Azerbaijan, Baku, May 14 / V.Imanov, E.Mehdiyev /
A rehearsal of participants from Israel at Eurovision 2012 - the Izabo rock band was held in Baku on the stage of Baku Crystal Hall. The band will perform in the first semi-final of the contest with the song 'Time'.
Izabo (Ultralight) is an indie team, performing alternative rock music in English. The band plays various styles - psychedelic rock, folk rock and funk and composes songs in the Jamaican reggae genre, but it is clearly in a Middle Eastern style. It released several English language albums in France and the UK. The group emerged 20 years ago in Petah Tikva. It consists of three men and a girl.
The lead singer of the group Ran Shem Tov with his characteristic high-pitched voice and aggressive submission is the composer of most of the songs. Musicians of the band are Jonathan Levi, Nir Mantzur, Shiri Hadar. Despite a solid, albeit intermittent stage experience, Izabo released its first album with the characteristic title 'Fun Makers' only in 2006 in France. Next year however, Izabo took part in the prestigious French music festival 'Tra-ta-ta'. Izabo's collaboration with Shotei Hanevuah produced the hit single 'Hu' which won the Music 24's song of the year award.
Ran Shem Tov was awarded the prize for the 'Fund of culture's high achiever' in Israel. In 2008 he created the music for an Israeli film on the novel by David Grossman's 'Associates'. The latest album is called 'Super Light', with songs that are bright, diverse, with a strong emotional intensity.
The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall near State Flag Square. The semi-finals will be held in Baku on May 22 and May 24 and the final on May 26. The logo for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is 'Fire Flower', while the motto is Light your fire.
Azerbaijan won the right to host the prestigious European song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell / Nikki) at Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany last May.
