Israel’s Star performer makes it to Eurovision final
Singing ‘Made of Stars,’ Hovi Star secures Israeli spot in May 14 sing-off
Israel on Thursday night secured a spot in the Grand Final of the Eurovision song contest for the second consecutive year, thanks to the talents of entrant Hovi Star, singing “Made of Stars.”
Star, whose real name is Hovev Sekulets, was one of 10 contestants who made it through to Saturday’s final in Stockholm.
“I have no idea where I am right now, what is going on. We have made a lot of friends here, I met so many amazing people. I cannot believe that right now I am sitting next to Sanja now, my best friend in Eurovision,” Star said at a post-semi final press conference, referring to Serbian entrant Sanja Vučić.
“I wrote on social media today that I would love to qualify for the second time in a row, to give it as a gift to my country Israel on our Independence Day.”
Happy b-dayIsrael
hope I can giveyou a great gift tonight
and get us to the#eurovision2016 Final
Photobysivanyoung pic.twitter.com/Wo6CiG6Bos— Hovi Star (@MrHoviStar) May 12, 2016
In a message to other young people who also see themselves as an outsider, Star said: “I would just say: When I was a kid, it was painful for me to just go to school. But I stayed true to myself, to who I am. And this is the most important thing. The message of my song is equality. Everyone is Made of Stars.”
Star will now be competing against his Paris-born countryman Amir Haddad, who will be performing the French entry.
The Israeli entrant will be the seventh singer to perform on Saturday night, while Haddad is listed as 11th in the official running order for the final.
The Times of Israel Community.