Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Eurovision is an annual singing competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union, dating to 1956, with performers selected nationally by participating countries' public broadcasting services.[5] Israel's broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, was a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and Israel had participated in the contest since 1973.[6] From 1978, the Israel Broadcasting Authority selected the winner of the Israel Song Festival — a national preliminary competition — to represent the country at Eurovision.[7]

By 1985, Israel had an impressive track record at the contest. Cohen and his group Alef-Bet had won in 1978 with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi"; Israel won again in 1979, when it hosted the contest, with "Halleluya," sung by Gali Atari and Halav Udevash. The country placed second in both 1982, with Avi Toledano, and 1983, with Ofira Haza, before sitting out the 1984 contest.[2] Israel had also declined to participate in 1980 because the competition fell on Yom HaZikaron.[6]

The creation of "Olé Olé" began with composer Kobi Oshrat, who gave lyricist Hamutal Ben-Ze'ev a melody based on a children's song about a dog named "Whisky." He asked her to write new words for a children's song intended for the Festigal children's festival.[3] Cohen's manager, Shlomo Tzach, heard the song and believed it was better suited to the Israeli Eurovision selection contest. Tzach asked for an internationally recognisable opening word, and his secretary, Ruhale, suggested "Olé Olé." Ben-Ze'ev and Oshrat revised the chorus, and the song was submitted to the selection contest.[3]

Cohen recalled that he asked producer Miki Peled to release the song from the Festigal project so that he could use it for Eurovision.[8] He described the entry as personally significant, saying it helped him cope with severe anxiety and "close the circle" after a major crisis that followed his 1978 victory. The song was included on his second album, "ההבטחה" ("The Promise"), released in 1985.[8]

The National Library of Israel's score catalog preserves the chorus phrase "עולה עולה השיר ביחד כשהשמחה בלב פורחת" — "Olé Olé, the song rises together as joy blossoms in the heart."[9]

The 1985 national selection was fiercely competitive. Cohen's entry faced "Kmo Tzoyni" (כמו צועני), performed by the trio of the same name, and "Od Nagi'a" (עוד נגיע), performed by Yardena Arazi.[1] The Kmo Tzo'anim trio had been widely expected to win but lost to Cohen by a single point.[10] Cohen, accompanied by backing dancers, ultimately prevailed.[3]

The runner-up trio responded to its narrow defeat by composing "Anachnu Nisharim Ba'aretz" ("We're Staying in Israel"). The song became a hit and was later described as more popular than "Kmo Tzoyni."[11][10]

The 1985 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Gothenburg, Sweden.[1] Cohen performed with Alef-Bet, appearing 11th among 19 acts.[2] A contemporary Jerusalem Post preview described "Olé Olé" as one of the contest favourites, alongside entries from Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and France. It projected an audience of more than 400 million viewers and reported that Israel Television would broadcast the event live.[2]

Later described as one of Israel's happiest Eurovision entries, the performance featured booming timpani at the ends of the verses and infectious clapping in the chorus.[1][12] Adam, who later became one of Israel's biggest pop stars of the late 1980s, was among the performers appearing with Cohen.[1][3]

Cohen later recalled that pre-contest Eurovision betting predictions had him leading and that people in Europe were congratulating him in advance.[8] Despite those expectations, "Olé Olé" finished fifth. Norway's Bobbysocks won with "La det swinge."[5] Cohen also recalled numerous technical failures during the performance, while stressing that he could not determine whether they were intentional.[8]

Although "Olé Olé" did not bring Israel a third Eurovision victory, Cohen said that after returning home he learned the song had become a cult hit across Europe despite its fifth-place finish. Decades later, people continued sending him recordings of very young children singing it, and he described it as a song that "crosses generations."[8]

The performance also became associated with Adam's emergence as a major Israeli pop singer.[1][3] Retrospectives have continued to include "Olé Olé" among Israel's notable Eurovision appearances, emphasising its upbeat arrangement, enduring popularity, and status as a memorable near miss.[1][4]

Contemporary and later accounts place different emphases on the entry. The Jerusalem Post's May 3, 1985 preview framed Cohen as attempting to become the first performer to win Eurovision twice and identified "Olé Olé" as one of that year's favourites.[2] Decades later, Ynet presented the combination of Cohen and Oshrat as a "winning combination. Well, almost winning," treating the fifth-place result as a near miss rather than a failure.[1]

The Jerusalem Post has also offered a cultural interpretation of the song, reading its title — translated as "going up" — and its journey imagery as a reference to Jewish immigration to Israel and the hopes of people seeking a better life.[4] This is a retrospective interpretation rather than a documented statement of the lyricist's intention. Cohen's later interview provides a separate autobiographical perspective, linking the song to his recovery from anxiety and preserving his recollection of technical problems without independently establishing that anyone caused them deliberately.[8]