Singer Arik Sinai Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Deal for 'Next Star' Appearance

Singer Arik Sinai has revealed the surprising conditions he set for his participation in the reality competition "The Next Star for Eurovision," an appearance that took place about three years ago and featured Eden Golan as the winner. Sinai, who has been in the music industry for nearly 45 years, explained on the podcast "One Plus One" that the offer came unexpectedly from Yoav Tzafir, the show's chief editor and director. Sinai initially believed Tzafir was calling to offer him a mentor role, but was surprised to learn he was being asked to compete as a regular contestant. Despite questions from those close to him about his decision after such a long career, Sinai accepted, aiming to refresh his public image and remind audiences of his continued activity.

During a meeting with Tzafir and senior production staff, including Tamira Yardeni, the production team anticipated a tough negotiation over money. However, Sinai stated he was not seeking financial compensation. Instead, he requested two specific technical aids: a monitor and a teleprompter to display lyrics. Sinai explained that this was due to a long-standing difficulty in remembering texts, which had impacted him even in acting auditions and previously during a performance of Leonard Cohen's songs.

In addition to the technical requirements, Sinai secured an unusual safety net from Tzafir regarding the risk of early elimination. "It will damage me, obviously, what a failure that would be, God forbid," Sinai expressed his concern about being voted out in the first round. Tzafir assured him that if Sinai did not pass the initial audition, the segment would not be broadcast, effectively erasing his candidacy. This guarantee provided Sinai with the peace of mind needed to perform on stage.