Netta Barzilai the Leadership Series

Center for Israel Education

Netta Barzilai The Leadership Series

1. Childhood and Early Years “[I was told] dress like you have nothing to celebrate. Dress in black. Dress big. Short skirts are not for you. Short sleeves are not for you. You’re not sexy or beautful. You’re funny - that’s what you are. And you are a good friend. Well I am here to break that because this is a great evil that is done in the word to so many people.” -Neta Barzilai

Neta Barzilai was born on January 22, 1993 in Hod HaSharon, in the Central District of Israel, north of Tel Aviv. Her mother is Sephardi (Jews of Spanish/Middle Eastern origin), with family from Morocco and Libya. Her father is Ashkenazi (Eastern European origin) and is Polish.

Cover Photo Credit: Wouter van Vliet, Creatve Commons Atributon- Share Alike 4.0 Internatonal She atended Hadarim High School in Hod HaSharon. She and her two brothers were raised in Hod HaSharon. However, her family moved to Leadership Series: Neta Barzilai Copyright © 2019 by Center for Israel Educaton Nigeria for her father’s work when she was a baby.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or In Nigeria, Neta picked up on the rhythms of transmited in any form or by any means without writen permission from the author. African lullabies that her nanny taught her. Neta’s Published by Center for Israel Educaton, P.O. Box 15129, Atlanta, GA family lived in Nigeria for four years, before 30333. returning to Israel. www.israeled.org [email protected]

As a kid, Neta always loved to sing. However, 2. Early Professional Life she got bullied by many peers for being overweight, leading her to develop self- When Neta was 18, she spent a service year in confdence issues. She was always passionate the Nahal brigade. She also joined the Israeli Navy about music, but did not think she was good band. These incredible experiences boosted her enough to be a singer. She decided to study confdence in her musical abilites. She was able to educaton and psychology and put her musical overcome the voices from her youth that said she interests to the side. was not good enough or did not ft the image of a musician. During this tme, Neta found a video by an artst named Kimbera playing the looper, an instrument that repeats music, making it sound like more than one person was playing. She was fascinated by it and decided to buy a looper. In order to aford the looper, Neta had to work in a side job as a waitress. In a short period of tme, she became very good at playing the looper. In fact, by the tme Neta entered the Rimon Music School, a partner school of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, she had already mastered the instrument.

Hod HaSharon, where Neta grew up Hod HaSharon on

Israeli map Source: Ori ~

Source: This fle was

derived from: Israel

locaton map.svg 2 Looper | Source: Massygo, Natonal Photo Collecton 3

On February 8, Neta became the frst artst to

qualify as a fnalist, singing the song ‘Beautful’ by 3. “HaKohav HaBa” Christna Aguilera, beatng Riki Ben Ari. However, When Neta fnished her one-year course at she sufered a setback when she lost in another Rimon in voice and electronic music, she decided competton against Riki. The judges wanted her to to auditon for “HaKohav HaBa” (literally meaning contnue on the show and saved her. This would “Rising Star”). She auditoned for the Israeli prove to be very signifcant to her career, as Neta reality singing competton with the song ‘Rude went on to win the fnals of the competton. Her Boy,’ which earned her a spot in the frst round. high achieving performances included ‘Gangam She successfully made it through all six of the frst Style’ and “Tik Tok.’ The awarding of points is done stages of the show, reaching the quarterfnals. In by a jury and viewers in each partcipatng country. the quarterfnals, Neta sung her own version of ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls. She earned the highest score from her performance.

Source: Wouter van Vliet, EuroVisionary, Creatve Commons License Neta during rehearsal before semi-fnals| Source: Lauren Outerson, EuroVisionary, Creatve Commons License

4. EuroVision “I’m so happy. Thank you so much for choosing “[I am] very proud and honored to represent Israel diference. Thank you so much for acceptng through my art.” -Neta Barzilai diferences between us. Thank you for celebratng diversity. Thank you. I love my country. Next tme in Jerusalem...Be good to others, and be good to yourselves ” -Neta Barzilai

For EuroVision, Neta sang an original song called “Toy.” This song discusses ideas of women’s empowerment and highlights the importance of positve body image. Doron Medalie and Stan Berger wrote the song, with Stav Berger serving as producer. The song’s lyrics are mostly in English, with the excepton of a Hebrew phrase, ani lo ”.translatng to “I am not a doll , ֲאנִי לא בובה buba Hosts of Eurovision 2018| Source: Roger Dewayne Barkley, Also, the song incorporates one Hebrew slang EuroVisionary, Creatve Commons License word stefa, meaning a pile of banknotes. Neta released the song on March 11, 2018 with Lisbon, Portugal hosted the EuroVision Song the ofcial music video clip directed by Keren Contest, organized by the European Broadcastng Hochma. Union, in 2018. Neta Barzilai competed for Israel. Neta went on to win the competton for Israel Avshalom Ariel was one of the driving forces behind with this song, with 529 points in total. As per Neta competng in Eurovision, reassuring her of her custom, Neta performed her song “Toy” a second musical talents and abilites to compete successfully. tme afer they announced she had won. Cyprus He served as Neta’s producer. came in 2nd place with 436 points, followed by Austria with 342.

