Despite war with Iran canceling most events across the country, Israel went ahead Thursday night with the release of its 2026 Eurovision song, “Michelle,” sung by Noam Bettan.

The celebratory broadcast on the Kan public broadcaster was interrupted several times by warnings of incoming Iranian missiles and sirens across the country, but it didn’t stop the premiere of the pop song.

The song, in Hebrew, French and English, is slightly more upbeat than those from Israel over the past few years, and the music video includes catchy dance moves during its most up-tempo moments.

“It’s an incredible song,” Bettan said Thursday night during the broadcast. “In the past few years [Israel sent] a lot of ballads, and the country was waiting to be happy.”

Bettan said that people in Israel are “looking for a different kind of energy, we want to be happy, the whole country is thirsty for it,” he said. “I think we’re bringing a song that touches on the whole spectrum of emotions.”

The singer said “Michelle” is a song about an unhealthy relationship, and the need to get up and walk away when things aren’t working out.

Unlike the past few years, where Israel’s songs were largely English with only touches of Hebrew (and last year, French), “Michelle” is largely Hebrew and French with only one verse in English.

One of the verses........

© The Times of Israel