Every year our “Expert” Panel comes together to judge all entries for the Eurovision Song Contest and they’re back to take apart the 2013 entries and rank them accordingly. While their characters and comments may be wacky, the scores are dead serious. All 13 panelists will comment on the song and rank them accordingly giving it points using a scale from five to zero. At the end you’ll also get to cast your vote in the poll. If you would learn more about the panelists and to discuss the show, join us on our Forum HERE

Let’s have a look at the current scoreboard:

Moran Mazor won the National Final and is going to represent Israel in Malmo with the song “Rak bishvilo”. What did the panel have to say about this ballad?

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It’s the type of ballad that the people of Israel wanted, but is it the type of ballad they need? Without doubt. Dramatic ballads are very difficult to get right, but this starts of with atmospheric piano play, and promises much. It slowly builds up until exploding in the final minute with fantastic drum use. Despite how good the music is, even that is eclipsed by her extraordinary voice, which practically bleeds emotion in every sentence. This will do very well at ESC, without threatening victory due to being a little too intense for some of the televoters. Awesome song.

Now, now, this is a good ballad, and performed in a Hebrew surely gives it an exotic touch. She should work on her styling. I suggest using more dark robes that will fly with a wind machine. It will look powerful…. just like me. This will hopefully be jury’s favourite in the second semi final and as such it should sail to the finals. I expect a great performance in May.

Israel.. a country of quality, a country of transexuwalis, a country of a good music. Once again Israel impresses. I don’t know how they managed to get Nana Mouskouri to sing the song for them but they have and it very, very impressant to listen to. Nana’s voice glides over this melancholy ballad. It is strong and one of the finer ballad’s this year. It is no “Suus” however.. and since “Suus” I want more from my sad songs. I wanna feeeeel the tear streament down a my faaaace.

Israel have returned from the madness of the Izabo show and trashy camp ding-dong bells to give us their Eurovision trademark, the despairing ballad. And what a ballad it is, it’s like a delicious Motze ball! Not a winner, but not a loser!

A classic strong ballad is representing Israel this year. A potential winner of the upcoming contest. Great vocals of the singer makes the song to sound very powerful and classic. The only thing I dislike about the performance is an appearance of Moran. Her hairstyle, old-fashioned glasses and a dress make her look like a diva of early 80th. If stylist works on her image, I suppose she will look like amazing with a great song

A real ballad that really touches me. Quite typical Israeli entry that really sounds like a plea. The singer is very competent and make the song even more touching. This is among may favorites by far, I hope it does go well in spring.

Israel always sends such beautiful ballads for Eurovision that I have to give them some extra stardust for luck. It’s too bad the lady who sings resemblance so much with The Ugly Betty and not Shiri Maimon.

Wau. Wau. Wau. Her voice is magical. It cradles your soul, curing it all of its problems. She just solved my drug dependence problems with her singing. Her song is the detox that I need. I have moved on from my dark past into my questionable future. Thank you Moran for your life changing ballad.

It is a so-so song bang right in the middle!

Whoa! Have you seen the pair on her a minute?! And I ain’ttalking about the glasses. She can certainly sing – the windows have almostbroken! I have no idea what she’s singing about but it’s something passionatebecause she’s singing her little (or should I say big?) heart out! It isn’treally anything special but this ballad does pack a punch and so do her bosoms!Israel love to send these lyrical songs, it wouldn’t be bad if everyone couldunderstand the language.

Good enough, decent song. But nothing amazing that stands out either, except the fact that it’s in Hebrew. Just that, I don’t have anything else to say about this song…

Pretty arrangement and the song keeps me mildly entertained. Pretty voice so I enjoyed it for what it was., it just dind’t really catch my attention and I easly get distracted….oh look a squirrel.

Eau: Today I’ve started using a old word that I haven’t used for a long time. The word is “Ho-hum”. It was after I listened to Israels Eurovision song that I thought: there must be a word that perfectly describes how I feel about Israels song…
Liz: Oh, that song. I don’t have a clue what on earth that song is about.
Eau: Hmm yes. Usually you don’t need to know the translation of the foreign language… (to be continued)