eurovision 1983
Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza represented Israel at Eurovision 1983 in Munich with “Chai”, finishing 2nd of 20.
- who
- Israeli singer
- born
- 19 November 1957, Hatikva Quarter, Israel
- died
- 23 February 2000 (aged 42), Ramat Gan, Israel
- contest
- 1983
- best result
- 2nd, 1983
- music
- world music, folk-pop, Mizrahi music, pop, folk rock
- voice
- mezzo-soprano
- plays
- piano
- active
- 1969 to 2000
- record labels
- Hed Arzi Music
- sang for
- Israel
Biography
Ofra Haza, who died in 2000, was an Israeli singer, songwriter and actor, often called “the Madonna of the East” in the West. “Chai” finished second in Munich in 1983, six points behind the winner.
Written by ESC Predictions, 8 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, “Ofra Haza”.
Follow and listen
The act’s own accounts, as listed on Wikidata. If one is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll take it down.
At Eurovision
One song, and what became of it.
-
1983 Munich
“Chai (חי)”
2nd of 20 Finished 2nd of 20, with 136 points.
- Sung in
- Hebrew
- Written by
- Ehud Manor, Avi Toledano
- Conductor
- Silvio Nanssi Brandes
- Running order
- 16th of 20
- Age on the night
- 25
- Won that year
- Luxembourg: Corinne Hermès, “Si la vie est cadeau”
The story of Eurovision 1983: Lost in three languages, and a winner the hall walked out on
Away from Eurovision
Awards
- Singer, Female Singer and Band of the Year 1983
- Kinor David
As recorded on Wikidata, which is rarely the whole list.
In our contest stories
What we wrote about Ofra Haza, year by year. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 1983 The result
She won anyway. "Si la vie est cadeau" finished on 142 points, six ahead of Israel's Ofra Haza. Israel had now been runner-up two years running. Sweden's Carola Häggkvist was third, a single point ahead of Yugoslavia.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. Biographical details from Wikidata. The photo is from Wikimedia Commons and is credited beside it. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.