- Khay
Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|Israel "Khay"
caption =
year = 1983
country = Israel
artist =Ofra Haza
as =
with =
language = Hebrew
languages =
composer =Avi Toledano
lyricist =Ehud Manor
conductor = Silvio Nanssi Brandes
place = 2nd
points = 136
lyrics = [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1983il from Diggiloo Thrush]
clip =
prev = Hora
prev_link = Hora (song)
next = Olé, Olé
next_link = Olé, Olé
next_year = 1985"Khay" (Hebrew script: חי, English: "Alive") was the
Israel i entry in theEurovision Song Contest 1983 , performed in Hebrew byOfra Haza . The song title was transliterated at the contest as "Hi," and has also been credited in other media as "Jai" and "Hay."The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Haza singing that, despite the "thorns" she has endured, she is still alive. As the song goes on, this is revealed to be a metaphor for "the nation of Israel" (the song is ambiguous as to whether this refers to the modern state or the global Jewish community) surviving various attempts at destroying it.
The song was performed sixteenth on the night (following
Denmark 's Gry with "Kloden Drejer " and precedingPortugal 'sArmando Gama with "Esta Balada Que Te Dou "). At the close of voting, it had received 136 points, placing 2nd in a field of 20.Israel opted not to enter the 1984 Contest, but returned to the fold the next year. Thus, the song was succeeded as Israeli representative at the 1985 Contest by
Izhar Cohen with "Olé, Olé ".The song had further profound meanings since it was performed on German soil with the
Holocaust background and in the city ofMunich , the site of theMunich massacre in 1972.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.