Israeli-music lovers
everywhere are talking about Dana International's exciting victory
at Saturday's (May 9) annual Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham, England!
The controversial singer narrowly won with her song "Diva," bringing the
award, and next year's Eurovision contest, back to Israel.
Congratulations to Dana International from Israeli Music Online! Next year in Jerusalem!
Next, learn all about Dana's victory by checking out the following sites and articles:
When you say the word "Eurovision" in Israel, many people frown, or yet stick their tongue out in disgust. Perhaps rightfully so, since in the last 10 years or so, several of the songs that represented Israel in the Eurovision have been mediocre at best. However, many other Israelis are fans of the song contest and are eager to support the performer.
For those who don't know what the Eurovision
is, it is a European song contest that began in 1956, and is held every year
at the country of the winning representing song from the previous year. The
program is broadcast live, televised simultaneously in all participating
nations and by a few other television stations around the world, including
Australia, Canada and Japan. Songs are selected in a "pre-Eurovision" song
contest held a few months before the Eurovision contest.
The songs have a limit of three minutes each, and currently the maximum number of songs in any one Contest has been 25. The order of performance is decided by a draw, and after the last song has been performed, voting begins in order to determine the winner. The votes are announced by each country in order of their draw position in the contest. Each country can allocate ten sets of votes, with points ranging from 1-8, 10, and a maximum of 12. However, points can not be given to one's own country.
The Eurovision contest has propelled some singers to stardom in some parts of the world, and even globally. Most notable are ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, Colm Wilkinson, Celine Dion, Gina G, and Vicky Leandros to name a few. This year's Eurovision will be held on May 9, 1998 at Birmingham, England.
Israel began participating in the Eurovision in 1973, and has won twice in 1978 and 1979, and was second in 1982 and 1983, and third in 1993. This year's song is "Diva" performed by Dana International, a known Israeli singer who was born a man and has had a sex change, which has caused controversy in Israel especially in the religious sector. Despite the controversy, many Israelis are supportive and enthusiastic about winning for the first time since 1979. Controversy or not, the song is the quintessential Eurovision song, and is the best Eurovision-bound Israeli song in years. It is catchy, with an upbeat dance tempo, and the performance of Dana International is well choreographed.
However, as much as this is supposed to be a song contest, promoting the different cultures and countries participating at the event, it is highly motivated by politics, which may partly explain Israel's failure to reach any top spots in the mid-80's to early-90's. This year's song "Diva" will have stiff competition from songs from the U.K., Portugal, and the Netherlands. However, this year's song is leading all pre-contest polls as the winner. If luck would have it, "Diva" will win, and Israel will host the Eurovision song contest next year in Jerusalem. Viva la Diva!
Written by Eyal D. Dunkel
SABRAnet - Where Israel comes alive on the Internet
http://www.sabra.net
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