Israel: From “October Rain” to “Hurricane” – The Main Lyrics Changes Have Been Revealed

Eden Golan won the final of “The Rising Star For Eurovision 2024” (“Hakochav Haba La’Eurovision 2024).
She is set to represent the country at Eurovision 2024.

The song for Eurovision 2024 was selected, due to the decision of the professional committee.
The group behind the song is Keren Peles, Avi Ohayon and Stav Beger.
The song that reached the 2nd place is “Dance Forever” which was written by May Sfadia, Yinon Yahel and Eden Golan

The initial song was named “October Rain”. However, the EBU found its message a bit problematic.
Kan has worked iteratively to find the right formula, without changing the whole song.
At the end of the day, the EBU accepted the Israeli song for Eurovision 2024 under his new version and new name – “Hurricane”.

These are the original lyrics of “October Rain”:

Writers of the history
Stand with me
Look into my eyes and see
People go away but never say goodbye

Someone stole the moon tonight
Took my light
Everything is black and white
Who’s the fool who told you
Boys don’t cry

Hours and hours and flowers
Life is no game for the cowards
Why does time go wild
Every day I’m loosing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride

Dancing in the storm
We got nothing to hide
Take me home
And leave the world behind
And I promise you that never again
I’m still wet from this october rain
October Rain

Living in a fantasy
Ecstasy
Everything’s meant to be
We shall pass but love will never die

Hours and hours and flowers
Life is no game for the cowards
Why does time go wild
Every day I’m loosing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride

Dancing in the storm
We got nothing to hide
Take me home
And leave the world behind
And I promise you that never again
I’m still wet from this october rain
October Rain
October Rain

לא נשאר אוויר לנשום
אין מקום
אין אותי מיום ליום
כולם ילדים טובים אחד אחד

(There’s no air left to breathe
There’s no space
I’m gone day by day
Everyone is good kids one by one)

“Hurricane” – Main Lyrics Changes

As has been revealed on the Israeli outlet “Israel Hayom“, here are the main changes:

1. The main changes are regarding the Hebrew lyrics, which have been fully replaced. The new lyrics are:

בלי מילים גדולות
רק תפילות
אפילו אם קשה לראות
תמיד אתה משאיר לי
אור אחד קטן

Which translates into:

“No big words
Only prayers
Even if it is hard to see
You will always leave
A little light for me”

2. The word “flowers” was replaced by “powers”

3. The phrase “October Rain” was removed from the song

4. The “writers of history” will be replaced with a metaphor associated with symphony

You can take a first glance of the new lyrics (not the full song though):

Writers of my symphony
Play with me
Look into my eyes and see
People walk away but never say goodbye
Someone stole the moon tonight
Took my light
Everything is black and white
Who’s the fool who told you: ”Boys don’t cry”?

Hours, hours and powers
Life is no game, but it’s ours
While time goes wild

[Chorus]
Every day, I’m losing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride
Dancing in the storm, I’ve got nothing to hide
Take it out and leave the world behind
Baby, promise me you’ll hold me again
I’m still broken from this hurricane
This hurricane

Living in a fantasy
Ecstasy
Everything’s meant to be
We shall pass, but love will never die

Hours, hours and powers
Life is no game, but it’s ours
While the time goes wild

Every day, I’m losing my mind
Holding on in this mysterious ride
Dancing in the storm, I’ve got nothing to hide
Take it out and leave the world behind
Baby, promise me you’ll hold me again
I’m still broken from this hurricane
This hurricane
This hurricane

בלי מילים גדולות
רק תפילות
גם אם קשה לראות
אתה תמיד משאיר לי אור אחד קטן

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You can watch Eden’s reaction here:

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The Israeli song for Eurovision 2024 will undergo some lyrics changes and thereafter will be officially submitted to the EBU.
The song will be revealed in a special show on Kan11, on Sunday the 10th of March 2024, at 21:30 local time (20:30 CET).

What are your expectation from Israel at Eurovision 2024?
Eurovision 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden.
The semi-finals will be held on the 7th and 9th of May 2024, and the grand final will be held on the 11th of May 2024.
Israel will compete in the second half of semi-final 2.

Don’t forget to visit our Eurovision 2024 homepage