Eurovision 2012: Israel Time Izabo

Izabo were selected by Israeli TV IBA to represent the country in Eurovision this year and will be offering up their song Time in search of votes.

The song – Time – is deceptively infectious and isn’t as impenetrable as the spiky, dissonant strings might lead the listener to believe at the top of the song. The chorus has a simple and catchy riff to it, underpinned with an electic mix of electric guitars, strings and a rhythm track. It’s stark and edgy feel is displaced by a surprisingly perky and engaging chorus. It’s in no way a winner. But it’s success will depend largely on whether it can maintain an edgy air of mystery without falling into the trap of looking like a second-rate pantomime what with the circus performers they’ve used in the preview video.

Israel has won the Eurovision three times, first in 1977 with Abanibi, 1979 with Hallelujah and in 1998 when Dana International sang Diva.

Their best placing in the past ten years was in 2004 when Shiri Maymon came fourth with the song Hasheket Shenish’ar. Dana International’s return to the Eurovision stage in 2011 failed to win the country a place in the final.