8 August 1981: Harel Skaat born


Harel Skaat was born exactly 36 years ago today. He represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song 'Milim'. Skaat has been singing and performing in public since he was a child. At the age of six, he won a children's song festival competition. While still in elementary school he appeared on national television and as a teenager, he was the lead singer for both his city's and high school's bands. During his mandatory duty with the Israeli Defense Forces, he sang in the Communication Corps Band.

Skaat's professional breakthrough came when he was a contestant on the second season of Kochav Nolad ('A Star is Born'), a reality competition television show similar in format to American Idol, and finished in second place. After the show ended, he signed a recording contract with Hed Arzi, one of the largest music companies in Israel. After just one album, Skaat and Hed Arzi became embroiled in a year-long legal dispute. Shortly after the dispute was resolved, his second album was released. In December 2009, the Israel Broadcasting Authority selected Skaat internally to be Israel’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. His song 'Milim' ended in 14th place in a field of 25 competitors.

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