I may be late to the Eden Alene party, but my, oh, my, I’m glad to be here. Katamon-born to Ethiopian parents, she rose to stardom on “The X Factor: Israel” and is about to take the stage for the Eurovision Song Contest finals this weekend in Rotterdam with “Set Me Free,” a song that isn’t just a legit smash, it’s a straight-up banger.
If this was released in the U.S. it would be blasting on the PCH (or Route 6 on the Cape) all summer. It’s a three-minute joyride of catchy beats, channeling Dua Lipa and Ashanti with some Middle Eastern flavor, plus a smattering of Hebrew slang and a little attitude. It’s not just good, it’s joyful.
I’ll pause right here while you watch the video. Scroll down when you’re done. Come for the catchy pop but stay for the highest note in Eurovision history…the B6 whistle note at the end. I’ll see you in a bit.
Okay, now you get it.
And here’s a little help with the translation (there is room for interpretation, but here’s how I see it):
Khalas al hashiga’on = enough of this nonsense
Yalla Balaganim = great, let’s do it
Everything is chik-chak = everything is quick and easy
In a year that has been more or less…can we say awful?… and in a month where the news out of Israel is even more depressing, I’m all in on this song. And while I’m no Eurovision expert, I did sample some of the other finalists, and although I’m biased, this is the best of the bunch.
So, let’s go, Eden. Yalla balaganim.
The Eurovision final will be streamed live on Peacock on Saturday, May 22, at 3 p.m.
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