Golden Boy (Nadav Guedj Song)

"Golden Boy" was revealed on March 12, 2015, as Israel's official entry for the Eurovision Song Contest held that year in Vienna.[1] The song was written and composed by Doron Medalie, with lyrics performed entirely in English.[1]

Medalie later described the song's conception as a deliberate effort to create what he called "the first Mizrahi song in English."[2] He said he had noticed Guedj's affinity for Mediterranean-style music after watching him perform a duet with singer Omer Adam on the Israeli reality competition The Next Star, and drew inspiration from qualities he associated with successful earlier Israeli Eurovision entries — color, energetic performers, danceable choreography, Israeli spirit, and a memorable central phrase.[2] Medalie's account frames "Golden Boy" as a conscious synthesis of those elements.

When the song was unveiled, Guedj described it as a catchy mixture of styles and said he was proud to represent Israel.[1] He acknowledged he was not approaching the contest with a winner-takes-all attitude, saying he would give it his all regardless of outcome.[1] In a later interview, Guedj recalled that the song's Mizrahi elements initially made him anxious — it was his first song, and he worried it might permanently define his musical direction — but that he gradually came to embrace it, saying: "Over time I got used to singing it… In the end, I loved it."[3]

Nadav Guedj came to national attention by winning the second season of The Next Star, a victory that selected him to represent Israel at Eurovision.[1] He was 16 at the 2015 contest, where he made his Eurovision debut.[1]

Guedj performed "Golden Boy" in the second Eurovision semifinal in Vienna on May 21, 2015.[4] Before his appearance, Israel had failed to qualify for the final four consecutive times, a streak that made qualification anything but guaranteed.[4] His performance was described as energetic and upbeat, featuring pyrotechnics, three dancers, and two backing singers, with the stage presentation likened to a party.[5] When Israel's name was finally announced as a qualifier — with one spot still open — Medalie recalled that the Vienna audience shouted "Israel," and that when the announcement came, "we flew to the sky."[2] Guedj himself said he had feared the late announcement meant qualification would not happen.[4]

In the Eurovision final, Guedj finished ninth among 27 competing countries with 97 points.[6][4] Italy awarded Israel its highest score from any single participating country at eight points, followed by Azerbaijan with seven and Serbia with six.[6] Israel did not receive a maximum "douze points" award from any country.[6]

The Israeli delegation called the result an "amazing achievement."[7] The final appearance ended four consecutive failed attempts to qualify.[4] A retrospective account later noted that the finish returned Israel to the top ten and preceded a broader shift in the country's Eurovision fortunes, even as the song did not win.[8] After returning home, Guedj acknowledged the contest had been a remarkable experience before turning his attention back to more immediate concerns — specifically, studying for an upcoming Bible matriculation exam.[9]

The song's visibility extended well beyond the contest itself. In July 2015, Israeli tourists visiting a village on Mount Olympus in Greece were recognized by local girls of about 12, who identified them as being from Tel Aviv and declared themselves fans of "Golden Boy."[10] The girls had reportedly learned the song's words and choreography from a classmate the day after Eurovision and had been singing it ever since.[10] When Guedj heard about the tribute, he sent them a personal selfie video.[10]

A more striking moment unfolded at a press conference in Vienna during the contest, when a 24-year-old Lebanese fan named Ahmed told Guedj that a 16-year-old might have the power to help build a bridge to peace between Israel and Lebanon.[11] Medalie responded by inviting Ahmed onto the stage, where Guedj embraced him.[11] Ahmed also praised the song directly, adding his personal view that Eurovision audiences sometimes voted according to a country's geopolitical standing rather than purely on musical merit — a sentiment the report attributed to him as his own opinion.[11]

Another episode involved five soldiers from an Israel Defense Forces paratroopers engineering battalion who filmed themselves dancing in formation to "Golden Boy" in the West Bank — known by its original, indigenous Jewish name of Judea and Samaria — while wearing armored vests and carrying weapons.[12] The video was uploaded to Facebook during an operational activity and received thousands of shares and likes.[12] Their commander sentenced them to 21 days confined to base; an IDF source clarified that the punishment concerned the operational circumstances and the unauthorized use of a mobile phone, not the content of the video itself.[12] Guedj responded to the episode warmly, writing: "I know that of course they should not have done it, but it is made us so happy in Austria to see them dancing and happy. So guys, as you sit in detention, I will send you the 'Golden Boy' shirts, so you can dance as civilians."[12] The video's final moments captured the song's line "Let me show you Tel Aviv," after which the soldier holding the camera turned to it and jokingly asked, "what Tel Aviv?" — followed by an expletive — before the footage ended.[12]

"Golden Boy" occupies a meaningful place in Israel's Eurovision history primarily because of the drought it ended. Before the 2015 contest, Israel had not reached the Eurovision final since 2010, having missed qualification in four consecutive contests.[4] Its qualification and subsequent top-ten finish returned Israel to the top ten and, according to later retrospective coverage, preceded a broader improvement in the country's Eurovision trajectory.[8]

The song combined Mediterranean touches, polished English-language pop and a Eurovision-ready mix of color, choreography, energy and a memorable central phrase.[8][2] Its reach beyond the contest was reflected in Greek schoolgirls learning its words and dance moves[10] and in the widely shared video of IDF soldiers dancing to it during operational activity.[12]