Noa Kirel is to represent Israel at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest when it comes to Liverpool next May.
The Israeli representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was internally selected by broadcaster Kan. A committee of music editors and external representatives each suggested two artists from a long list of 78. Among those considered were Mergui, Ella-Lee Lahav, Noa Kirel, Static & Ben-El Tavori and Ran Danker.
On 11 July 2022, Kan announced that Noa Kirel had topped the list with Mergui placing second. Despite Kirel stating the following day that she and her team had yet to make a decision, Israeli television channel HaHadashot 12 reported the invitation had been accepted. This was later confirmed during a press conference held at the Hotel Carlton in Tel Aviv today. She duly posed with the Israeli flag against a Eurovision background and made all the backers very happy indeed.
Artistic freedom
Kirel is reported to have asked for and been given artistic freedom with her song and has spoken about working with a songwriting camp. Composers like Doron Medalie, Ron Beaton, Jordi, Nitzan Kaykov, Itay Shimoni, and Eitan Peled are all tipped to take part in the camp, organised by Kirel’s management team. The singer also spoke about having already been offered songs from all over the world but that she has decided to stick with a local Israeli team for Eurovision, adding that her song will contain “all kinds of ethnic, Mediterranean and even Israeli directions”.
The Israeli budget for the contest will be around $900,000: 1/3 of which coming from Kan, and the rest being covered by her team.