Israel has unveiled its new song for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, titled “Hurricane.” The original ballad, “October Rain,” was deemed too political and prompted concerns about disqualification.
The new song, written by Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon, and Stav Beger, will be performed by Eden Golan, a 20-year-old Russian-Israeli, on the Eurovision stage in Malmo, Sweden, in May. The song tells the story of a woman going through a personal crisis and incorporates some of the original lyrics from “October Rain.”
In the song, Golan sings, “Look into my eyes and see, people look away but never say goodbye.” She continues, “Every day I’m losing my mind, holding on in this mysterious ride, dancing in the storm, I’ve got nothing to hide. Take it all and leave the world behind, baby, promise me you’ll hold me again, I’m still broken from this hurricane.”
Israel’s new Eurovision song, “Hurricane,” will be performed by Eden Golan and features a mix of English and Hebrew lyrics.
The song includes mostly English lyrics, with a few lines in Hebrew at the end: “We don’t need grandiose words, just prayers. Even though it’s hard to see, you always leave a small light for me.”
Speaking to the media after the song’s reveal, Golan acknowledged the challenges of competing this year but expressed her determination to represent her country. “I want to represent the country this year because of its meaning—it has a totally different significance,” she said. “We can bring everything we’re feeling, and everything the country is going through, in those three minutes. To speak through the song to the world.”
Alongside the song reveal, Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 also aired a documentary exploring the complexities of Israeli representation at Eurovision throughout the years.
Hen Avigdori, a TV writer whose wife and daughter were recently kidnapped and released from Gaza, emphasized the importance of Israeli participation at Eurovision. “We have to keep going and keep doing, and that doing is also music and showing it to the whole world,” he said.
The original song, “October Rain,” sparked controversy due to its perceived references to the Hamas attacks in October. Leaked lyrics included lines such as, “There’s no air left to breathe” and “They were all good children, each one of them,” which many interpreted as allusions to those trapped in shelters during the attacks.
Golan initially performed “October Rain,” which included lyrics that referenced the Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza.
Additionally, the song’s mention of “flowers” was seen as a possible allusion to military code for war fatalities. With the deadline approaching, Israel made the decision to change the lyrics and submit a new song that aligns with Eurovision’s rules, which prohibit political content.
Eurovision has strict rules against politicization, and contestants deemed to have breached these rules can face disqualification. This has been a point of contention in recent years, with musicians from other participating countries calling for Israel’s suspension due to the conflict in Gaza. However, Eurovision organizers have resisted these calls, arguing that the situation in Gaza differs from that in Ukraine, which led to Russia’s disqualification in 2022.
At last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Israel was represented by singer Noa Kirel, who placed third with her song “Unicorn.” This year, the UK will be represented by Olly Alexander, the singer of Years & Years, with his new dance-infused single “Dizzy.”