TEL AVIV, Israel (Fwrd Axis) – After a false start almost one month ago, it was confirmed on Wednesday that Noa Kirel will represent Israel at Eurovision 2023.
The deadline for selection is over seven months away, but the Israeli broadcaster, KAN, made the confirmation early.
The announcement was originally made last month, following the KAN Eurovision Selection Meeting on July 11th, where Kirel was suggested and chosen as the Eurovision entry. That led to confusion as KAN announced Kirel, but she said she would “make a decision later”. It seems like later on is now as she announced that she would accept the invitation.
78 artists were suggested in the meeting, all with experience, and the key was having experience on a big stage. She certainly has that, being one of the biggest acts in Israel with four number one singles to her name.
She has won the MTV Europe Music Award for the best Israeli artist from 2017 to 2020 and performed at the Miss Universe pageant in 2021. She can handle Eurovision after performing on such big stages in the past.
Kirel has signed a deal with Atlantic Records internationally, which is something that usually follows up an appearance in Eurovision.
Making an internal selection for both the artist and the song is a departure for Israel. Typically at least one element would be selected publicly, such as in 2018 when Netta won Eurovision. Netta was selected by winning HaKokhav HaBa, but her song Toy was chosen internally. This is the first time the artist and song have been internally selected since 2012.
There have been no hints about the song; it cannot be released until September 1st to be eligible for Eurovision. Kirel’s team may not have the song yet, so now that will ramp up.
