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Netta Barzilai, known mononymously as Netta (born 22 January 1993), is an Israeli singer, DJ and plus-size model.

Netta is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Toy", giving her country their fourth win, and their first since Dana International's "Diva" in 1998.

"Toy" beat runner-up "Fuego" (by Cyprus' entrant Eleni Foureira) by close to a hundred points; she also received the most votes from viewers across Europe, and still won the whole thing despite only coming third in the jury vote.

Prior to winning Eurovision, Netta performed as a DJ at parties, and utilized her skill whilst competing in the fifth season of HaKokhav HaBa, which is also used to determine Israel's Eurovision entry.

In spite of touring the US, and carrying out a headline tour of UK, France, and German-speaking countries, as well as performing in massive LGBT festivals for crowds in their thousands in Spain, Sweden, and back home, all prior to releasing a follow up to "Toy", which was the first song to receive 100 million views on the ESC's YouTube Channel (and had already became its most viewed video before May was over), she was still living in a flat, a complete contrast to the prices lavished on her costumes and music videos, such as that for follow up "Bassa Sababa", which was filmed in Kiev for a national record budget.


Discography:

  • Goody Bag (EP) (2020)

Filmography (as herself):


Netta provides examples of:

  • The Ace: Netta had never released a piece of music before "Toy", but that didn't stop her from quickly becoming a favorite to win Eurovision after the song was officially released.
  • Action Girl / Badass Israeli: Like most other Israelis, Netta served in the Israel Defense Forces (Specifically in her case, the IDF Navy). The Israeli draft affects both women and men and there are no exemptions except on religious or ethnic grounds (Arabs don't have to serve but can if they want). Not that pro-Palestinian groups haven't tried to use this to discredit her...
    • Somewhat subverted: she served in the Navy music band. But hey, at least she got a nice uniform!
  • Affectionate Parody: The video for "Ricki Lake" borders on a Take That! to American advertising and consumerism, as well as the American relationship to food and excess, however Netta has said that she was inspired as a girl by watching Ricki Lake on TV and her confidence despite everyone criticizing her, so the video is both a parody and love letter to American TV and advertising.
  • All Love Is Unrequited: The song "Cuckoo" plays with this. It's about being the person who does not reciprocate the feelings of their lover, at least not anymore, and is conflicted about how to end the relationship, as they still care about their lover despite not being in love with them.
  • Animal Motifs: Obviously the Chicken impersonation in Toy, to attack men who behave in this way. Her following song "Bassa Sababa", released 11 months after "Toy" sees her imitate a rhinoceros, and transform into one during the song's bizarre music video. She has even taken to affectionally nicknaming her fans "my little rhinos".
  • Big Beautiful Woman: Netta has spoken about her weight and the insecurities that come from it. "Bassa Sababa"'s lyrics further this point. She has also became a plus-size fashion model, including for a one piece swimsuit during Tel Aviv's fashion week.
  • Continuity Nod: In once scene of the video for "Cuckoo", there's a jar of "Ricki Lake" brand mayonnaise, a reference to her prior music video.
  • Curse Cut Short: Many wonder if the line "Dancing with my dolls to the Madabaka beat" at the end of "Toy"'s chorus was this.
  • Kaleidoscope Hair: Whilst her hair colours were relatively sedate in Lisbon, she has since had pink, yellow, green, white, purple and red hairstyles at several points, for example a purple one when with Prince William when they met in central Tel Aviv during his trip to Israel, Palestine and Jordan.
  • Only One Name: She performs simply as Netta.
  • Shout-Out: "Toy" mentions Wonder Woman, a character who has (most notably) been portrayed in live action by the Israeli actress Gal Gadot. It also namedrops Pikachu.

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