The United States can sometimes seem incredibly insular. While some foreign-born acts — including Rihanna, Drake, Justin Bieber and the guys of One Direction — have made huge waves in the U.S., the big morning shows are much more likely to showcase established domestic talent as opposed to hot acts from outside North America.

Well today Israel’s Netta Barzilai helped smash that ceiling with a live performance on The Today Show — one of America’s most enduring and popular morning news programmes.

Before making her US television debut with her Eurovision winning song “Toy”, Netta answered a few questions from US TV personality — and former MTV VJ — Carson Daly.

 

As you’d expect, he started by giving the American audience a brief overview of Netta and ESC.

He said: “Hailing from Israel, she won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which if you don’t know about is a massive music competition held across Europe.”

Netta is still giddy from how her life has changed.

“This is unreal,” she said. “Everyday I’m waking up in another country and I’m like where am I?”

“I met Prince William. He’s a real Prince Charming. He is really, really sweet. Very planned out. We had a 10-minute walk. They closed the street!”

“This song was inspired by the Me Too movement and this is an amazing time where women are finding their voices this year. It gives power to everybody whose been struck down by a bigger force — your boss. It’s to everybody who has been told they can’t be what they want to be.”

Meanwhile in the Netherlands…

She’s not just slaying from sea to shining sea. Our girl is also slaying on the other side of the Atlantic!

Today’s performance in the United States coincided with the publication of the latest edition of Attitude Nederlands which has chosen to put Netta on the cover.

My covers for @attitudenl magazine! I had so much fun!

A post shared by netta barzilai (@nettabarzi) on

The August edition of the magazine is its Pride Special. On the cover we see Netta absolutely werking the harajuku vibe in an updated take on the Japanese kimono.

The cover text quotes Miss Barzilai, who echoes the sentiment of her song “Toy”: “Pride is being yourself without excuses.”

The cover text also shows just how global she has gone, as it references the international drag icons and RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Bianca del Rio, Dusty Ray Bottoms and Shangela.

Are you loving Netta’s Today Show performance? What do you think of her Attitude cover? Let us know down below!

Read more Israel Eurovision news

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Juan Cena
5 years ago

I would have preferred Netta to perform on one of the late night shows, but the Today performance was pretty good, and Netta was able to be interviewed as well as perform, so this is a good start for her American TV-wise.

Julio
Julio
5 years ago

Go Netta, the world is yours!

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

Heavy promotion. I’d suggest Australia too, it seems to be a place to test new acts. And I hope she has a follow-up single in the bag, because Toy won’t work forever.

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  Jo.

I’m really hoping she does have a new singer up her sleeve and I really hope she is here to stay!

Snappy
Snappy
5 years ago

The backing-track for the looper at the start was a bit of a let-down, heck, she couldn’t use it live at ESC so you’d think she’d use it live here.

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  Snappy

She had backup singers at the ESC and she is a looping Artist so she can be a one woman show! You are grasping at nothing to fault her!

Adam
Adam
5 years ago

I hope she releases a new single soon.

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago

You go girl!

Hans
Hans
5 years ago

OK its official – Netta is one of the biggest and most influance winners of ESC! Congrats Israel!

Matt
Matt
5 years ago

My one little issue is I don’t 100% agree with Netta, no matter how gay-friendly Eurovision is, covering a Pride issue of Attitude, if any cover should be reserved for a bit LGBT+ representation it’s that.

Eastman
Eastman
5 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Using a plus-size diva on the cover is a refreshing change from all those buff shirtless coverboys.

N;kko
N;kko
5 years ago

Eurovision was very beneficial for both Netta and Eleni! They have guest appearences in many countries and they are successful in the charts.

Crystal
5 years ago

I wasn’t surprised to see her in the indoor studio, as they typically have more established artists perform outside during the Summer Concert Series. However, the fact that she was invited to participate in the first place is incredible, as Eurovision hardly gets any nationwide attention here, even less so for the winners. While she has not charted on the Hot 100 at this time, Netta is doing nicely on the American dance music charts, with “Toy” at #11 on this week’s Dance Club Songs chart (which tracks airplay in nightclubs all over the country) and is at #40 on… Read more »

bob
bob
5 years ago

As an American, i’m extremely happy that Netta has introduced herself to the American public. I was a bit scared that her performance would come along with an announcement that the U.S. would participate in Eurovision (I know it sounds unrealistic for many people but I wouldn’t be surprised if NBC managed to make a deal with the EBU) I’m glad that more Americans are becoming aware of the spectacle that is Eurovision though!

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Very pleased to see the States are digging Netta! She deserves all the success she’s earned. The Netherlands have been a bit bipolar about her though, haven’t they? First they score her highly at the contest (10 points from the televote, 5 from the jury), then there’s that nasty business with that comedy show, then she’s on magazines and a big deal again. As long as they settle back into liking her, I’m solid. Also, I’m guessing the Netherlands are going to participate next year (they participated in both of the previous contests in Israel, plus they’re coming off of… Read more »

Zack
Zack
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Off-topic, but love your Avatar, Joe. I <3 Don Music!!!!

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Zack

Thank you! And here I thought someone would never get it – never, never, never!

James
James
5 years ago

I was expecting and outdoor performance at Rockefeller Plaza since it’s summer there and fit forin some morning jamming wth the crowd.

Josh Kennon
Josh Kennon
5 years ago
Reply to  James

I think the PTB’s on the show gave her the “international artist who WE DON’T THINK will draw a big crowd” treatment by keeping her inside — I have NO doubt if they had taken the time to set it up outside, the crowd would have shown up for her — but the crowd that WAS there loved her (and I loved the ones copying her harajuku hair lol)

Xintao
Xintao
5 years ago
Reply to  James

Recently there’s been a couple of strong storms in the East Coast, also she probably wouldn’t fill up the space needed, compared to other established artists.

Yellowman96
5 years ago
Reply to  James

I’m from the East Coast and the weather today has been atrocious! So having it indoors was the best option

FanESC
FanESC
5 years ago

#Queen.
Please William, Masoé and Emmy Liyana from Destination Eurovision 2018 released their clips. And Jonathan Cerrada (France 2006) also released a new single in Indonesian, could you write an article, please ?

Anita
Anita
5 years ago
M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Thank God the Today Show audience is a bit more… alive than the audience in that German morning TV show she appeared in.

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

American audience is always the best