Leha'amin
 "Leha'amin" | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry | |
| Country | Israel |
| Artist(s) | David D'Or |
| Languages | Hebrew, English |
| Composer(s) | David D'Or, Ofer Meiri |
| Lyricist(s) | David D'Or |
| Finals performance | |
| Semi-final result | 11th |
| Semi-final points | 57 |
| Appearance chronology | |
| ◄ "Words for Love" (2003) | |
| "HaSheket SheNish'ar" (2005) ► | |
"Leha'amin" (Hebrew script: להאמין; English translation: "To Believe") was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, performed in Hebrew and English by David D'Or.
In November 2003, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (the "IBA") chose D'Or to represent the country in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest. D'Or represented Israel in the contest in Istanbul, with the song "Leha'amin" (To Believe),[1] which he co-wrote with Ehud Manor.[2] The song is a ballad, with D'Or singing about the need to maintain faith in the basic goodness of humanity, despite considerable evidence to the contrary.
The song was chosen on February 5, 2004, in voting during the program "Israel Selects a Song," held during a break in a televised Maccabi Tel Aviv Euroleague basketball game at which videos of four songs sung by D'Or were shown.[3] The vote was by both a special IBA Eurovision Committee (including prior Israeli entrants Lior Narkis and Gali Atari), which accounted for 40% of the vote, and a televote by viewers, who accounted for the remaining 60% of the vote. The basketball game attracted 13.7% of Israeli TV viewers.[4] The song won 60% of the jury's vote, and 66% of the viewers' televotes.<ref name=Leha'amin>"Israeli entry chosen; David D'Or will sing Leha'amin in Istanbul for Israel". ESCtoday.com. February 5, 2005. Retrieved May 7, 2009.</ref>
During Eurovision rehearsal week D'Or left Istanbul to be with his father, who was suffering from diabetes and had been rushed to a hospital, where one of his legs had to be amputated.[5] D'Or then returned to Istanbul to perform on May 12, 2004. (His father has since died.)[5]
As Israel had not finished in the top 10 at the 2003 Contest, the song was performed in the semifinal. Here, it was performed fifth, following Latvia's Fomins & Kleins with "Dziesma par laimi", and preceding Andorra's Marta Roure with "Jugarem a estimar-nos". It received 57 points, placing 11th in a field of 22, while 19% of Israeli viewers watched on television.[1][6] and missing out on qualification for the final by one position – thus requiring Israel to qualify from the semifinal at their next Contest appearance.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Singing a song of harmony". Australian Jewish News. February 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ↑ "Israeli lyricist Ehud Manor passes away at age 64". ESCtoday.com. April 12, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ↑ "News". ESCtoday.com. May 5, 2004. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- ↑ "High rating figuresl Israel: More than 400,000 watched Mauda". ESCtoday.com. February 28, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Israel 2004; Israel: David D'Or regrets doing Eurovision". ESCtoday.com. August 3, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ↑ "D'Or received proposals; Disappointing viewing figures in Israel". ESCtoday.com. May 17, 2004. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
| Preceded by Milim La'Ahava (Words for Love) – Lior Narkis |
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 |
Succeeded by HaSheket SheNish'ar – Shiri Maimon |
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