Noam Batan's dramatic message during his Barby club performance leaves audience moved
The artist who brought Israel to second place at Eurovision kicked off a series of sold-out shows at the Barby club, sharing reflections on national unity, the country's highs and lows, and the resilience of its people.
Noam Batan opened his series of five sold-out shows at the Barby club in the Jaffa port on Monday, marking his first live performance since returning from the Eurovision contest. The overwhelming demand for tickets led to all five shows selling out in just a few hours, and Batan took the stage with his band to perform for a captivated audience.
Throughout the evening, Batan performed a series of hits, including "Buba" and the viral track "Madame," alongside "Michelle," the song with which he represented Israel. He also performed his new single, "Tamid Ratziti Od" ("I Always Wanted More"), which has already gained significant traction on Galgalatz and Kan Gimel playlists and across social media.
In the middle of the set, Batan addressed the crowd with a heartfelt message:
"There are so many colors here and we are such a beautiful country. It is true that it is hard for us sometimes to be together, but we must try to unite—even when we are not at our peaks, and even when we are in the depths. These moments of highs and lows happen so that we remember our potential, and our potential is immense. We are the only people who, when pushed to the wall, become stronger."
This performance marks another milestone for the singer-songwriter, who began his musical journey following his military service. Batan first broke into the public consciousness by placing third in the 2018 program "Aviv o Eyal," and later solidified his status with his 2021 debut album, "Meal Ha-Mayim" ("Above the Water"), which achieved gold status and featured hits like "Ahavot Le-Yom Echad" ("Loves for One Day") and "Ha-Yom" ("Today").
His meteoric rise continued with his victory in the 12th season of "Ha-Kochav Ha-Ba" ("The Next Star"), leading to his selection as Israel's representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. On the Austrian stage, Batan achieved an extraordinary result, bringing Israel to a respectable second place and cementing his position as one of the most successful artists in Israel today.
