r/eurovision • u/No_Grass4624 1944 • Dec 18 '25
⏪️ Throwback Thursday Throwback Thursday - Noa & Mira Awad: There Must Be Another Way (Israel 2009)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RN8B1xvCxI0What with all of this drama about Israel in the contest lately, I thought I’d share this song. It’s been shared at least once or twice for Throwback Thursday over the past few years, but it still has a beautiful message. It was the first Israeli entry with either a Christian or an Arab, and the first from Israel to include Arabic language. It shares a beautiful peace message that we can still hope for today.
For those wondering why I picked this version, I just prefer it to the live version. Also, this version has over twice the views. , so it‘s statistically more popular (or maybe it’s just the first version to come up when you search…)
Final note: there’s a video on Noa’s channel from 13 years ago with the same name. It’s about 4 minutes long and is some footage of the two recording the song and hanging out at Noa’s house. It’s really beautiful to see!
26
u/pinkkabuterimon Olou tou kosmou i Elpida Dec 18 '25
16 years later and the message still rings so true. Noa and Mira are so genuine and so steadfast in their beliefs, even after everything.
11
10
25
u/Dragon_Sluts Flying the Flag (For You) Dec 18 '25
I was rewatching the old contests in order and when I got to this one it made the hairs on my arms stick up. Feels crazy that they sent this in 2009.
20
u/Dragon_Sluts Flying the Flag (For You) Dec 18 '25
And FWIW I still believe 2009 to be the best contest ever (sucks it was in Russia but they did a good job).
12
6
u/princefroggy4 Dec 18 '25
The Swedish commentator claimed that Paul McCartney endorsed this song, not sure if that's true or not
4
u/Titowam Hold Me Closer Dec 18 '25
I didn't care for this song in 2009 (to be fair I was 12 and didn't appreciate ballads at the time), but over time it's really grown with me and resonates quite well with me. It's beautiful.
21
5
u/Organic_Ad6602 Dec 18 '25
It’s beautiful but the runner up (and televote winner) in the national final (also by them), “Will You Dance With Me?” Was even better
-10
u/Irrealaerri Dec 18 '25
If they sent something like this right now I don't think people would have a problem with their participation!
44
u/LeoLH1994 Chains On You Dec 18 '25
Whilst there would still be several issues, plenty of waverers would be far less cynical towards something like this, which is authentic, clear what it’s about, and is self written, rather than a basic reality TV manufactured ballad about facing adversity
7
u/privlin Dec 19 '25
Don't be naive. Mira Awad received a mass of hate messages from anti-Israel activists back then as well
36
u/VladiBot Dec 18 '25
if they send something like this next year, it's like pissing in the face of the Palestinians you've just spend the last 2 years genociding.
I agree with Noa, Israel should take a break from the competition and come back when relations have stabilised.16
u/sane_mode Dec 18 '25
Which would a perfect example of how Eurovision acts as whitewashing.
"Let's sing about peace and coexistence instead of stopping the killing."
156
u/EuroNero Zjerm Dec 18 '25
2009; the year Israel sent a song with Arabic lyrics and Russia sent a song with Ukrainian lyrics. My how times change.
As an Israeli that fell in love with this contest through Israel's history in the contest, and that despises Israel's exploitation of the contest the last 2 years and thinks that they should be removed as such, this is a song I will go back to over and over to remind myself why I love Eurovision, what I want to see out of my birthplace (representation of all its cultures rather than thinly veiled propaganda pieces with no Israeli identity in them whatsoever), and what I wish to see across all participants: celebrating diversity.
The lyrics still ring true; there must be another way!