Yuval Raphael's will represent Israel at Eurovision 2025 with her song, New Day Will Rise.
At just 24 years old, and with no previous professional singing experience, Yuval emerged as the winner of Israel's popular TV talent show, HaKokhav HaBa (“The Rising Star”). This competition has frequently been used to choose the Israeli entrant in recent years, with the song being finalised only once the winner is known.
Her victory in the show, held in January 2025, was the culmination of months of auditions and performances, where she impressed both the judges and the public with her vocal prowess and emotional depth. The show is held in an arduous series of rounds with public voting in real time to determine if a candidate remains in the contest.
In the final, she performed a slowed-down emotional version of ABBA’s Dancing Queen. This choice paid homage to Yuval's poignant personal journey. She is a survivor of the of the events at the Nova Music Festival on 7 October 2023, where she endured a harrowing ordeal.
The song selection had begun prior to the final and took place in two rounds. 54 submissions were initially reviewed and voted on by a committee. Yuval then recorded versions of the committee’s top three choices. The song, New Day Will Rise, written by Keren Peles and produced by Tomer Biran, was then unanimously chosen.
The entry resonates deeply with Yuval’s personal story, being a powerful and emotional song that reflects themes of resilience and hope. It is performed in English, French, and Hebrew, incorporating a line from Jewish scripture, emphasizing love and perseverance.
Yuval's musical influences are diverse. She grew up in Ra'anana, Israel, but spent part of her childhood in Geneva, Switzerland, where she learnt French. From an early age, she was exposed to a plethora of music styles, from rock to classical. Her admiration for a wide range of artists shapes her unique vocal style.
The song was finally released to the public on 9 March 2025 after receiving EBU approval and is one of the bookies’ favourites.