After rejecting Israel's first song pick for the Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) also rejected its alternate entry, entitled Dance Forever, Foreign Ministry officials told Ynet on Wednesday.
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Following Ynet's report of EBU's plan to disqualify October Rain for being "too political", and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation's refusal to alter the song's lyrics or melody, many parties have been actively seeking a resolution to the deadlock.
Dance Forever, which references the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival where terrorists killed 364 revelers and festival workers, abducting dozens more to Gaza, appears to have been rejected for the same reason.
President Isaac Herzog said that he was trying to assist in any way that he could to ensure that Israel remains in the contest, as is the Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Israel Katz also protested the decision, saying, "we are allowed to sing about what we went through," referring to the Hamas massacre on October 7.
The second entry, submitted to the EBU in advance along with October Rain, was written by Israeli contender Eden Golan, alongside composer Ron Biton, musician Yinon Yahel and singer Mai Sepadia.
Israeli officials continue to seek a resolution with the EBU, but sources involved in the discussions say they are "pessimistic" about reaching a favorable outcome.
Here are the lyrics to Dance Forever obtained by Ynet:
Running
City lights
Fighting
My mind
hiding
I don’t know what’s right
Take me
To the right road
There’s no more time and I can’t go wrong
breath in
I know that I’m strong
I break all the chains
I’m on the edge now
Watch me fly away
Oh, dance like an angel
Oh, you will remember
That I will dance forever
I will dance again
Oh, dance like an angel
Drowning
in the sunrise
My heart is so cold
but my soul is on fire
Someone is calling from paradise
Listen
(In Hebrew)
The hope doesn't stop, it just spreads its wings
It is like a million stars that suddenly light up in the sky
(Hebrew ends)
Heart on fire
I’m a fighter
don’t stop the music
turn it up louder
I spread out my wings
flying through the sky
Hear violins
Angels don’t cry
they only sing
Still feel the ground
Beneath my feet
Oh, dance like an angel
Oh, you will remember
That I will dance forever
I will dance again
Oh, dance like an angel
Oh, dance like an angel
Oh, you will remember
That we will dance forever
We will dance again
Oh,
dance like an angel (we will dance forever)