"...and he was approached by prominent businessmen with offers to stay in Russia and perform".

Music & Lyrics by: Osnat Tsabag & Orly Burg

Eddie Butler, 34, was born to American parents who had come to Israel from Chicago before settling in Dimona. Eddie began to sing and perform at the age of eight. He and his older brother, Gabriel, became popular attractions in Dimona, singing at family gatherings and community events. He soon found himself performing all over Israel.

Eddie decided to leave small-town Dimona for the big city of Tel Aviv where he began to sing with wedding bands. His enchantingly soulful voice, showmanship and good looks caught the attention of many top Israeli performers who wanted a little ‘Butler Flavour’ in their songs. In 1995, Eddie worked as backing singer for Zahava Bain's pre-Eurovision song. Soon afterwards, recording studios became interested in Eddie’s undeniable potential. He joined forces with the renowned musical manager and composer, Yacov Lemay, songwriter Jackie Oved, singer Rafiel Daan and brother Gabriel Butler to form the soulful pop group Eden (named after Eddie's daughter).

A unique blend of Hebrew and English, Eden was launched in 1997 and soon found success. Doron Oren replaced Jackie Oved and the finished product was ready to work – and work, they did! Their first hit was 'Happy Birthday', a rhythmic pop song full of joy that can still be heard on radio stations today. In 1999, Eden were chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.

2001 saw the dismantling of Eden but Eddie Butler found himself invited to perform throughout Europe, Russia and America. In 2003, he represented Israel in Yurmala, Russia's equivalent to the Eurovision Song Contest which is viewed by over 80 million people. Again, Eddie’s talent, spirit and inspiration won him the award as the audience’s favourite and he was approached by prominent businessmen with offers to stay in Russia and perform. But he decided that Israel was his home given that he lives there with Orly, the love of his life, and his son Aton

Eddie Butler (not the rugby commentator), is a strapping lad from the same side of the road as Alexander O'Neal. He has come up with a soulful song, which just won't do fopr Eurosong. What the Israelis were thinking about I just don't know. Dressed from head to toe in bleached white, Eddie moves around the dancefloor like Vandross on electro-shock therapy. It's not necessarily a bad move to use arm flailing and jolting to disguise what is in essence an appalling piece of music, but as he's singing third in the final, so there's every chance the public will still be alert enough to notice just how bereft it is.

So, it's slow, I think it's rubbish, and that can only mean it will shine in the final.

"More purgatory than eden"

Eddis loves...Pootle Flump

I caught up with Eddie as he tucked into his fifth big mac of the morning.."I loved the Flumps" Eddie failed to state. "I felt quite at home with them all...the inventive Father Flump, the storyteller Mother Flump, Perkin in his yellow and blue hat, and Posie with her bright blue ribbon. But is was Pootle for me, who had a white hat and always got confused. He never blinked though, even when Grandfather Flump was playing with his flumpet in front of him".
 
 
 
 
  
Is he Carlton Banks, who as a TV character dances in a comical manner
or Eddie Butler who dances in the same manner, but in real life.

Ze Hazman

Ooh yeah

Ze hazman lehit'akhed im kol haneshama
Ze halev veze hazman, it's now or never
Ze hazman lo lefakhed veliftoakh et halev
Raise your hands and pray for love together

Betokh libi akhshav ani yode'a
Rak ahava tatzit ta'lehava, yeah

Together we are one, ooh...
Tikva balev ola, hey...
I know that we, we can make it if we try
Look into your soul, listen to your heart
Ohav otakh la'ad

Ze hazman lehit'orer le'olam yafe yoter
Im ahava gdola balev laga'at
(Ahava gdola balev laga'at)
Ze hazman lehitkarev, en od pakhad mike'ev
Ohav otakh ad ovdan hada'at

Betokh libi akhshav ani yodea
Beguf ekhad nitzav (Beguf ekhad nitzav)
Ani shelakh la'ad, yeah (Ani shelakh la'ad)

Together we are one (Together we are one)
Tikva balev ola (Tikva balev ola)
I know that we, we can make it if we try
Look into your soul, listen to your heart

Bo'i venatkhil kmo yom khadash (Yom khadash)
Shuv noge'a bakh, kuli nirgash (Vekuli nirgash)
Otzem eynay, khay et hakhalom
Ze harega, ze hazman, ze hayom
(Ze hayom, veohav otakh la'ad)

(Together we are one) Together we are one
(Tikva balev ola) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I know that we, we can make it if we try
Look into your soul, listen to your heart
Ohav otakh la'ad

Ohav otakh la'ad"

This Is The Time

Ooh yeah

The time has come at last to hold you in my arms
Let's take it all the way, it's now or never
We can't be afraid to believe in a brighter day
Raise your hands and pray for love together

I know deep in my heart well be forever
Every word I sing is true, it's only me and you

Together we are one
True love has finally come
I know that we can make it if we try
Look into your soul
Listen to your heart
We'll never be apart

Every moment of my life as long as I'm alive
I got to have you by my side, girl forever
Let's take away the pain, cause love is not a game
Let me be the one to hold you

I know deep in my heart we'll be forever
Every word I sing is true, it's only me and you

Together we are one
True love has finally come
I know that we can make it if we try
Look into your soul
Listen to your heart
We'll never be apart

So let's close the door on yesterday
Cause I know there is a better way
Give me one more chance to be a better man
Cause girl you're my life, please stay...

Together we are one
True love has finally come
I know that we can make it if we try
Look into your soul
Listen to your heart
We'll never be apart
“I feel great, if a little tired. These are the costumes we’ll be wearing on Saturday. They’re white because white is pure, and our song is pure. It’s from the heart.”