 "Ben Adam" | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1988 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) | Yardena Feinbaum-Arazi |
| As | Yardena Arazi |
| Language | |
| Composer(s) | Boris Dimitshtein |
| Lyricist(s) | Ehud Manor |
| Conductor | Eldad Shrem |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 7th |
| Final points | 85 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Shir Habatlanim" (1987) | |
| "Derekh Hamelekh" (1989) ► | |
"Ben Adam" (Hebrew: בן אדם, English translation: "Human Being", literally "Son of Adam") was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, performed in Hebrew by Yardena Arazi.
The song deals with the ordinariness of humanity, as Arazi sings that "no man is perfect in all virtues" and tells her listeners "don't always judge him for the worse". With this in mind, she exhorts her listeners to "let him dream and give him breath", that is, to treat everyone with dignity. Musically, the song is perhaps best known for its final chorus. Beginning at a slow tempo, the song builds to a fast-paced conclusion.
The song was performed eighth on the night (following the Netherlands' Gerard Joling with "Shangri-La" and preceding Switzerland's entry and winning song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi", sung by Céline Dion). Arazi has always been highly superstitious and consults an astrologer on all matters in her life. The astrologer told her the song performed 9th would win the competition in Dublin, Ireland. Israel had drawn 9th in the running order, so Arazi agreed to represent Israel. However, when Cyprus withdrew from the contest (having been drawn to sing second), Israel's position shifted to 8th. The 9th song did win the competition; with the Swiss triumphing from that starting point.[1] At the close of voting, it had received 85 points, placing 7th in a field of 21.
In 2010, the Israeli artist Yoni Eilat recorded a Yiddish cover of the song, "Der Mentsch" (Yiddish: דער מענטש), for his album "Tzigayner Neshume".
References
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. 'The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History'. Carlton Books 2005. ISBN 978-1844425860