Cyprus's Eurovision star releases Israeli-inspired song

Eleni Foureira, who came second to Netta Barzilai, records song by 'Toy' writer Doron Medalie.

Cyprus’s Eleni Foureira and Israel’s Netta react after the Semi-Final 1 for Eurovision Song Contest 2018 at the Altice Arena hall in Lisbon, Portugal, May 8, 2018 (photo credit: PEDRO NUNES/REUTERS)
Cyprus’s Eleni Foureira and Israel’s Netta react after the Semi-Final 1 for Eurovision Song Contest 2018 at the Altice Arena hall in Lisbon, Portugal, May 8, 2018
(photo credit: PEDRO NUNES/REUTERS)
As the Eurovision final approached last month, Israeli fans were very worried about one person: Eleni Foureira.
The Cyprus competitor in the song contest this year was a favorite to win ahead of the big finale, and nobody was quite sure if Netta Barzilai could manage to take home the prize for Israel.
Well, Israel beat out Cyprus in the 2018 contest, but Foureira’s latest song proves she still has plenty of love for the Jewish state.
On Thursday, Foureria released her first post-Eurovision song: A Greek cover of a Hebrew song written by none other than Doron Medalie, who penned Barzilai’s winning hit “Toy.”
The new song is called Caramela, and is an adaptation of the song Israeli singer Moshe Peretz released last year.
Medalie posted it on Facebook on Friday morning, writing in Hebrew: “It’ll be a perfect summer for visitors to the Greek islands this year!” Foureira’s Eurovision entrance song, “Fuego,” has proven a big hit across Europe, and the Greek singer is clearly hoping to follow up on her success.
Even before this year’s Eurovision, Foureira has shown her love for Israeli music.
In 2015, she recorded a cover version of “Golden Boy,” the song written by Medalie which Nadav Guedj performed for Israel in that year’s Eurovision.