I.M (song)

“I.M.” was written by Lidor Saadia, Chen Aharoni and Assi Tal, and performed by Michael Ben David.[1] The song won Israel’s X Factor final, making Ben David the country’s representative at Eurovision 2022 in Turin.[1]

Its lyrics and performance presented self-affirmation as the song’s central theme. Ben David described it as being about celebrating yourself and taking pride in who you are.[4]

Ben David performed “I.M.” in the final of the Israeli television competition “X Factor for Eurovision.” The four finalists’ songs had been narrowed down from eight, and the selection combined votes from viewers, a professional committee and judges.[5]

Ben David won with 214 points, one ahead of Eli Huli, who received 213; Inbal Bibi placed third with 173. The voting formula assigned 50% of the result to viewers and 25% each to a professional committee and judges. Viewers gave Ben David 118 points, while both the judges and the professional committee gave Huli more points than Ben David.[1]

Ben David said, “People voted for me and that means they accept me for who I am.”[5] He also described winning a contest in which his voice was celebrated as “a tikkun,” or corrective experience, after recounting that he had been bullied for his high voice and for being gay.[5]

“I.M.” was characterized as an LGBTQ-affirming call for self-acceptance. Its lyrics urge listeners to keep their heads up and remember who they are.[6] Ben David connected the message to being bullied for his high voice and, in high school, for being gay.[5][2]

The song’s official video accompanied a revised arrangement released on March 14, 2022. The video featured dancers, elaborate costumes and changing outfits; Assi Tal arranged the new version, Sam Lassner, also known as Prince Fox, produced it, and Ben Bachar directed the video.[7][8]

Ben David said he was concentrating on the live performance, video and arrangement rather than betting odds. He described appearing at Eurovision as both an experience and a responsibility to Israel, and said the work of the Israeli creators remained in the song.[8]

Ben David performed “I.M.” in the second semifinal on May 12, 2022. Afterward, he told the audience, “Love yourselves, be proud of who you are.” Israel did not finish among the ten acts advancing to the final.[9]

The result ended Israel’s run of six consecutive qualifications for the Eurovision final.[2][9] Ben David said the delegation had given its all and delivered its best performance.[9]

The song’s selection and staging brought its message of self-acceptance to an international contest, although its Eurovision run ended in the semifinal.[1][9]

Reactions to the selection were divided: some commentators praised Ben David’s performance and the song’s appeal, while others questioned the choice or called the song unoriginal. These were differing opinions about the song, rather than a factual dispute.[5]

A separate disagreement concerned the revised Eurovision arrangement. Co-writer Chen Aharoni said that he and the other creators were not involved in the decision to use it, learned of the change on the day of the video shoot, and that the final version was not one he would have produced.[3] Kan said the arrangement was made for an international version and described the creators as integral to the professional team. The same report said the creators were not part of the delegation traveling to Turin; Kan attributed the delegation’s limited size to COVID-related restrictions set by Eurovision organizers and said tickets to the shows had been offered to the creators.[3]