Ben David to rep Israel in 2022
X-Factor winner, Michael Ben David will represent Israel at Eurovision.
SINGER Michael Ben David is headed for Italy, having been chosen to represent Israel at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.
Ben David received the nod after winning the finale of X-Factor, beating out three other singers to secure a spot in Turin.
He won the show with the song “I.M.” which he will also perform at Eurovision in May. The song was written by Lidor Saadia, Chen Aharoni and Assi Tal.
“I’m a little shocked,” Ben David, 25, told the Kan public broadcaster. “People voted for me and that means they accept me for who I am. This isn’t only for me. This is for so many people who feel worthless and useless.”
While on X-Factor, Ben David spoke openly “about the difficulties he faced as a child, from being bullied at school for singing in a high-pitched voice, to the trouble that his mother initially had accepting him when he came out as gay,” according to the Eurovision website.
“Michael has noted that this has contributed to him finding a lot of inner strength in himself,” the website said.
Israel was represented at last year’s Eurovision by Eden Alene, who finished 17th overall.
In 2018, singer Netta Barzilai became Israel’s fourth Eurovision winner when taking the crown in Lisbon, Portugal, with her song “Toy”. The song competition was held in Israel the following year.
WITH TIMES OF ISRAEL
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