“She’s a brilliant vocalist, artst and inspiring personality...A big “I learned this year from my fans that I’m stronger than I shoutout to her producer Avshalom Ariel as well. They are a power think I am. The light and the joy within me and the duo, putng pop on the map again in and for Israel.” people around me can conquer all the darkness that -Israeli singer Hagar Levy comes from inside and out. A rhinoceros is an animal with a very thick skin, that protects itself and its herd by atacking, not feeling.” -Neta Barzilai Neta’s victory in EuroVision was monumental for Israel. An Israeli had not won the competton since

1998, twenty years earlier. This victory was not only monumental for symbolic reasons; the EuroVision

traditonally is held the following year in the country of

the winning artst. This meant that EuroVision was coming back to Israel! Unlike their previous tmes they

hosted EuroVision, Israel chose to host the competton in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem in 2019. Neta was excited for EuroVision to be held in Israel in 2019, saying this will allow the world to see

“how wonderful we are, what a vibe we have. Best people… the best place in the world.”

Despite the results only coming in at 1:30am local tme, Israelis stormed into Rabin Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate this incredible victory. Tel Aviv’s city Neta during Sofa Pride (2019) hall even lit up with the word “Toy.” Celebratons also Source: Zahari Baharov, Creatve began in Jerusalem, at the Mahane Yehuda street Commons License market.

6. Neta’s Actvism "Through my audience, I learned this year that I am “She can really make it in Europe and America. It’s all stronger than what I thought I was. I learned that the light about your attude and knowing who you are. But the skies and the joy within me and the people around me are are the limit for Neta.” -Yehuda Eder, President of Rimon capable of defeatng all the darkness that comes from music school inside and out." -Neta Barzilai

In additon to the monumental win for Israel, Neta’s winning song had an even greater impact. Her win undermined the common

misconcepton that pop stars have to look one way or be a certain weight. In fact, Neta emphasized that she was one of the frst major pop stars who wore plus sized clothing.

She also said in an interview to an Israeli newspaper that “[t]he way I carry myself inside my own body, when I play with it, how I choose to present it” is her only concern. Her win at this competton served as validaton for Neta, who had repeated failures on diets and bouts with an eatng disorder as a child. She said that her singing had allowed her to cope with many of her struggles with her body image. Cites that have hosted Eurovision Song Contest

Source: Berkaysnklf, Creatve Commons License

7. Countries in EuroVision 2019 “I’m so happy. Thank you so much for choosing diference. Thank you so much for acceptng diferences between us. Thank you for celebratng diversity. Thank you. I love my country. Next “I had an amazing year and I feel that everyone is trying to tme in Jerusalem” -Neta Barzilai sum it up….'Nana Banana' is my personal summary, and I

think that I want to take you into my bubble, to my most personal place over the past year.” -Neta Barzilai

Here is a list of the 41 countries that partcipated in Eurovision 2019 in Israel:

1. Albania 22. Italy 2. Armenia 23. Latvia 3. Australia 24. Lithuania 4. Austria 25. Malta 5. Azerbaijan 26. Moldova 6. Belarus 27. Montenegro 7. Belgium 28. Netherlands 8. Croata 29. North Macedonia 9. Cyprus 30. Norway 10. Czech Republic 31. Poland 11. Denmark 32. Portugal 12. Estonia 33. Romania 13. Finland 34. Russia 14. France 35. San Marino 15. Georgia 36. Serbia 16. Germany 37. Slovenia 17. Greece 38. Spain 18. Hungary 39. Sweden Ofcial Emblem of Israel 19. Iceland 40. Switzerland 20. Ireland 41. United Kingdom Source: Natonal Photo Collecton 21. Israel

8. Sample of Neta’s Song Lyrics Eurovision 2018--Toy Wonder Woman don’t you ever forget You’re divine and he’s about to regret Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la He’s a bucka-mhm-buck-buck-buck-mhm boy Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la Bucka-mhm-buck-buck-buck Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la I’m not your bucka-mhm-buck-mhm-buck-mhm Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la I’m not your toy (Not your toy) Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la You stupid boy (Stupid boy) Ree, ouch, hey, hm, la I’ll take you down now, make you watch me Dancing with my dolls on the mada-baka beat Look at me, I’m a beautful creature Not your toy I don’t care about your modern-tme preachers Welcome boys, too much noise, I will teach you Pam pam pa hoo, turram pam pa hoo Don’t you go and play, shake Ah ah, ah ah, ani lo buba Hey, I think you forgot how to play Don’t you go and play with me boy My teddy bear’s running away Ah ah, ah ah, ani lo buba The Barbie got something to say, hey hey hey

