Israel’s Netta Barzilai wins Eurovision Song Contest 2018
#MeToo themed song wowed voters across Europe as she pips Austria and Cyprus to the prestigious title
Israel’s Eurovision entry Netta Barzilai stormed to victory, pipping Austria and Cyprus to the title.
Netta covered her mouth and screamed after learning of her win.
Collecting the trophy, she said: “I’m so happy. Thank you so much for choosing different, thank you for accepting difference between us.
“Thank you for celebrating diversity. I love my country. Next time in Jerusalem!”
Shortly after winning, Netta Barzilai tweeted saying simply: “Thank you Europe.”
The track by Barzilai, whose stage name is Netta, is about female empowerment and was inspired by the #MeToo movement, she has said.
“The song has an important message,” she is quoted as telling the Daily Express before winning the contest, which features artists from dozens of countries in and around Europe, including Australia.
“The awakening of female power and social justice, wrapped in a colourful, happy vibe,” she said.
- READ MORE: Meet Israel’s Eurovision Toy girl!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Netta and indicated that the festival next year will be hosted in Jerusalem.
“You have brought the State of Israel a lot pride. Next year in Jerusalem!” wrote Netanyahu on Twitter to Netta.
The score was determined by points given by the contest’s official juries and by callers. “Toy” won the match with a combined score of 529 points, giving is a huge lead of 93 points over Cypress, which came second and a 187-point lead on Austria in third place. The score for Toy was the fourth-highest in the contest’s history.
Watch her performance here:
Will this be the winning performance of #Eurovision?
Watch #TOY by @NettaBarzilai now!#ISR #VOTEISRAEL pic.twitter.com/PM721nkBe2— כאן (@kann) May 12, 2018
Speaking about the chicken noises she makes during the song, she told Wiwibloggs: “The noises are supposed to imitate the voices of a coward – a chicken. Someone who doesn’t act the way he/she feels and treats you like a toy.”
The three Israeli songs that had won the contest before “Toy” — “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” in 1978, “Hallelujah” in 1979 and Dana International’s “Diva” in 1998 — were sung in Hebrew.
"I'm so happy, thanks for choosing difference, thank you for celebrating diversity" #Netta #Israel #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/HdaXXvXeyr
— BBC Eurovision???????? (@bbceurovision) May 12, 2018
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
