Izhar Cohen

Izhar Cohen
Background information
Born	(1951-03-13) March 13, 1951 Tel Aviv, Israel
Genres	pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, Actor, Jewelry artist.
Instruments	Vocals
Associated acts	Alphabeta
Website	www.izhar-cohen.eu.pn

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

Personal life

Cohen was born in Tel Aviv and raised in Giv'atayim in a Yemeni singers' family - Shlomo Cohen (the Great Soliman), Sarah Cohen, and Hofni, Pini, and Vardina Cohen.

Career

Cohen started to sing when he was a young child and joined his father in his performances. At 18, Cohen joined the IDF's "Nachal" singers group. During the 70's 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 language game "Bet language" (equivalent to "Pig Latin").

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 1987 and 1996 but did not win the national final.

Cohen was an actor in the Haifa Theater,^[2][3] and today he is an owner of a jewelry shop.

References

External links

• http://www.izhar-cohen.eu.pn
• A-ba-ni-bi lyric with English translation
• Ole ole lyric with English translation
• Izhar Cohen at the Internet Movie Database
• VIDEO: Eurovision 1978 - Israel - Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta - A-ba-ni-bi - א-ב-ני-בי
• Facebook page

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Marie Myriam with "L'oiseau et l'enfant"	Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest (with Alphabeta) 1978	Succeeded by Gali Atari & Milk and Honey with "Hallelujah"
Preceded by Ilanit with "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim"	Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest (with Alphabeta) 1978	Succeeded by Gali Atari & 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"

Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 to 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Artists 1970s Ilanit Kaveret Shlomo Artzi Chocolate, Menta, Mastik Ilanit Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta Gali Atari & Milk and Honey 1980s 1980 Hakol Over Habibi Avi Toledano Ofra Haza 1984 Izhar Cohen Moti Giladi & Sarai Tzuriel Lazy Bums Yardena Arazi Gili & Galit 1990s Rita Duo Datz Dafna Dekel Sarah'le Sharon & The Shiru Group 1994 Liora Galit Bell 1997 Dana International Eden 2000s PingPong Tal Sondak Sarit Hadad Lior Narkis David D'Or Shiri Maimon Eddie Butler Teapacks Bo'az Ma'uda Noa & Mira Awad 2010s Harel Skaat Dana International Izabo Moran Mazor Mei Finegold Nadav Guedj Hovi Star
Songs 1970s "Ey Sham" "Natati La Khayay" "At Ve'Ani" "Emor Shalom" "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim" "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" "Hallelujah" 1980s 1980 "Halayla" "Hora" "Khay" 1984 "Olé, Olé" "Yavo Yom" "Shir Habatlanim" "Ben Adam" "Derekh Hamelekh" 1990s "Shara Barkhovot" "Kan" "Ze Rak Sport" "Shiru" 1994 "Amen" "Shalom Olam" 1997 "Diva" "Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)" 2000s "Sameach" "En Davar" "Nadlik Beyakhad Ner (Light A Candle)" "Milim La'Ahava" "Leha'amin" "HaSheket SheNish'ar" "Together We Are One" "Push the Button" "The Fire In Your Eyes" "There Must Be Another Way" 2010s "Milim" "Ding Dong" "Time" "Rak Bishvilo" "Same Heart" "Golden Boy" "Made of Stars"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Israel did not compete)