Published: 7 May, 2009, 19:59
Edited: 7 May, 2009, 19:59
A Jew and an Arab on stage. Noa and Mira’s message is clear: ‘There must be another way!’
They call for peace and dialogue in the Middle East and, much to the surprise of many, are representing Israel at the Eurovision contest in Moscow, insisting an alternative to violence be found. “When I cry, I cry for both of us. My pain has no name. There must be another way,” sing Noa and Mira.
The leading light of Israeli music, Achinoam Nini, is better known under her stage name, Noa. Born in Tel Aviv and raised in New York, Noa’s family is originally from Yemen.
Noa has performed with Sting, Stevie Wonder and Carlos Santana. The 40-year old musician says she was offered the chance to sing at the Eurovision contest many years ago, but she first preferred to establish herself as a full-fledged artist.
A strong supporter of peace, Noa has been awarded the Dove of Peace by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres.
Singer/actress/songwriter Mira Awad was born in Rama village in Israel to a Palestinian father and a Bulgarian mother.
A star on Israeli TV, Mira played in the ‘Arab Labor’ and ‘Noah’s Ark’ series and currently lives in Tel Aviv.
In 2002 she teamed up with Noa for their own version of the Beatles hit, ‘We Can Work It Out’.
The 34-year-old Mira is the first Arab-Israeli artist to represent Israel in Eurovision. Their duo has received mixed reactions from both Palestinians and Israelis.
Noa told a press conference in Moscow that it was only natural that their entry, ‘There Must Be Another Way’, would cause controversy. However, she added, “There’s been an incredible amount of support. We get letters from all over the world, many people are happy for us, and that’s important.”