Eurovision 2019: Dana International to open the Grand Final?

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani 2,888 views

With the forthcoming 2019 Eurovision Song Contest approaching and the countdown clock ticking, more and more details regarding the shows are being revealed. The latest speculation to hit the local media is regarding the opening act of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. Will Dana International have the grand honour of opening the show in Tel Aviv?

According to Israeli news site Walla, Dana International will reportedly open the Grand Final with Omer Adam‘s mega hit ‘Tel Aviv‘ also known as ‘Tel Aviv Ya Habibi Tel Aviv‘. Dana will then sing her 1998 Eurovision winning entry  ‘Diva‘.

Tel Aviv’ has been composed by none other than Doron Medalie the man behind the 2018 Eurovision Israeli winning entry  ‘Toy‘. Medalie was also behind the 2015 Israeli entry ‘Golden boy’.

Reportedly the opening sequence of the Grand Final will feature the competing delegations landing at Expo Tel Aviv and descending on the stage at Pavillion 2.

After landing the delegations/artists will be welcomed by Israel’s national ambassador aka Dana International who will be standing on a rised stage and will reportedly open the show with Tel Aviv, Ya Habibi, Tel Aviv along with dozens of dancers.

Later during the show Dana is expected to appear on stage again with Graham Norton (BBC presenter/ ESC commentator).

KAN, the national Israeli broacaster has neither confirmed or denied this reported news and told Walla:

We are pleased with the great interest in the Eurovision Song Contest in general, and in the performances in particular, and the audience in this hall and the KAN spectators  will receive an unprecedented performance in Israel.

According to the same media site Omer Adam was reportedly by host broadcaster KAN to perform in the Grand Final. The singer was honoured with the offer but declined as the rehearsals take place on Sabbath.

Tel Aviv Ya Habibi Tel Aviv was the official Tel Aviv Pride song in 2016

A key role in Eurovision 2019

Dana International will play a key role at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv. She is set to perform in the Semi-finals and Grand Final. She will also welcome us to the Eurovision Song Contest and introduce us to the 2019 ESC host city Tel Aviv.

Dana International in Eurovision

Dana Interntional tried to represent Israel at the 1995 when she competed in the Israeli national final Kdam Eurovision with Layla tov Europa, narrowly missing out to Liora who went to Dublin with Amen.

In 1998 she was selected via an internal selection to represent Israel at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham with her epic entry Diva. Dana walked away with the coveted Eurovision trophy after a nail biting voting sequence.

Official music video of ‘Diva’

In 2011 Dana decided to return to Europe’s favorite television show, competing in Kdam Eurovision with Ding Dong. She won the golden ticket to Dusseldorf, despite an energetic peformance she failed to qualify to the Grand Final.

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place on 14, 10 and 18 May at the Expo Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel.