ISRAEL

The Israeli entry was revealed on March 12th during a special presentation show on IBA's Channel 1 although their singer had been previously selected in the February. The entry "Golden Boy" will be sung by Nadav Guedj.

In a change to it's recent internal artist selection processes or use of the Kdam national final, it was decided that the winner of the second season of Hakochav Haba (The Next Star) would be given the ticket to Vienna. The song would then be selected at a later date, possibly to suit the winning act.

At the start, it sounds like the song is going to be another warbling ballad. It then turns into something more like a modern r'n'b number. Until the chorus where it turns into a complete mess where it sounds more like a failed Tarkan number. I think that they have over-compensated to make the song have an Israeli/Middle Eeastern feel as it is the first Israeli entry not have had any lyrics in Hebrew. It's almost like the person who wrote the verses and the person who wrote the chorus didn't communicate with each other until they stick the two parts together. This all said and done, it has a really good feel and edge about it and sounds like a real summer anthem.

For 16 year old Nadav, this has been a pretty quick rise to fame. Aart from his work on "The Next Star" not very much is known about the French born singer. Having researched his appearances on the television he seems to have a very nice singing voice - ironically one that seems to suit ballads better than up-tempo numbers. He has shown a great deal of versatility even having quite a good stab at Celine Dion's "Ne partez pas sans moi".

Being a video clip it gives us an idea of the kind of energy they might put in onto the Eurovision stage. I expect it will involved quite a lot of dancers, although I don't particularly like the routine that they do in the video. I could also expect some kind of holiday/sun theme on the back drop as this would link the songs title AND the fact it sounds like a summery song. My main issue is with how Nadav is dressed. I was stunned to discover he was so young as the presentation made him look like he was nearer 30. They need to get him into something a bit more fun and young and out of the suit!

I will admit that after a couple of listens I was not very impressed but over time it has grown on me. I still stand by my reaction that the verses and choruses don't sit together well. This said it seems to be that the verses and choruses appeal to different people and therefore actually increases its range and scope for getting votes. Looking at its draw in semi 2 it feels like this should be an easy shoo-in especially as only 3/9 songs in the second half are not ballads. However, if most of the uptempo numbers make the final it might start feeling overpowered and so I predict it will qualify easily but come between 15-20th in the final.

ARTIST - Nadav Guedj

SONG - Golden Boy

MUSIC - Doron Madali

LYRICS - Doron Madali