Israel on Sunday unveiled it’s new Eurovision song тιтled ‘Hurricane’ after the original ballad October Rain was dubbed ‘too political’.

The song, which is to be performed on stage in Malmo, Sweden, in May by Eden Golan, is about a woman experiencing a personal crisis, but reportedly keeps some of the lyrics from October Rain.

Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 revealed the song, which has been created by Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon and Stav Beger. 

‘Look into my eyes and see, people look away but never say goodbye,’ sings the 20-year-old Russian-Israeli in Hurricane. 

‘Every day I’m losing my mind, holding on in this mysterious ride, dancing in the storm, II’ve got nothing to hide.

‘Take it all and leave the world behind, baby promise me you’ll hold me again, I’m still broken from this hurricane.’

Israel’s new Eurovision song ‘Hurricane’ was revealed on Sunday and is set to be sung by Eden Golan, 20, in May

Israel faced disqualification if they did not change the lyrics to their orignal song October Rain 

The new song has mainly English lyrics, except for a few lines in Hebrew at the end which translate to: ‘We don’t need grandiose words, just prayers, even though it’s hard to see, you always leave a small light for me.’

Speaking to Times of Israel following the reveal of Hurricane, Golan said: ‘I ended up [competing] in a not simple year. 

‘But on the other hand, I even more so want to represent the country this year, because of its meaning — it has a totally different significance. 

‘And we can bring everything we’re feeling, and everything the country is going through, in those three minutes. To speak through the song to the world.’ 

As part of the grand reveal, Kan also aired a documentary exploring ‘the complexity of Israeli representation on the Eurovision stage throughout the years.’ 

TV writer Hen Avigdori whose wife and daughter were kidnapped on October 7 and later released from Gaza, said: ‘I think it’s super important that there should be an Israeli delegation and an Israeli song at the Eurovision.

‘We have to keep going and keep doing, and that doing is also music and showing it to the whole world.’

Golan’s original track caused controversy as the lyrics were thought to reference the Hamas attacks of October 7.

Golan performing October Rain which included lines such as ‘there’s no air left to breathe’ and ‘they were all good children, each one of them’

According to lyrics leaked to the media, and later confirmed by Kan, October Rain included lines such as ‘There’s no air left to breathe’ and ‘They were all good children, each one of them’.

These were seen as allusing to those who were trapped inside shelters as Hamas gunmen unleashed their bloody terror at the Supernova music festival which sparked the war in Gaza.

The song also made references to ‘flowers’ which is sometimes used as military code for war fatalities, according to Israel Hayom newspaper.

Israel had until today to change the lyrics and submit a song that complies with the rules of the international song contest.

As a non-political event, Eurovision can disqualify contestants deemed to have breached its strict impartiality rules. 

All songs submitted are checked by the EBU before the compeтιтion to ensure they comply with the rules. 

Musicians from other Eurovision countries have called for Israel to be suspended over the war in Gaza.

These include artists in Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, with several pointing out that Russia has been disqualified since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

So far, Eurovision organisers have resisted those calls, arguing that the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different.

Eurovision has previously blocked addresses which they fear could politicise the event. 

In 2022, Russia was banned from competing in the song contest after its invasion of Ukraine.

The country’s national broadcasters subsequently suspended their memberships of the EBU in protest, preventing them from taking part in future contests.

Last year, Israel was represented by Israeli singer Noa Kirel who performed her song Unicorn which placed third.

The UK will be represented by Years & Years singer Olly Alexander at Eurovision this year.

The Years & Years singer will perform his new dance-infused single Dizzy, which some critics have said may be ‘enough to get the judges’ heads spinning’.