Music group, Izabo, representing Israel in 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: Eurovision.

Similar to American Idol, the annual Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world’s most popular musical competitions.  According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, 600 million people view the program each year, making it one of the globe’s most watched non-sporting events annually.

The contest, which has been broadcast every year since 1956, is open to members of the European Broadcasting Union, and although Israel is not geographically inside Europe, it does form part of the European Broadcasting Area.

This year Israel chose  “Time” by eclectic idie-disco-eastern band Izabo, to represent the country at the contest, which is to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan on May 26.

Israel has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973, having hosted it twice.  The country has also won the competition on three separate occasions.

To view the band and the song representing Israel in this year’s contest, click below.