The bookkeepers were right: the Israeli singer Netta Barzilai took the title for the first time in 20 years with her song ‘Toy’.
The first few seconds of her performance were enough to let the international audience know: this singer is anything but average. Netta Barzilai, a 1993-born Tel Avivian singer, operated the musical loop station, gesticulated intensely and smiled like a Cheshire-cat. This girl, and there is no doubt, loves the show biz and everything that’s out-of-the-box. For example cackling. A significant part of her contesting song consists of, yes cackling, and flapping like hens.
This is much more than a simple show off, Netta’s song is about accepting and loving yourself the way you are. Her advice for women around the world is to not become dependent on a man. What a clear message in times of #metoo. The audience loved her for that. And for her combination of a cheerful pop song, colourful costumes and her charming personality. This composition took her straight to the top, leaving Cyprus behind. It’s Israel’s fourth time at the top but the first in 20 years.
Israel celebrated Netta’s victory frenetically with honking and a party at Tel Aviv’s central Rabin Square and Jerusalem’s Mehane Yehuda market. With singing, clapping and of course lots of cackling. Next year Jerusalem is to host the ESC contest 2019.
Netta’s performance at the ESC
