Izhar Cohen

Izhar Cohen
Background information
Born (1951-03-13) March 13, 1951 (age 73)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Genrespop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, actor, jewelry artist
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1970-present
Musical artist
Izhar Cohen with his sister Vardina, during the 1987 Kdam Eurovision
Izhar Cohen with his sister Vardina, during the 1987 Kdam Eurovision

Izhar Cohen (Hebrew: יזהר כהן; born March 13, 1951) is an Israeli singer who won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest.

Biography

Izhar Cohen was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and raised in Givatayim, to a family of singers of Yemenite-Jewish descent – Shlomo Cohen, Sarah Cohen, and Hofni, Pini, and Vardina Cohen.

Singing and stage career

Cohen started to sing when he was a child and joined his father in his performances. At 18, Cohen joined the IDF's Nachal entertainment troupe. During the 1970s Cohen was one of the most played singers in Israel. Representing Israel, he won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Alphabeta performing "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" with music by Nurit Hirsh and words by Ehud Manor.[1] The title of the song is the Hebrew word "ani" (first person singular pronoun) expressed in the popular children's language game "Bet language".

Cohen later represented Israel again (this time with an unnamed group of backing singers) at the 1985 contest performing "Olé, Olé" (music – Kobi Oshrat, words – Hamutal Ben-Ze'ev) where he finished 5th. He attempted to represent Israel again in 1982, 1987 and 1996 but did not win the national final.

Cohen was an actor in the Haifa Theater.[2][3] He owns a jewelry shop on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv.

Izhar was on The Singer in the Mask as "Bull", getting 10th overall.

See also

References

  1. ^ Barclay, Simon. Eurovision Song Contest - The Complete & Independent Guide 2010. Simon Barclay. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4457-8415-1. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  2. ^ "1978 - A-Ba-Ni-Bi means I love you". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  3. ^ ".Izhar Cohen | Unofficial Website". www.izhar-cohen.eu.pn. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2016-04-10.

External links

  • https://web.archive.org/web/20170212014526/http://www.izhar-cohen.eu.pn/
  • A-ba-ni-bi lyric with English translation
  • Ole ole lyric with English translation
  • Izhar Cohen at IMDb
  • VIDEO: Eurovision 1978 - Israel - Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta - A-ba-ni-bi - א-ב-ני-בי
  • Facebook page
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
(with Alphabeta)
1978
Succeeded by
Israel Milk and Honey
with "Hallelujah"
Preceded by Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
(with Alphabeta)
1978
Succeeded by
Milk and Honey
with "Hallelujah"
Preceded by
Ofra Haza
with "Khay"
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
(5th with Ole Ole)
1985
Succeeded by
Moti Giladi & Sarai Tzuriel
with "Yavo Yom"
  • v
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1950s
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1950s
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1970s
1980s
1990s
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1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
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  • Category
  • v
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Participation
Artists
Songs
  • "A-Ba-Ni-Bi"
  • "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim"
  • "Amen"
  • "At Va'Ani"
  • "Ben Adam"
  • "Derekh Hamelekh"
  • "Ding Dong"
  • "Diva"
  • "Ein Davar"
  • "Emor Shalom"
  • "Ey Sham"
  • "Feker Libi"
  • "The Fire in Your Eyes"
  • "Golden Boy"
  • "Halayla"
  • "Hallelujah"
  • "Happy Birthday"
  • "Hasheket Shenish'ar"
  • "Hi"
  • "Home"
  • "Hora"
  • "Hurricane"
  • "I Feel Alive"
  • "I.M"
  • "Kan"
  • "Leha'amin"
  • "Light a Candle"
  • "Made of Stars"
  • "Milim"
  • "Natati La Khayay"
  • "Olé, Olé"
  • "Push the Button"
  • "Rak Bishvilo"
  • "Same Heart"
  • "Sameach"
  • "Set Me Free"
  • "Shalom Olam"
  • "Shara Barkhovot"
  • "Shir Habatlanim"
  • "Shiru"
  • "There Must Be Another Way"
  • "Time"
  • "Together We Are One"
  • "Toy"
  • "Unicorn"
  • "Words for Love"
  • "Yavo Yom"
  • "Ze Rak Sport"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Israel did not compete
  • v
  • t
  • e
Countries
Artists
Songs
  • "A-Ba-Ni-Bi"
  • "L'Amour ça fait chanter la vie"
  • "Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus"
  • "The Bad Old Days"
  • "Bailemos un vals"
  • "Boom Boom"
  • "Born to Sing"
  • "Charlie Chaplin"
  • "Dai li dou"
  • "Det blir alltid värre framåt natten"
  • "Feuer"
  • "Il y aura toujours des violons"
  • "Les Jardins de Monaco"
  • "Mil etter mil"
  • "Mrs. Caroline Robinson"
  • "Parlez-vous français ?"
  • "Questo amore"
  • "Sevince"
  • "'t Is OK"
  • "Vivre"
  • v
  • t
  • e
Countries
Artists
Songs
  • "Bra vibrationer"
  • "Children, Kinder, Enfants"
  • "Didai didai dai"
  • "Eläköön elämä"
  • "Femme dans ses rêves aussi"
  • "La fiesta terminó"
  • "Für alle"
  • "Kinder dieser Welt"
  • "La det swinge"
  • "Laat me nu gaan"
  • "Love Is..."
  • "Magic Oh Magic"
  • "Miazoume"
  • "Olé, Olé"
  • "Penso em ti, eu sei"
  • "Piano, piano"
  • "Sku' du spørg' fra no'en?"
  • "To katalava arga"
  • "Wait Until the Weekend Comes"
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  • ISNI
  • VIAF
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