Eden Golan
Early life
Eden Golan was born in Kfar Saba, Israel. Both her parents were born in the Soviet Union to families of Jewish heritage. Golan's mother is of Ukrainian-Jewish descent and her father is of Latvian-Jewish descent. Her grandfather, Yuri Golan (formerly Glagolev), graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University and worked for the newspaper Soviet Youth. She is a niece of pianist Dorel Golan.
When Golan was six years old, she and her parents moved to Russia, due to her father's work, and lived in Moscow. The family remained in Russia for 12 years. According to Golan, she has mixed feelings about her time living in Russia, and that while she started her music career there, she was also uncomfortable due to frequent manifestations of antisemitism. Golan and her parents moved back to Israel in 2022; the immediate cause of the move was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but according to Golan, her family would have done so regardless.
Career
In 2015, Golan took part in the Russian selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015. She finished fifth in the final, scoring 22 points, eight fewer than the eventual winner Mikhail Smirnov. In 2016, when Eden was 12 years old, she performed in the children's edition of the New Wave competition, including performing her song "Howl at the Moon" in a duet with Nyusha. In 2018, Golan was a finalist in the fifth season of the show The Voice Kids, representing Pelageya's team. She collaborated with Yinon Yahel. After her return to Israel, in 2022, Golan participated in the season 2 finale of Ro'im et Hakol and was eliminated in the first round.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Eden_Golan_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024_Final_dress_rehearsal_01a.jpg/220px-Eden_Golan_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024_Final_dress_rehearsal_01a.jpg)
In preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation decided to return to selecting the country's representative for the competition through cooperation with the Keshet 12 channel and the talent show Rising Star. Golan won all stages of the show, performing Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for the final. She ultimately won both the jury and public vote, becoming the Israeli representative for the contest. Her entry for the contest, "Hurricane", was selected at a later stage. Her song qualified for the final on 11 May and finished in fifth place overall and in second place based on the public vote.
Discography
Singles
- "Schastye" (2015)
- "Ghost Town" (2022)
- "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2022)
- "Taxi" (2023)
- "Dopamine" (2023)
- "Hurricane" (2024)
Notes
- ^ Golan has been described as Russian-Israeli by some news outlets. However, she was born in Israel, does not consider herself Russian, and does not hold Russian citizenship.
References
- ^ "Вернулась из Москвы и будет представлять Израиль на Евровидении: знакомьтесь – Эден Голан". 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Eurovision 2024: Israel agrees to change lyrics to its controversial entry 'October Rain'". Euronews. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Israel to Revise Eurovision Entries Said to Allude to Hamas Attack". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Sechnik, Raz (2 May 2024). "עדן גולן: "אני מתכוונת לעורר מודעות לחטופים בכל ריאיון במאלמו"" [Eden Golan: "I intend to spread awareness about the hostages in every interview in Malmö"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Yehuda, Hila (2 February 2024). ""מרגישה שאני צריכה להוכיח את הישראליות שלי, אבל אין מה להוכיח. אני הכי ישראלית שיש"" [Eden Golan replies to critics and online hate: "I'm as Israeli as they come"]. Mako (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Israel's Eurovision entry takes 5th place, and 12 points from the UK". The Jewish Chronicle. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "She performed in the occupied Crimea, lived in Russia: who is Eden Golan, who will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest, and what connects her to Ukraine". Obozrevatel. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Юрий Глаголев – «Дочь проведет концерт в поддержку Марка Дубовского» #kultura1kB". rus.lsm.lv (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Корни из Латвии и карьера в РФ: участница от Израиля на "Евровидении" Эден Голан". Лица (in Russian). 13 February 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Zax, Talya (7 May 2024). "Eden Golan's impossible mission — conquer Eurovision and redefine Israel's image". The Forward. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
She has spoken openly about experiencing widespread antisemitism in Russia, including from classmates who refused to call her by her Hebrew name.
- ^ "Eden Golan chosen to represent Israel in Eurovision". The Jerusalem Post. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
Eden Golan, whose family moved from Israel to Russia when she was six and moved back here two years ago, already has a professional career abroad.
- ^ "Эден Голан. Команда Пелагеи" (in Russian). Channel One Russia. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "עדן גולן בראיון: "אני רוצה לייצג את המדינה שלי בגאווה"". EuroMix (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "הכוכב הבא-פרק 20: עדן גולן נבחרה שוב לביצוע הטוב ביותר" (in Hebrew). EuroMix. 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Zaikaner, Avi (6 February 2024). "עדן גולן תייצג את ישראל באירוויזיון 2024" [Eden Golan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024]. EuroMix (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Eden Golan chosen to represent Israel in Eurovision". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Spiro, Amy (11 March 2024). "Capping weeks of uncertainty, Israel unveils its 2024 Eurovision song: 'Hurricane'". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "Eurovision 2024: Israel's Eden Golan makes it through to grand final with Hurricane after protests". Sky News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
External links
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