She is the one-woman show who won the Israeli national selection The Next Star for Eurovision 2018 earlier this month. And today the Israeli broadcaster announced that Netta Barzilai will sing the song “Toy” in Lisbon.

Unfortunately you’re going to have to wait for playtime to start. KAN (IPBC) — the new Israeli broadcaster – won’t reveal the song until Saturday March 10. They’ll do so online and via the TV station.

Netta Barzilai’s “Toy”

Following Netta’s victory on “The Next Star for Eurovision 2018”, a special committee listened to 140 song submissions.

The committee included three representatives of IPBC and two representatives of Keshet (the broadcaster of The Next Star for Eurovision 2018).

The committee picked the five best songs and the songs were then produced and arranged by Netta and her team. In the final stage the committee listened to the final versions of the songs and picked the chosen one.

The honour went to “Toy” — by Doron Medalie and Stav Beger.

If you’re a hardcore Eurovision fan, you should know Doron, as he also wrote “Golden Boy” and “Made of Stars”, the Israeli songs at Eurovision 2015 and 2016.

Doron also wrote many other Israeli hits such as: “Tel Aviv” and “Tikitas”. He also took some Eurovision hits — Opa (Greece 2010) and “Dime” (Spain 2003) — and reworked them in Hebrew.

Stav Beger wrote a song for the Israeli national final in 2016 (together with Tom Gefen), “Follow The Sun”, by Gil Hadash, as well as some other hits for Israeli artists, such as “Shnei Meshuga’im ” (Two Crazy People) by Omer Adam.

Netta Barzilai will be allowed to use her vocal looper

From the moment Netta had her first audition in Israel the big question surrounding her performances was whether the Eurovision rules would allow this kind of performance.

According to the latest reports the EBU will allow her to use her own special toy on stage, as long as the voices will be recorded to the looper during her live performance.

In her recent interviews she promised that she will do her best and will bring fun into her performance. We can’t wait to see what she’ll bring.

Who is Netta Barzilai?

Netta is 25 years old, and she performs in clubs and weddings in Tel Aviv. She has a unique look, which reflects her unique musical style: She’s a one-woman show that you have to watch in order to understand.

In her first audition, and during most of her performances on the show, she had a special vocal looper on stage. But even with just a one-string guitar during her second audition, she still oozed charisma, style and uniqueness in her special version of the Eurovision 1978 winning song, “A-Ba-Ni-Bi”.

Izhar Cohen, the original performer of the tune, watched her cover and said she’d be fab for Eurovision — and the music scene more generally.

Links to more of Netta Barzilai’s perfomances:  “Rude Boy” | “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” | “Hey Mama” | Mashup | “What Is Love” | “Barbie Girl” |  “Wannabe” | “Kzat Meshugaat”

During the last few weeks there’s been quite the interest in Israel surrounding Netta and her unique style. In fact, she was even imitated recently on “Eretz Nehederet” (A Great Country) — a very popular Israeli TV show. Looks like a star has been born.

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Are you looking forward to hearing “Toy”? What are your expectations? Tell us in the comments!

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Tom
Tom
6 years ago

THE EXPERIMENT – POTATOES – with Netta Barzilay 🙂
https://youtu.be/4UlnAZtdIW8

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Deliver us a BOP!

DragKvinna
DragKvinna
6 years ago

Jacques Hirsoux, Houdek, Netta
Wildcards

Bring Denise Back
Bring Denise Back
6 years ago

She must wear the Moran Mazor dress it will be so wonderful

frenchbaguette
frenchbaguette
6 years ago

i love her so much, dark horse of this year hahah 🙂

gili
gili
6 years ago
Reply to  frenchbaguette

Actually i dont see her as dark horse, the opposite, she is the most talented artist in eurovision 2018…lets wait to hear Toy….

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

If this goes well, it could be the surprise winner of ESC 2018. Rather ironic too, a year after the Israeli representative prematurely announced they wouldn’t be returning. (Oops)

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Can I please explain this for everyone. The poor guy did not announce that they would not be participating again, even though his choice of words was not successful. He said what he did because it was the last broadcast of the national broadcasting authority, which was slated to be shut down and replaced, and he was obviously emotional. He only meant to say that the channel he has been part of for so many years will no longer broadcast Eurovision simply because it will cease to operate. The new broadcasting company has now successfully replaced the old one.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

Thanks for explaining. 🙂

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago

I guess that’s the first gimmick act in this year’s Eurovision? She’s really good at this though, so I guess I should be excited.

And TBF, she’s good even without the looper.

MD
MD
6 years ago

I just hope that she actually brings fun and not pure stupidity in the contest. Let’s wait and see…

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

When I saw the title, I wasn’t quite confident, but the looper will make it more interesting. Also, I love she wants to bring fun to Eurovision. Hope for an up-beat tune.
Looking forward to the song!

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago

I have a good feeling she will make us proud 🙂

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

“Toy” “Boy” “Joy” are expected words in the song. I feel like I can already hear it.

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

” I’m a golden toy, play me and enjoy” is what I expectm

Amor
Amor
6 years ago
Reply to  Gobio

I wish I could like this comment

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago

She is brilliant! I have very high expectations of her. I hope her song matches with her awesomeness.

apple
apple
6 years ago

Maybe I’m being a bit awkward, but is “Toy” supposed to be an English or English/Hebrew song, or that word means something in Hebrew too? Just curious, because that English word title leaves me cold…

omri
omri
6 years ago
Reply to  apple

I speak hebrew the word “Toy” has no meanning in hebrew so I can probably guess the song will be in English…..

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago
Reply to  apple

Toy doesn’t mean anything in Hebrew (I’m Israeli)
Netta does want to have both Hebrew and English in the song but I don’t if the song really does have

Martin P
6 years ago

I think that it will be ‘watch this space’ as far as the looper goes – the manufacturers classify it as an instrument and we all know that instruments can’t be used live on a Eurovision stage. So how will Netta be able to record her vocal sounds live on stage on the looper if it can’t be ‘played’ live? Now that will be one for the EBU Reference Group to think about!

Of course “Toy” may not involve the looper at all, in which case all this theorising is a waste of time…

avner kam
avner kam
6 years ago
Reply to  Martin P

” instruments can’t be used live on a Eurovision stage. ”
Hmmm… they play piano and guitars all the time. While voices cannot be recorded, it seems live instruments are allowed. I just checked the rules and found not ban on instruments.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Martin P

Drum sets have the unique position of being allowed to be played live, and while violins in live performances have mostly been mimed, Alexander Rybak did play his violin live.

Eyal
Eyal
6 years ago

One of the most intriguing artists in this years contest (so far)
Good luck Netta!

Sal
Sal
6 years ago

Do we know if it will be only in English or will it partly be Hebrew lyrics?

Joe
Joe
6 years ago
Reply to  Sal

I hope there’s a little Hebrew, given the spike in national languages this year.

Azaad
Azaad
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I think Israel would be the last country opting for their language given that they only started qualifying after they dropped it.

Moran
Moran
6 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Israel won three times when the songs were in Hebrew

EurovisionUK
EurovisionUK
6 years ago
Reply to  Moran

Yeah in 1978,179 and 1998 when signing in their native language was compulsory

Jessica21
Jessica21
6 years ago

It’s going to be interesting, can’t wait! 😀

Boy
Boy
6 years ago

What is his ?

Frisian esc
6 years ago
Reply to  Boy

This is a news website dedicated to the eurovision song contest 😉