Diva (Dana International song)

Background

Conception

The music of "Diva" was composed by Svika Pick, with lyrics written by . The song was produced by Offer Nissim with music arrangements by Alon Levin. It was recorded by Dana International in Hebrew and English and was included on her fifth album, Free, released in 1999.

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.

Eurovision

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA) "Diva" as its song for the of the Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the – and Dana International the performer – for the contest.

On 9 May 1998, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and broadcast live throughout the continent. 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. She performed "Diva" in Hebrew eighth on the evening, following 's "To takie proste" by Sixteen and preceding 's "Guildo hat euch lieb!" by Guildo Horn. She wore a silver blue dress designed by Israeli designer and was backed by four other female singers wearing black. It involved no dancing and no live orchestral accompaniment.

At the close of voting, the song had received 172 points, placing first in a field of twenty-five, and winning the contest. 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. This was Israel's third victory in the contest 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.

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

Aftermath

Dana International's win is considered influential in making trans identity mainstream, in part because she is trans.

"Diva" was one of fourteen songs chosen by Eurovision fans and a European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reference group, from among the 992 songs that had ever participated in the contest, to participate in the fiftieth anniversary competition Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest held on 22 October 2005 in Copenhagen. 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. It came 13th in the final voting.

Dana International would go on to participate in the with "Ding Dong" placing 15th in the second semi-final and not competing in the grand final. On 31 March 2015, she performed "Diva" in the Eurovision sixtieth anniversary show Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits held in London. On 18 May 2019, she performed it as part of the opening act of the grand final held in Tel Aviv.

Track listings

• UK and Australian CD1

1. "Diva" (English radio version) – 3:03
2. "Diva" (Hebrew radio version) – 3:03
3. "Diva" (Handbaggers remix) – 7:17
4. "Diva" (G's Heavenly vocal) – 6:04
5. "Diva" (G's Heavenly dub) – 7:28

• UK and Australian CD2

1. "Diva" (English radio version) – 3:03
2. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited 7-inch) – 3:26
3. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited 12-inch) – 6:39
4. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Euro Anthem) – 7:08
5. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited instrumental) – 6:39

• UK cassette single

1. "Diva" (English radio version) – 3:03
2. "Diva" (Hebrew radio version) – 3:03

• European CD single

1. "Diva" (English version) – 3:01
2. "Diva" (Hebrew version) – 3:01

• European remixes CD single

1. "Diva" (original English version) – 3:01
2. "Diva" (C & W Project mix) – 7:10
3. "Diva" (Handbaggers remix) – 7:17
4. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited 12-inch) – 6:38

• French remixes 12-inch single :A1. "Diva" (Handbaggers remix) – 7:18 :A2. "Diva" (C & W Project mix) – 7:10 :B1. "Diva" (Sleaze Sisters Paradise Revisited) – 6:40 :B2. "Diva" (original English 7-inch version) – 3:01

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; the efforts finally paid off, as on 11 April 2019 the English version of the song was released, with the Hebrew version following the week after.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Notes

References

References

1. Stevenson, Jack. (2001). "Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth". [[Feral House]].
2. [https://nocs.acum.org.il/acumsitesearchdb/work?workid=1087511 ACUM Website]
3. "Diva - lyrics".
4. "National Selections: 1998".
5. (9 May 1998). "Eurovision Song Contest 1998".
6. "Official Eurovision Song Contest 1998 scoreboard".
7. "History - Eurovision Song Contest 1999". [[European Broadcasting Union]].
8. Barlow, Eve. (10 May 2018). "Viva la diva! How Eurovision's Dana International made trans identity mainstream". The Guardian.
9. Bakker, Sietse. (16 June 2005). "The 14 songs for Copenhagen".
10. (22 October 2005). "Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest".
11. ""Ding Dong" at the Official Eurovision Song Contest 2011".
12. {{YouTube. xaZOVYCb9uY. "Diva" at ''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]''
13. (3 April 2015). "Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits".
14. (18 May 2019). "Eurovision Song Contest 2019 grand final".
15. (1998). "Diva". Dance Pool.
16. (1998). "Diva". Dance Pool.
17. (1998). "Diva". Dance Pool.
18. (1998). "Diva". [[CNR Music]].
19. (1998). "Diva". CNR Music.
20. (1998). "Diva". CNR Music France.
21. (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.".
22. "So who the f*** does own Diva by Dana International?".
23. (11 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!".
24. Ryan, Gavin. (2011). "Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010". Moonlight Publishing.
25. (4 July 1998). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
26. (3 July 1998). "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (03.07.1998 – 10.07.1998)". [[Dagblaðið Vísir]].
27. "Jaaroverzichten 1998". [[Ultratop]].
28. "Rapports annuels 1998". [[Ultratop]].
29. (19 December 1998). "Border Breakers Top 50 1998". [[Music & Media]].
30. "Årslista Singlar, 1998". [[Sverigetopplistan]].