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Diva (song)
Encyclopedia
"Diva" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998
performed in Hebrew
by Dana International
representing Israel
. The music was composed by Tzvika Pick, and the lyrics by Yoav Ginai. It totalled 172 points in the polling.
The song became the last entry entirely in a language other than English to win the Contest until 2007
. The interval act and Dana's reprise was the last time live music from an orchestra was used in the Contest, as the 1999 Contest lacked the necessary budget and was held in a venue not large enough to hold one. Dana is also currently the only transgender
singer to have won the Contest.
The selection of Dana International's song caused such controversy amongst conservative groups in Israel that upon her arrival in Britain, police escorts and security were required continuously. The performance consisted of Dana International, wearing a silver dress, being backed by four other female singers wearing black, and involved no dancing.
The song is an ode to the powerful women of history — with Cleopatra in fact being the only real figure named. Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory and Aphrodite
, the Greek goddess of beauty are also named.
The song was performed eighth on the night, following Poland
's Sixteen
with "To takie proste
" and preceding Germany
's Guildo Horn
with "Guildo hat euch lieb!
". At the close of voting, it had received 172 points, placing 1st in a field of 25. This was Israel's third Contest victory and, as they had not entered the previous year's Contest, they achieved the unusual distinction of having won a Contest the year after not competing.
After winning the contest, Dana International caused a stir by arriving to the presentation late after a long delay in changing into an extravagant costume designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier
adorned with bird feathers before performing the reprise.
The song was chosen in an internet poll conducted by the European Broadcasting Union
in 2005 as one of the 14 most popular songs in the history of the Eurovision, and was one of the entrants in the Congratulations
50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen
, Denmark
, held in October 2005. It was re-enacted by Dana International along with six dancers equipped with giant feathered fans and a live orchestra
as the original footage was shown in the background. Diva came 13th in the final voting.
The song was succeeded in 1999 as Contest winner by Charlotte Nilsson, performing "Take Me to Your Heaven
" for Sweden
.
It was succeeded as Israeli representative
at the 1999 Contest
by Eden
with "Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)
".
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1CD
Sony Music Australia/DancePool (thought to be released on 15.06.1998) - 666145 2
Sony Music South Africa/DancePool 06.1998 - CDSIN 268 1
The Pink CD version had the following tracks: -
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1CDX
Sony Music Australia/DancePool (thought to be released on 15.06.1998) - 666145 5
All remixes are in English. For some reason, both Australian versions of Diva were released with the blue cover.
The MC (cassette) version (DANA 1MC) had the following tracks: -
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1MC
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Peak
position
|-
|align="left"|Spain
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|Belgium
|align="center"|2
|-
|align="left"|Sweden
|align="center"|3
|-
|align="left"|Finland
|align="center"|7
|-
|align="left"|Netherlands
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|Irish Singles Chart
|align="center"|10
|-
|align="left"|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|11
|-
|align="left"|Norway
|align="center"|12
|-
|align="left"|Switzerland
|align="center"|15
|-
|align="left"|Austria
|align="center"|37
|-
|align="left"|Germany
|align="center"|47
|-
|align="left"|France
|align="center"|59
Eurovision Song Contest 1998
The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was the 43rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1998 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The presenters were Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson...
performed in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
by Dana International
Dana International
Sharon Cohen , professionally known as Dana International is an Israeli pop singer of Yemenite Jewish ancestry. She has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums, positioning herself as one of Israel's most successful musical acts ever...
representing Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The music was composed by Tzvika Pick, and the lyrics by Yoav Ginai. It totalled 172 points in the polling.
The song became the last entry entirely in a language other than English to win the Contest until 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
. The interval act and Dana's reprise was the last time live music from an orchestra was used in the Contest, as the 1999 Contest lacked the necessary budget and was held in a venue not large enough to hold one. Dana is also currently the only transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
singer to have won the Contest.
The selection of Dana International's song caused such controversy amongst conservative groups in Israel that upon her arrival in Britain, police escorts and security were required continuously. The performance consisted of Dana International, wearing a silver dress, being backed by four other female singers wearing black, and involved no dancing.
The song is an ode to the powerful women of history — with Cleopatra in fact being the only real figure named. Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory and Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
, the Greek goddess of beauty are also named.
