Shiru (Sing) was the Israeli entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 in Millstreet performed by The Shiru Group.
The song is about the power of song itself, which is said to be "all we have", which can "break walls and open hearts and flowers". The protagonist of the song recalls singing with the people they grew up with, and how they now sing the songs "wherever [they] go". The second and final choruses of the song were performed in English, marking the second occasion, after its 1992 entry, on which the Israeli Contest entry had featured any language apart from Hebrew.
The group was assembled specifically for the contest, when Sarah'le Sharon called Shaike Paikov to compose a song for her to sing at the Israeli national final. The group consisted of 5 singers, one of which was a backing vocalist, accompanied by Sharon.
Conflict ensued between Sharon and the IBA, Paikov and the directors of the contest. She wanted the camera angles to focus on her as the lead singer, but the IBA already discussed plans to focus the cameras on the group, and put Sharon as a backing singer. Paikov said that Sharon's voice would "lead Israel to last place", and that "she killed everything" and caused the song's low finish.[1]
In modern Eurovision fan communities, the song is widely notable for the unusual camerawork and choreography, which seemed to make Sharon upstage the singers, and the backing singer unexpectedly walking to the front of the stage at the end of the song.
It was performed 24th on the night following Cyprus and preceding Norway. At the close of voting, it finished in 24th place with 4 points, Israel's worst ever result in the grand final. Because of the new relegation rules, Israel was one of six countries who had to sit out the 1994 contest.
Lyrics[]
Al gdot haYarden beyamim acherim
Gadalti bein od anashim shesharim
Hem sharu balaila hacham kedei le’oded et rucham
Vehem shehish’iru li et hashirim sheli
Shiru, shiru begaron nichar
Al tash’iru koach lamachar
Shiru, shiru vehadliku esh
Ki hashir hu kol ma sheyesh
Shiru, shiru begaron nichar
Al tash’iru koach lamachar
Shiru, shiru vehadliku esh
Ki hashir hu kol ma sheyesh
Ume’az hashirim melavim et chaiai
Ani shara tamid im achai vere’ai
Shirat harabim hachama tuchal lehapil kol choma
Veliftoach levavot, linto’a ahavot
Shiru, shiru begaron nichar
Al tash’iru koach lamachar
Shiru, shiru vehadliku esh
Ki hashir hu kol ma sheyesh
Sing a song, sing till you can no more
Let the world know what you’re singing for
Sing a song, oh, sing it loud and high
Till it reaches up to the sky
Ha’arets shinta et dmuta verucha
Ach shirat harabim lo ibda et kocha
Hazemer haze melaked vehu shenish’ar lanu ed
Uvechol dor vador, ha’am nose mizmor
Shiru, shiru begaron nichar
Al tash’iru koach lamachar
Shiru, shiru vehadliku esh
Ki hashir hu kol ma sheyesh
Ma sheyesh
Sing a song, sing till you can no more
Let the world know what you’re singing for
Sing a song, oh, sing it loud and high
Till it reaches up to the sky
Let the world know
Sing a song
On the banks of the Jordan, in bygone times
I grew up among other people who sing
They sang in the warm night to cheer up their spirit
And they are those who left me my songs
Sing, sing with a great voice
Don’t leave strength for tomorrow
Sing, sing and light a fire
Because the song is all we have
Sing, sing with a great voice
Don’t leave strength for tomorrow
Sing, sing and light a fire
Because the song is all we have
And since then the songs accompany my life
I always sing with my brothers and friends
The warm singing of many people could break any wall
And open hearts, plant loves
Sing, sing with a great voice
Don’t leave strength for tomorrow
Sing, sing and light a fire
Because the song is all we have
Sing a song, sing till you can no more
Let the world know what you’re singing for
Sing a song, oh, sing it loud and high
Till it reaches up to the sky
The land has changed its image and its spirit
But the singing of many people hasn’t lost its strength
This song is uniting and it remains for us a witness
And in every generation, the people carry a song
Sing, sing with a great voice
Don’t leave strength for tomorrow
Sing, sing and light a fire
Because the song is all we have
All we have
Sing a song, sing till you can no more
Let the world know what you’re singing for
Sing a song, oh, sing it loud and high
Till it reaches up to the sky
Let the world know
Sing a song
Eurovision Song Contest 1993 | |||
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Participants | |||
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Songs | |||
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