- PingPong (band)
PingPong ( _he. פינג פונג) is an
Israel i pop quartet that representedIsrael in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000 with the songSameach ( _he. שמח, lit. "Happy").The members of the band were: Guy Asif, Ahal Eden,
Roy Arad and Yifat Giladi. The band released one album "Between Moral and Fashion" (2000, Hed Arzi) with songs like "Burger Ranch" (Israeli chain of fastfood restaurants), "I got a lover inGivati " and "Mr. Israel". This album sells only about 1000 copies.Their hit song "
Sameach " (Hebrew for "Happy") was admitted to the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest. At the close of voting the song had received 7 points, placing 22nd in a field of 24. The song lyrics mentioned a friend fromDamascus who dates an Israeli girl. The band was dis-endorsed by theIsrael Broadcasting Authority after waving theflag of Syria during the rehearsal and the video-clip of the song [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,219846,00.html] . They refused to back down for the performance in the final and pulled the flag out live [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJquCzvL1J8] , as planned, all to encourage the Israeli-Syrian peace [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,219846,00.html Outraged Israel disowns daring Eurovision entry] The Guardian, 12 May 2000]Ehud Barak was negotiating at the time. They also visited a Syrian community center inStockholm , where the Eurovision was held.The band was the favourite of the
NME magazine for winning the contest, but failed.In 2006 a documentary called "Sipur Sameach" [http://www.third-ear.com/p_prod.aspx?id=34259] made by filmmaker Alon Weinstock was released on DVD, following the group's trip to Sweden.
References
External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ygRtcsv7w Ping Pong's performance in Eurovision 2000] YouTube
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7HeDRFgsxc "Burger Ranch"] YouTube
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/waterloo/2000/israel00.htm Interview]
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