Can Kobi Marimi make history with 2nd back-to-back Eurovision win?
‘You made my dream come true, I will do everything I can to bring respect to Israel’
Israel will be sending Kobi Marimi to the 2019 Eurovision, and hoping to pull off a rare back-to-back win at the competition in May.
Marimi, a 27-year-old native of Ramat Gan, was crowned the winner of Hakochav Haba (Rising Star) on Keshet 12 on Tuesday night, earning the right to represent Israel at the competition in Tel Aviv this year.
Marimi beat out the three other contestants who made it to the finale of the show: Maya Buskila, Shefita and Ketreyah Fouch. Marimi’s renditions of “Let it Be” by The Beatles and “Always” by Bon Jovi blew away both the judges on the show and the audience at home, who voted live via an app.
Marimi, an early favorite, was actually voted off the show a couple of weeks ago, but the production brought him back in order to give him another shot at the title.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” said an emotional Marimi, after being announced the winner late on Tuesday evening.
After the live show ended, Marimi said: “I’m in shock and I haven’t absorbed it yet. You made my dream come true and I will do everything I can to bring the most respect to this country.”
Judge Keren Peles said that it was “clear that the people of Israel feel that he’s the real thing, and he sings from his heart, and I’m so happy he won.” Fellow judge Harel Skaat – a former Eurovision contestant – said that Marimi “proved tonight he is the most unique contestant we could send to the Eurovision.”
Next month, KAN will select the song for Marimi to perform at the Eurovision in May. The public broadcaster has appealed to Israeli songwriters to send in their original submissions by this Sunday. In his dozen appearances on the show, Marimi only performed in English. The last four songs Israel has sent to the Eurovision have all been entirely in English.
Since Israel is hosting the competition this year, Marimi is guaranteed a spot in the Eurovision grand finale without participating in the semi-final round.
Marimi was a fan favorite from the beginning, with a unique style, a Freddie Mercury-esque mustache and a deep, booming and distinctive voice. His performances of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, “Sweet Dreams” by Beyonce and “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman left lasting impressions on the judges and audience. When he was shockingly ousted a few weeks ago, the producers of the show knew that they had to give him a second chance.
Last year’s winner Netta Barzilai also marked Marimi as her favorite early on in the competition, saying that he was quirky and different just like herself.
Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev congratulated Marimi on his win late on Tuesday.
“Congratulations to Kobi Marimi who impressed and moved an entire nation with his unique voice,” Regev said. “He proved that willpower and faith are stronger than anything, and after he was already ousted, he returned to the show and won... 40 years ago we won the Eurovision twice in a row, and with Kobi we can do it again.”
Shortly after he was announced the winner, the Tel Aviv Municipality building flashed the message “Good luck Kobi” in bright lights.
The celebratory finale of Hakochav Haba, which was watched by more than 30% of the public – included a performance by Eurovision champion Netta Barzilai of her new song, “Bassa Sababa.” Judges Static and Ben El Tavori were also joined by fellow singers Eden Ben Zaken and Stephane Legar to perform their latest hit “Yasso.” On Tuesday, members of the audience included The Shalva Band, who were fan favorites until they pulled out last week due to the Eurovision requirement to work on Shabbat.