“Look at me!” sings Netta Barzilai and, as Youtube views indicate, we all follow her command.
Netta, Israel’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, won Israel’s pre-Eurovision competition, beating 19 other contestants. With her amazing voice, funky groove and avant-garde style, it’s no wonder she's the odds-on favorite to win Eurovision 2018, world’s largest music competition.
This year will be the 41st time Israel takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest, since its debut in 1973. Israel has won the competition three times. Its most recent victory came in 1998 when Dana International performed “Diva” in Birmingham, UK.
The 2018 Eurovision competition is just around the corner and Netta is a one-woman show you definitely don’t want to miss. She’ll be taking the stage in the first semifinal in Lisbon on May 8, 2018, with the final due to take place Saturday, May 12.
What is so special about our Netta is the wrong question to ask. What is NOT special about this extraordinary performer is a much tougher question to answer. From being practically an unknown, this young and gifted woman has managed to sweep the entire country with her "looper" madness.
After Netta’s Eurovision song was released, it quickly soared to the top of the betting charts, making Israel the favorite to win this year’s Eurovision. So far, “Toy” is the most viewed video of this year’s contest on the official Eurovision YouTube channel, with more than 20 million views, and popularity that is rising by the minute.
The song, featuring Netta’s iconic looper in a lively, colorful video, has become a global sensation. The song has been called “current, catchy and powerful” by British tabloid Metro, saying that Netta “can own a stage” and that audiences should “expect this one to go big.”
The singer with the attitude:
“Toy” fuses together different music styles and has already become a worldwide hit. With lyrics such as “I’m not your toy,” “Barbie” and “Wonder Woman,” Netta's catchy song might seem airy at first, yet it actually raises serious social issues such as women's empowerment, social justice and the past year’s #MeToo campaign as well.
"Toy" is also about empowering uniqueness, through Netta's inspiring personal story, and speaks to every girl and woman out there. And all these important messages come wrapped in a colorful, happy vibe.
Born in Israel in 1993, Netta spent four years of her childhood in Nigeria with her family. She studied music in the Electronic Studies department of the famed Rimon Scool of Music in Ramat Hasharon and later opened her own improvisation-based band.
While today Netta is trendy and favored, things weren't always so rosy for her. She was bullied and teased at school, and it took her time to find her place in the world and to build her self-esteem. “I wanted to be just like everyone else, but nothing in me was usual, nothing was like everyone else."
Music was always there for her, helping her to overcome all obstacles. That’s why nowadays Netta is able to advance her clear agenda of self-acceptance and women’s empowerment with such power and authenticity. In her own words, ”you don’t have to fit the normal standard model of how a person should look, think, talk and create in order to succeed.”
Israel's musical creativity
Every country that competes in the Eurovision wants its representative song to reflect its heritage and power. With Netta, Israel this year has found the right formula to bring its innovative and creative nature to the Eurovision stage.
Out of the 43 participating countries in the contest, the Israeli representative stands out with her one-of-a-kind style. Israel is already well known as a global innovation nation, so it is only natural that that same creative energy finds expression in Israeli music, with Eurovision offering the platform for the rest of the world to see, listen and be impressed. Some Israeli avant-garde musicians such as Asaf Avidan and Balkan Beat Box are already bringing a completely different level of Israeli groove to international stages. Netta has all it takes to join this list.
Not only is Netta's style very cutting edge, so too is the musical instrument she plays. The talented 25-year-old has a unique talent for mastering the looper – a modern electronic vocal instrument that allows Netta to record her voice several times in a loop, until a playback is formed.
“Choosing me as Israel’s representative to the Eurovision means choosing something different," said Netta in an interview to Kan, Israel's Public Broadcasting Corporation. "When people like my musical creations, I feel my mission is accomplished. I want to bring my style and music to as many ears as possible. I have dreams, but instead of dreaming, I prefer hard work."
*The rules of Eurovision prohibit the use of utilities in which voices are recorded in advance, and so Netta is not allowed to use her special toy during the performance in Lisbon.
Netta in the Arab world:
Not only Europeans like Israel's Eurovision entry; Netta’s “Toy” is arousing interest in Arab countries as well.
The Foreign Ministry's “Israel in Arabic” Facebook page, recently shared Netta's song with its 1.5 million followers, receiving surprisingly positive responses.
Although the Arab world is less interested in the Eurovision contest, “this song managed to drew attention and generate interest," remarked Yonatan Gonen, the head of the Arabic Language Digital Diplomacy team at the Israel MFA. "Through this song, we’re trying to show the cultural diversity we have here and shatter stereotypes regarding Israel in Arab countries.”
The 2018 Eurovision competition is just around the corner, so there's a lot to look forward to.
Let the games begin, and good luck, Netta!