Hey, my Simon says leave me alone (Kulului, kulului) Ah, wedding bells ringing I’m taking my Pikachu home (Kulului, kulului) Ah, money man bling-bling You’re stupid just like your smart phone I don’t care about your stefa, baby Pam pam pa hoo, turram pam pa hoo Wonder Woman don’t you ever forget You’re divine and he’s about to regret He’s a bucka-mhm-buck-buck-buck-mhm boy Bucka-mhm-buck-buck-buck I’m not your bucka-mhm-buck-mhm-buck-mhm 14 15 www.israeled.org. ©Center for Israel Education, 2020 All Rights Reserved

I’m not your toy (Not your toy) You stupid boy (Stupid boy) I’ll take you down now, make you watch me Dancing with my dolls on the mada-baka beat

Not your toy (Not your toy) You stupid boy (Stupid boy) I’ll t-t-t-take you now W-w-w-with me now, boy

(I’m not your toy) You stupid boy I’ll take you down now, make you watch me Dancing with my dolls on the mada-baka beat (I’m not your toy) Look at me, I’m a beautful creature (You stupid boy) I don’t care about your modern tme preacher (I’m not your toy) Not your toy, not your toy, not your toy, Source: Dewayne Barkley, EuroVisionary, Creatve Commons License I’m not your toy, not your toy, not your toy, toy

Source: htps://4lyrics.eu/esc/2018/neta-barzilai-toy/

Nana Banana (2019)

9. Israeli Leaders on Neta

“You are wonderful. You are lovely… You are the “This morning I want to thank you, the amazing Neta best ambassador for Israel.” -Prime Minister Barzilai...Not only thanks for a wonderful song and Benjamin Netanyahu amazing performance and incredible victory, and for bringing the Eurovision to Jerusalem next year — but for who you are….I want to tell you that afer 30 years “I want to warmly praise Neta Barzilai for her win of working for feminism, I can point to you and say, this evening at the Eurovision. The victory set our ‘There, that’s how you do it.'” hearts overfowing, and brought natonal pride to us -Member of Knesset Merav Michaeli all. Congratulatons!” -Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein “Proud of you, dear Neta. Waitng for everyone next year in Jerusalem!” -President Reuven Rivlin

Netanyahu shakes hands with Yuli Edelstein. President Rivlin with children sufering from cancer

at presidental house in Jerusalem Source: Avi Ohayon, Natonal Photo Collecton Source: Kobi Gideon, Natonal Photo Collecton

10. Additonal Quotes by Neta

“This is an amazing tme when women are fnding their voices...giv[ing] power to anyone “I had an amazing year and I feel that everyone is who’s been struck down, who’s been bullied – it’s trying to sum it up….’Nana Banana' is my personal to everyone who has been told that they can’t be summary, and I think that I want to take you into my what they want to be.” bubble, to my most personal place over the past year.”

“I am a very poppy litle girl. I wasn’t allowed to be poppy at frst because y’know in my mind, pop stars are thin and beautful and light, and I’ve never felt beautful, skinny and light. When you are a big girl you are told to think of yourself certain things: that if you are a musician you have to have a “big mama” voice, you have to sing Adele or Aretha Franklin. People expect to be “moved” by your voice in that way. I fell into that for a very long tme.”

“Me and [Yvete Cooper] are jumping round the EuroVision Song Contest logo from 1999 competton in Israel room to the fabulous Israel entry – top top top #Eurorvision madness” -Ed Balls, former Britsh Source: Sa’ar Ya’acov, Natonal Photo Collecton cabinet minister

Holley, Rob. “Eurovision Favourite Neta: 'I Don't Sing Beautfully'.”

The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 7 May 2018, www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/

music/features/eurovision-2018-neta-interview-israel-toy- lyrics-semi-fnals-fnal-a8339776.html.

Oster, Marcy. “Neta Barzilai's New Single Is Even More Feminist . Than 'Toy'.” The Forward, 5 Feb. 2019, forward.com/ schmooze/418754/neta-barzilais-new-single-is-even- more-feminist-than-toy/.

Steinberg, Jessica. “'A One-Woman Band': How Israel's Eurovision Winner Neta Barzilai Rose to Fame.” The Times of Israel, 13 May 2018, www.tmesofsrael.com/eurovision-star-neta- barzilai-was-always-destned-for-greatness/.

Stern, Itay. “WATCH: Neta Barzilai Releases Antcipated New Single 'Bassa Sababa'.” Haaretz, 1 Feb. 2019, www.haaretz.com/israel-news/eurovision/.premium- watch-neta-barzilai-s-antcipated-new-single-bassa- sababa-leaked-on-social-media-1.6897749.

“Who Is Neta Barzilai? Everything You Need to Know.” TheFamous People, htps://www.thefamouspeople.com/ profles/neta-barzilai-40819.php 24 25 www.israeled.org. ©Center for Israel Education, 2020 All Rights Reserved