All entries in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest are known, but the actual contest is still three weeks away. As a warm-up, we introduce one of the entries every day in random order. Part thirty-five is dedicated to the entry from Israel.

Basic information

Performers:	Noa & Mira Awad (×�×�×�××�×¢×� ××�××� ×�×�×�ר×� ×¢×�×�×�×�)
Song:	There must be another way
Language:	English, Hebrew, Arabic
Music:	Achinoam Nini, Mira Awad, GilDor (×�×�×� ×�×�ר, ×�×�×�××�×¢×� ××�××�, ×�×�ר×� ×�××�×�ר ×¢×�×�×�×�)
Lyrics:	Achinoam Nini, Mira Awad, GilDor (×�×�×� ×�×�ר, ×�×�×�××�×¢×� ××�××�, ×�×�ר×� ×�××�×�ר ×¢×�×�×�×�)
Draw:	10th in the first semi final

The song

There must be another way is a ballad performed in three languages, English, Hebrew and Arabic. The lyrics are a message of peace expressing the hope that there must be another way than war and suffering:

There must be another Must be another way ×�ר×� ×�ר×�×�×� ××¢×�×�ר // We willfollowa long ×�ר×� ×�×� קש×� // A really hard way ×�×�×� ×�×� ×�×�×�ר // Together into the light عÙ�Ù�Ù�Ù� بتÙ�Ù�Ù� // Your eyes tell that Ù�Ù� اÙ�Ø®Ù�Ù� Ù�زÙ�Ù� // All fears will disappear

The singers

Noa, whose real name is Achinoam Nini, was born in Tel Aviv to parents with Yemeni roots but she grew up in the United States before moving back to Israel at the age of 17. She later attended a music school, where she met Gil Dor with whom she has been working since. Over the years, she has develop to become one of the most successful live and recording artists of Israel having performed at famous venues all over the world. She is also very well known for her work on film soundtracks as she has worked on the music for pictures such as Goldeneye,Joan of Arc and Life is beautiful. She also sang the part of Esmeralda in the French version of the Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame and its album sold to triple platinum.

Mira Awad was born in Rameh to a Bulgarian mother and an Arab father. Like Noa, she graduated from the Rimon music school in Ramat HaSharon. Currently, she is famous not only as a singer, but also as an actress in films, TV seriesand stage productions. Among others, she starred in the sitcom Arab Labor and in the 2006 Eytan Fox film The bubble. In 2004, she took part in the Israeli national final for the Eurovision Song Contest but finished 14th and hence last with Znam. At the moment, she is workingon her debut album.

Noa & Mira awad joined forces for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, but it is not the first time they worked together. Previously, MiraAwad had already appeared on Noa's 2002 album Now covering the Beatles' classic We can work it out. They were chosen internally to represent Israel in Moscow and they also wrote all four entries in the national song selection along with Gil Dor.

The national selection

Israel followed the idea of last year's national selection with an internal performer selection and a public song selection. Noa & Mira Awad performed four songs in the national final and the winning song was chosen by juries and televoting. While Do you wanna dance with me was the favourite with the televoters, There must be another way won the overall selection.

Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest

Israel joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 and had a successful debut finishing fourth. The country did not have to wait very long for its first victory either, as that came in 1978. A second victory followed the year after on homeground and another time in 1998. Despite some low placings in the 2000s, Israel well in 2005 and 2008 finishing fourth and ninth respectively.

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Videos

Performance in the national final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BIsD1P0I9A

Official preview video:

Noa with Bo'ey kalah:

Mira Awad – Zman (Israeli national final 2005):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAc5o6Kce-4

Noa & Mira – We can work it out (2002):

Other parts of this series

1. France
2. Portugal
3. Romania
4. Denmark
5. Netherlands
6. Cyprus
7. Latvia
8. Ireland
9. Malta
10. Armenia
11. Germany
12. Serbia
13. Belgium
14. Greece
15. Croatia
16. Poland
17. Czech Republic
18. Iceland
19. Moldova
20. Switzerland
21. Slovenia
22. Andorra
23. Ukraine
24. Spain
25. Sweden
26. Montenegro
27. Finland
28. Lithuania
29. Russia
30. Turkey
31. Azerbaijan
32. Bulgaria
33. Belarus
34. Norway

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Slovak entry.

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