ISRAEL

The Israeli song was unveiled on March 11^th via the presentation of the official video clip However the show “HaKokhav HaBa” was used to choose their representative HaKokhav HaBa. There were 31 shows in total before the final and the winner was selected by juries (50%) and a mobile phone app (50%). This was won by Netta Barzilai and the song she will be singing in Lisbon is “Toy”

The accompanying video is very bright, colourful hyperactive and full of weird and wacky shots. Netta wears an abundance of different outfits which emphasises her personality as well as the defiant nature of the song. She is joined by some female dancers whose movements are also a little odd, out-of-the-ordinary, eye-catching but in keeping with the attitude of the song. In some shots she is stood alone and in others she is with her loop machine.

The track starts with what seems like senseless blabbering and nonsense. Of course what she is doing is applying vocal layers onto the looper for use later on during the song. It also pricks your ears up and you are instantly intrigued. We then go into a fairly straightforward verse which then leads into a more atmospheric pre-chorus which is then broken by the chicken noises – utterly bonkers but totally in context. This then leads into the chorus proper which has a driving beat and some really simplistic and catchy lyrics. The second verse begins in Hebrew but is very highly processed so it sounds like Norman Collier's old ‘broken microphone’ gag. This leads back into the pre-chorus/chorus. During the last 30 seconds Netta really lets rip and shows the power, strength and range in her voice. The ending could be a bit more bombastic but who knows what she could end up doing in the live shows…!

This is possibly one of the most avant garde songs we’ve had for a very long time in Eurovision, and for once, this is totally down the line  serious stuff – Netta is not doing this for the gags – this is her thing, her shtick. Also it must be added that Netta uses a vocal loop mix machine to create the tricks on the track. This is groundbreaking because this means she will be playing live on stage – something that has meant a Eurovision rule change. This is heavy technical stuff. Netta is also all about the live performance and even from this very well cut video you understand what her performance level is like. This is a very special performer and it will be very interesting to see if the regular audience at home take to her or now. On first listen I though this was awful but after some time to bed in this is a brilliant entry.

ARTIST –  Netta Barzilai

SONG – Toy

MUSIC - Doron Medalie, Stav Beger

LYRICS - Doron Medalie, Stav Beger