- Milim
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"Milim" 
Single by Harel Skaat Released 2010 Format Digital single, CD single Recorded 2010 Genre Pop Length 3:01 
"Milim"Eurovision Song Contest 2010 entry Country Israel Artist(s) Harel Skaat Language Hebrew Composer(s) Tomer Adaddi Lyricist(s) Noam Horev Finals performance Semi-final result 8th Semi-final points 71 Final result 14th Final points 71 Appearance chronology ◄ There Must Be Another Way (2009) Ding Dong (2011) ► "Milim" (Hebrew: מילים, English: "Words") is a song composed by Tomer Adaddi[1] with lyrics by Noam Horev that was recorded by the Israeli singer, Harel Skaat. The song was the Israeli song entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 where the Israeli entry finished 14th out of 39 countries despite being one of the favorites entering the contest.[2] As the Israeli entry to Eurovision the song has generated a large and varied reaction on the Internet forums and elsewhere, from people who believe that the song is dramatic and beautiful to those who find it boring.[3] "Milim" was selected to be the Israeli song entry for Eurovision after winning the Kdam Eurovision 2010 in March 2010, beating out three other finalists for the honor. The selection was decided by a combination of juries' and public votes. It received maximum points from all juries as well as the televoters [2][4][5][6] A special CD entitled "Eurovision 2010" was released by Skaat and contains all four songs featured in the KDAM. Both the CD and song are also available on itunes ("Milim" is listed under the English title of "Words")
Despite finishing in 14th place, Israel swept the Eurovision sanctioned Marcel Bezencon Awards. Adaddi and Horev won the Composer Award, while Skaat won the Artistic Award for best singer and Skaat and "Milim" won the Press Award for best entry. The awards are selected by participating composers, and accredited press and media, and commentators of the Eurovision contest.[7] In contrast to the way most songs were presented at Eurovision, Israel opted for a simple presentation with Skaat in a black suit with Adaddi playing on a grand piano, and two backup singers to Skaat's left in the back of him.[8]
"Milim" has been described as a power ballad.[9] The song shares similar qualities with some of Skaat's other songs, most notably his award-winning hit, "Veat". At the press conference after the second Eurovision rehearsal in Oslo, Adaddi said, "We didn't write the song for the Eurovision, as much as for Harel Skaat, who I think is an amazing singer and he interprets the song in a way that I don't know anybody else can do with such passion and also with a beautiful voice." [10] The song starts out quietly and builds throughout until it reaches a loud crescendo near the end of the song. In between the time the song was selected at the KDAM and the Eurovision contest, the Israeli team revised the song's vocal arrangement and re-recorded the song with a full philharmonic orchestra backing.[11]
Skaat released both a French and an English version of the song, as well as a music video.[12] The French lyrics are by former Eurovision winner, Anne Marie David [13] It also has been reported that Skaat plans to record and release a Spanish version of the song, with the lyrics translated by Marta Gomez, who has previously worked with Idan Raichel.[14] "Milim" has been a hit on Israeli radio stations throughout the Spring of 2010 and spent a total of five weeks at number one on the Reshet Gimmel Chart, one of the major music charts in Israel, including that of the entire month of May 2010.[15][15]
In an interview prior to the Eurovision contest, Skaat explained what the song was about to him. He said, "The song “Milim” is about separation, of any kind. Separation of lovers, of a family. In Hebrew, “Milim” means words. The words are the most memorable thing we have after a separation, words are very powerful and they are engraved in our minds and hearts. Sadly, my beloved grandfather suddenly passed away the week of the Israeli pre-selection competition, which gave the lyrics of “Milim” a very personal and difficult meaning to me." [16] The song lyrics seem to suggest that the person singing the song has been left alone while his or her loved one has left, perhaps permanently. Household items and architectural details are mentioned throughout the song--fallen ceiling, scratched handles, arranged books, and windows with cracked glass. The song contains the refrain, "Hish'art li rak milim" (English version: "You left me only words"), which is repeated throughout the chorus.
