1998 Israel: Dana International - Diva (1st place at Eurovision Song Contest) incl. winner’s reprise

Performed by: Dana International Music by: Svika Pick Lyrics by: Yoav Ginai Conductor: Svika Pick Language: Hebrew Placing: 1st (172 points) Other versions: English Here you have both performances of Dana Int. The one in the lineup and the winner’s reprise at the end of the show, in which she wore the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier dress. “Diva“ (Hebrew: דיווה) is the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in Hebrew by Dana International representing Israel. The music was composed by Svika Pick, with lyrics written by Yoav Ginai. The song was produced by Offer Nissim with music arrangements by Alon Levin.[1] It was Israel’s third winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest, following victories in 1978 and 1979. Dana International’s win is considered one of the most groundbreaking moments in Eurovision history. The song is a moderately uptempo number. It is an ode to powerful women of history and mythology: Maria, mother of Jesus, Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory or Queen Victoria, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, and Cleopatra are named. The song became the last entry entirely in a language other than English to win the Contest until 2007. As the song did not have any live orchestral accompaniment, the interval act 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.[3] The selection of Dana International’s song caused so much controversy amongst conservative groups in Israel that on her arrival in Britain, police escorts and security were required continuously. The performance consisted of Dana International wearing a silver dress, backed by four other female singers wearing black. It involved no dancing. The song was the eighth entry performed 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. Ukraine also had this unusual bought of luck, having won in 2016 after missed the contest in Vienna a year before. The same would happen the following year with Portugal, missing the contest in 2016 but winning in 2017. 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. After the results were announced in Birmingham, Dana International caused a stir by arriving to the presentation late after a long delay, because she changed into an extravagant costume designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier adorned with bird feathers before performing the reprise. Diva Yesh isha gdola mehachaim Yesh chushim sheyesh rak la Yesh ksamim veyesh yamim kashim Uvama shehi kula shela Lamal’achim Diva hi imperia Al habama Diva hi histeria Hi kula shir ahava Viva nari’a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita Viva laDiva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra Yesh nashim – dma’ot shel hachaim Hen yis’u tfila belo milim Lamal’achim Diva hi imperia Al habama Diva hi histeria Hi kula shir ahava Viva nari’a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita Viva laDiva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra Viva nari’a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita Viva laDiva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra Diva, Diva, Diva, Diva Viva nari’a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita Viva laDiva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra Viva nari’a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita Viva laDiva, viva Viktoria, Diva ENGLISH: Diva There is a woman who is larger than life There are senses that only she possesses There is magic and there are hard days And a stage that is all hers To the angels Diva is an empire On the stage Diva is hysteria She is all a love song Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra There are women – tears of life They will say a prayer with no words To the angels Diva is an empire On the stage Diva is hysteria She is all a love song Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra Diva, Diva, Diva, Diva Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Diva