still working toward. At first, no one knew who I was. I had a hundred views a day on TikTok on a good day and two likes if I was lucky. Today, I'm proud of myself, crazy about what I do. I feel like I was born for this field, to help people and convey a message, to make them feel something.

On her rise

"The fame was the moment when I felt that all my hard work paid off. I worked for years to get to this moment – and it happened. Even in Moscow I was famous, but here it's much more. The warmth of the people here doesn't exist anywhere else, and it's a privilege to share my talent with them especially.

"My first audition on 'The Next Star' was insane, and I got a lot of reactions to it. For the first time on the show, it was 100%. I have to say that I still feel like I'm in a dream. I haven't processed this win yet, on the show, and I can't even begin to comprehend that I will be in Sweden soon.

"Today, I'm recognized everywhere, and even when I try to hide, put on sunglasses, and pull my pink hair back – it doesn't work. Even when I was at the health clinic, you published a photo of me from the clinic."

Q: Do you suffer from it or enjoy it?

"Fame is part of the career, and I knew it would come. At the end of the day, these are the people who brought me to victory and helped me get to where I am. They give me love, and I'm all for giving love back. There may be moments when I leave the aesthetician, all red, and I don't feel like being stopped, but even then I stopped and it was nice and posed for photos."

Q: Have you encountered bad reviews?

"People will always talk, and that's legitimate, but it's better than them not talking at all. Even trolls can respond however they want, and I try not to read comments, but if I did happen to read them, it doesn't get to me. If I take it personally, that's not good.

On the IDF

"I still haven't enlisted in the army, and when I return from Eurovision, I'll report for my first call-up. In the first year as a returning resident, they don't call you, but that year passed and I was summoned – and my draft was postponed because of Eurovision. Doing army service is a mission, and I want to take the auditions to the military bands.

On her tattoos

"I have six tattoos. One tattoo is 22:22, the time I was born at night, and I feel like this number accompanies me. I keep encountering this number. Even this holiday supplement is coming out on April 22. My parents' birthdays are tattooed on my hands, and there are a few other small tattoos. I really love tattoos with thin lines. There was a time when I wanted to fill my entire arm, but I'm glad I didn't do that."

Q: Why tattoos related to your parents?

"Because they are with me all the time. I live for my parents. They don't overprotect me, but I feel secure with them, and I'm glad I have someone to fall back on in difficult moments. They brought me into this world, and they're the ones who always believe in me. I don't know how I would get through everything without them.

"During the filming of 'The Next Star,' they told us not to come with companions, and at first I was worried, but in retrospect, it turned out to be good because I saw that I'm capable of doing it alone too."

On interviews

"I take into account that at Eurovision there will be complex interviews with questions about the situation in the country. It will be a challenge to prepare for, but ultimately all I can say is the truth. I'll be ready for any question, and I also don't intend to be interviewed everywhere, like they did in previous years, but only in specific places. I know they'll look for headlines and dig, but I'll arrive prepared.

On the judges in "The Next Star"

"I've known Shiri Maimon for many years, and one of the songs I sang in the room on 'The Next Star' was 'The Silence That Remains.' If anyone finds that video – that's the end for me. And suddenly she was the judge evaluating my singing. It was coming full circle for me, to sing in front of a singer who was an inspiration for me at the start of my career.

"Keren Peles is an amazing writer and creator, and it was wonderful to work with her in the studio on 'Hurricane.' I can't say I'm familiar with all her songs, or that I delved into her work, but there are a few of her songs that I really love, and of course 'Hurricane,' which she wrote for me. I got to know an artist I have a lot to learn from, and we even have a WhatsApp group with all the creators of the song.

"Asaf Amdurski has never given me a red mark, and this is the first time a contestant didn't get a red mark from him. His opinion is very important to me."

On her hopes

Q: What result would you be satisfied with?

"If I don't make it to the Grand Final, I'll be disappointed, but I believe we will make it. In the end, the people watching the competition and loving it vote according to the music and the number on stage.

"Our song is being received much better than I thought it would, including in countries that don't really like us. We have an insane number, and it's going to be amazing. I'm trying to think positively, but not build up expectations so I don't get disappointed. I'm sitting here now imagining that moment, and it's insane."

Q: Suddenly this fun competition with the potential for an international career has become something heavy.

"I could have said, 'Ugh, too bad this happened to me,' but my mom always tells me, 'Eden, everything that happens is for the best,' and that guides me. You also can't know, maybe it's precisely because there's so much noise that it will work in our favor. As for my career, I believe there are many ways to succeed. If not here, there will be something else, and if so – perfect."

Q: Would you be satisfied with fifth place?

"I would want more."

Q: Fourth?

"More. Second place would be good, and first – the best. Because this is a different year, and not everything depends on me, I can't be affected by the result. I'll be happiest and proudest the moment I know I did my best. The moment I do my best, and – will, I'll be satisfied. I want to believe in the good, and that we'll succeed."

Q: Do you fantasize about winning?

"I allow myself to fantasize, and I go with it."

The post 'My participation is part of a very important mission': Eden Golan gets ready for Malmo showdown appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.