Miriam Tukan

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Miriam Tukan (Arabic: مريم طوقان, Hebrew: מרים טוקאן) (Born July 6, 1982), a Christian Arab singer from the Israeli village I'billin. Tukan is the first Arab participant of Kokhav Nolad, an Israeli song contest styled after American Idol, and the first to sing in Arabic on the show.

In the course of her participation in the show, Tukan was praised for her clear tones and unique vocal qualities, including her ability to sing the quarter tones required for Arabic music. She often combined motifs from Arabic music in songs that were considered staples of mainstream, Jewish, western-style Israeli music, creating powerful and unconventional new renditions. Her performance of Bialik's poem to Arik Einstein's melody, "Hachnisini Tachat Knafech", gained special praise and admiration from judges and audiences alike.

Today Tukan is a student of law at University of Haifa and is planning to record her first album.

[edit] Miriam Tukan in the Press

Being the first Arabic participant, Taukan received a large amount of media attention compared to other contestants. Several articles were written on this topic, a central question being whether the show, which is a symbol of Israeli consensus, could afford to have an Arabic singer as its winner.

Some articles covered the reaction to Tukan's participation among both Jews and Arabs, while yet others explored the role of the show in bridging the gap between the periphery and center of Israeli society, as well as commenting on its ability to allow minority voices in Israeli society to gain their place on the central stage of prime time.

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