The chorus to "Milim" in Hebrew in the Latin alphabet followed by the English translation as posted on www.hebrewsongs.com: "Hish’art li rak milim/Miklat ben hatzlalim/Sfarim mesudarim/uven hachadarim Hish’art li rak milim/Zer shel man’ulim/Elohim, hish’art li rak milim"
"You left me only words/Refuge in the shadows/arranged books/and in between the rooms/ You left me only words/and a bouquet of locks/God, you left me only words" [17]
In the English version of "Milim" released by Skaat, the lyrics are different. They are: "You left me only words/and in these words I hide/a story that is heard/ without you by my side/You left me only words/here they fade away/How I pray to have those words today" The second time the chorus is sung it is repeated with the following change in lyrics: "You left me only words/and in these words I hide/a story that is heard/without you by my side/You left me only words/and in these an empty room of stories/without you by my side. You left me only words/here they fade away/How I pray to have those words today" [18]
References
- ^ Mr. Adaddi's name has been translated as Addadi, Adadi, and Hadadi in various media stories.
- ^ a b Cotler, Amit (30 May 2010). "Israel places 14th in 2010 Eurovision". Ynet. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3895889,00.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ For an example of the public's comments, see: http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/15773?rss Retrieved 5 June 2010
- ^ Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
- ^ Webb, Glen. "Israel: Harel Skaat to sing Milim in Oslo". European Broadcasting Union. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=10523&_t=Israel%3A+Harel+Skaat+to+sing+Milim+in+Oslo. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Klier, Marcus. "Harel Skaat to perform Milim in the Eurovision Song Contest". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/15393. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Dahlander, Gustav (18 May 2010). "Israeli grand slam in the Marcel Bezençon Awards". www.eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=18433&_t=Israeli+grand+slam+in+the+Marcel+Bezen%C3%A7on+Awards. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Dahlander, Gustav (29 May 2010). "Harel Skaat puts his faith in music". www.eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=13983&_t=Harel+Skaat+puts+his+faith+in+music. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Fricker, Karen (31 May 2010). "Voters swayed by German singer's fresh and unusual approach". Irishtimes.com. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0531/1224271504640.html. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "www.youtube.com". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smQcT6bhuG4&NR=1. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ Simm, Jarmo (22 April 2010). "'It's going to be amazing, Harel says'". http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=11613&_t='It's+going+to+be+amazing',+Harel+says. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ ^ http://www.youtube.com/skaatharel
- ^ "Israeli singer Harel Skaat places 14th in European song contest final". Haaretz. 29 June 2010. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-singer-harel-skaat-places-14th-in-european-song-contest-final-1.292914. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ "Israeli singer Harel Skaat places 14th in European song contest final". Haaretz. 29 June 2010. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-singer-harel-skaat-places-14th-in-european-song-contest-final-1.292914. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ a b http://www.charts.co.il/charts.asp?id=1 Retrieved 4 June 2010
- ^ "Israel: Harel Skaat speaks to Escdaily.com". ESCDaily.com. http://escdaily.com/articles/170. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ "www.hebrewsongs.com". http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=milim-eurovision2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/skaatharel#p/u/4/aKJn53FiLbI Retrieved 28 June 2010
External links
- Official music video - Youtube
- Performance - Youtube
Songs of the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Final
(by final results)1. "Satellite" · 2. "We Could Be the Same" · 3. "Playing with Fire" · 4. "In a Moment Like This" · 5. "Drip Drop" · 6. "Me and My Guitar" · 7. "Apricot Stone" · 8. "OPA!" · 9. "Shine" · 10. "Sweet People" · 11. "Lost and Forgotten" · 12. "Allez Ola Olé" · 13. "Ovo je Balkan" · 14. "Milim" · 15. "Algo pequeñito" · 16. "It's All About You" · 17. "Thunder and Lightning" · 18. "Há dias assim" · 19. "Je ne sais quoi" · 20. "My Heart Is Yours" · 21. "Life Looks Better in Spring" · 22. "Run Away" · 23. "It's for You" · 24. "Butterflies" · 25. "That Sounds Good to Me"Semi-final only
(did not qualify
for the final)Semi-final 1"Horehronie" · "Jas ja imam silata" · "Legenda" · "My Dream" · "Siren" · "Työlki ellää" · "What For?"Semi-final 2"Angel si ti" · "Eastern European Funk" · "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" · "Il pleut de l'or" · "Lako je sve" · "Narodnozabavni rock" · "This Is My Life"Withdrawn "Far Away" · "I Love You" · "To Be Free"Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Categories:- Eurovision songs of 2010
- Eurovision songs of Israel
- 2010 singles
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