The song was performed eighth on the night, following Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
's Sixteen
Sixteen (band)
Sixteen was a Polish band, which was founded in 1997 and disbanded in 2004. Renata Dąbkowska is its lead singer, and it represented Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998.Their debut album "Lawa" was released in 1997....
with "To takie proste
To takie proste
"To takie proste" was the Polish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in Polish by Sixteen.The song is a moderately up-tempo number, sung from the point of view of a woman in a relationship which she recognises is not great, but which she admits is "the best that we can get".The...
" and preceding Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn He is mainly famous for his eccentric stage persona, which includes outrageous clothes and very extroverted antics.At the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, he came in 7th with the title "Guildo hat euch lieb!" ....
with "Guildo hat euch lieb!
Guildo Hat Euch Lieb!
"Guildo hat euch lieb!" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in German by Guildo Horn & Die Orthopädischen Strümpfe. The song was performed ninth on the night...
". At the close of voting, it had received 172 points, placing 1st in a field of 25. This was Israel's third Contest victory and, as they had not entered the previous year's Contest, they achieved the unusual distinction of having won a Contest the year after not competing.
After winning the contest, Dana International caused a stir by arriving to the presentation late after a long delay in changing into an extravagant costume designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier , born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French haute couture fashion designer. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash....
adorned with bird feathers before performing the reprise.
The song was chosen in an internet poll conducted by the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
in 2005 as one of the 14 most popular songs in the history of the Eurovision, and was one of the entrants in the Congratulations
Congratulations (Eurovision)
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a television programme organised by the European Broadcasting Union to commemorate the Eurovision Song Contest's fiftieth anniversary and to determine the Contest's most popular entrant of its fifty years. It took place at Forum,...
50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, held in October 2005. It was re-enacted by Dana International along with six dancers equipped with giant feathered fans and a live orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
as the original footage was shown in the background. Diva came 13th in the final voting.
The song was succeeded in 1999 as Contest winner by Charlotte Nilsson, performing "Take Me to Your Heaven
Take Me to Your Heaven (song)
"Take Me to Your Heaven" was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 performed in English by Charlotte Nilsson representing Sweden...
" for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
It was succeeded as Israeli representative
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Although geographically not in Europe, Israel is within the European Broadcasting Area and can thus participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel is a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and made its first appearance in 1973. Israel has participated in the contest 34 times, and has won...
at the 1999 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1999
The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 in Jerusalem, Israel after Dana International won the contest the previous year in the United Kingdom. The venue for the contest was the International Convention Center...
by Eden
Eden (band)
Eden were an Israeli vocal group active between 1998 and 2001, consisting of Doren Oren, Rafael Dahan and brothers Gabriel and Eddie Butler. They are known primarily for their participation in the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest....
with "Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)
Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)
"Yom Huledet " was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, performed in Hebrew and English by Eden....
".
Track listing
The Blue CD version had the following tracks: -- English Radio Version (3:03)
- Hebrew Radio Version (3:03)
- Handbaggers Remix (7:17)
- G's Heavenly Vocal (6:04)
- G's Heavenly Dub (7:28)
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1CD
Sony Music Australia/DancePool (thought to be released on 15.06.1998) - 666145 2
Sony Music South Africa/DancePool 06.1998 - CDSIN 268 1
The Pink CD version had the following tracks: -
- English Radio Version (3:03)
- Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited 7" (3:26)
- Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited 12" (6:39)
- Sleaze Sisters Euro Anthem (7:08)
- Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited Instrumental (6:39)
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1CDX
Sony Music Australia/DancePool (thought to be released on 15.06.1998) - 666145 5
All remixes are in English. For some reason, both Australian versions of Diva were released with the blue cover.
The MC (cassette) version (DANA 1MC) had the following tracks: -
- English Radio Version (3:03)
- Hebrew Radio Version (3:03)
Sony Music UK/DancePool 15.06.1998 - DANA 1MC
Charts and sales
{| class="wikitable"!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Peak
position
|-
|align="left"|Spain
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|Belgium
|align="center"|2
|-
|align="left"|Sweden
|align="center"|3
|-
|align="left"|Finland
|align="center"|7
|-
|align="left"|Netherlands
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
|align="center"|10
|-
|align="left"|UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
|align="center"|11
|-
|align="left"|Norway
|align="center"|12
|-
|align="left"|Switzerland
|align="center"|15
|-
|align="left"|Austria
|align="center"|37
|-
|align="left"|Germany
|align="center"|47
|-
|align="left"|France
|align="center"|59