"Diva"
Single by Dana International
from the album Free
Released25 May 1998 (1998-05-25)[1]
Genre
Length3:02
LabelCNR Music, Dance Pool
Composer(s)Tzvika Pick
Lyricist(s)Yoav Ginai
Producer(s)Offer Nissim
Dana International singles chronology
"Diva"
(1998) 		"Makat hom (i la dirla da da)"
(2002)
Eurovision Song Contest 1998 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Yoav Ginai
Finals performance
Final result
1st
Final points
Entry chronology
◄ "Amen" (1995)
"Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)" (1999) ►

"Diva" (Hebrew: דיווה) is the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, performed in Hebrew by Israeli singer 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[3] and included on her fifth album, Free (1999). It was Israel's third winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest, following the consecutive victories of 1978 and 1979. Dana International's win is considered one of the most groundbreaking moments in Eurovision history.[4]

Eurovision selection and victory

Main article: Eurovision Song Contest 1998

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.[5]

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.

After the results were announced, 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.

The song was succeeded in 1999 as contest winner by Charlotte Nilsson, performing "Take Me to Your Heaven" for Sweden. It was succeeded as Israeli representative at the 1999 contest by Eden with "Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)".

Congratulations

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.

Digital release

Despite its legacy as a well remembered Eurovision winner, as of 2018, the song was unavailable on digital music platforms (with the sole exception of Scandinavia). Efforts were made to get the rights holders to release the song digitally;[6][7] the efforts finally paid off, as on 11 April 2019 the English version of the song got released, with the Hebrew version to follow the week after.[8]

Content

The song is a moderately uptempo number. It is an ode to powerful women of history and mythology: Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory or Queen Victoria, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, and the Greek queen Cleopatra are named.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[34] Gold 25,000*
Sweden (GLF)[35] Gold 15,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Dana International – Diva" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  2. ^ Stevenson, Jack (2001). "Eurovision: The Candy-Coated Song Factory". In Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (eds.). Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Los Angeles: Feral House. pp. 173–176.
  3. ^ ACUM Website
  4. ^ Barlow, Eve (10 May 2018). "Viva la diva! How Eurovision's Dana International made trans identity mainstream". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  5. ^ "History - Eurovision Song Contest 1999". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  6. ^ @Pop_Activism (26 January 2018). "Still trying to find out who owns the rights to Diva by Dana International with no luck. It's online but only in Scandinavia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @Pop_Activism (6 February 2018). "So who the f*** does own Diva by Dana International?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ @Pop_Activism (12 April 2019). "Pop Activism Alert!🚨🚨We've got Diva, Dana International's 1998 #Eurovision winner onto @Spotify & @AppleMusic 🇮🇱🇪🇺Thanks @SonyUK for handling our request & putting on in time for #esc2019 in the countries they hold rights* Hebrew version next week!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Diva (UK & Australian CD1 liner notes). Dana International. Dance Pool. 1998. DANA1CD, 666145 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Diva (UK & Australian CD2 liner notes). Dana International. Dance Pool. 1998. DANA1CDX, 666145 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Diva (UK cassette single eleeve). Dana International. Dance Pool. 1998. DANA1MC.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Diva (European CD single liner notes). Dana International. CNR Music. 1998. 5300294.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Diva (European remixes CD single liner notes). Dana International. CNR Music. 1998. 5300306.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Diva (French remixes 12-inch single sleeve). Dana International. CNR Music France. 1998. 3041086.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  16. ^ "Dana International – Diva" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ "Dana International – Diva" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 27. 4 July 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Dana International: Diva" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  20. ^ "Dana International – Diva" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ^ "Dana International – Diva" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (03.07.1998 – 10.07.1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 July 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Diva". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dana International" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  25. ^ "Dana International – Diva" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  26. ^ "Dana International – Diva". VG-lista.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Dana International – Diva". Singles Top 100.
  29. ^ "Dana International – Diva". Swiss Singles Chart.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Rapports annuels 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2020.

Footnotes

  1. ^ After the broadcast it was announced that the Spanish broadcaster wrongly tallied the votes and Germany should have got the top mark – 12 points – instead of being snubbed, as it happened. The mistake was corrected and so Germany was placed seventh over Norway. Israel and Norway both received two points less than originally and Croatia, Malta, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia and Turkey all received one point less than indicated during the broadcast. Originally Estonia, Cyprus and Portugal had tied for 11th place with 37 points but because Portugal and Estonia received one point less than indicated during the broadcast, Cyprus was placed 11th over Estonia and Portugal.
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