Dana Int'l misses chance to win another Eurovision title

Israeli singer, only transsexual to win the song contest, performs "Ding Dong" at semi-final in Germany but does not move to next round.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
dana international at eurovision_311 reuters (photo credit: REUTERS/Ina Fassbender)
dana international at eurovision_311 reuters
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ina Fassbender)
Israeli singer Dana International's song "Ding Dong" did not make it to the Eurovision final to be held on Saturday.
The pop star represented Israel at the Eurovision semi-final on Thursday in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Among those who made it to the final were Sweden, Estonia, Romania, Denmark, Moldova and Ireland.
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In 1998, International won the Eurovision contest with her song "Diva," making her the only transsexual to ever win the European song contest.
The lsraeli singer beat out nine other Israeli acts at the pre-Eurovision competition in March.
Israel has triumphed at the Eurovision on three occasions. The first was in 1978 in Paris when Izhar Cohen won with “Aba Nibi,” composed by Nurit Hirsh with lyrics by Ehud Manor. Israel won again in Jerusalem in 1979 when Gali Atari, backed by Milk and Honey, performed “Hallelujah” composed by Kobi Oshrat with lyrics by Shimrit Orr.
Of the 23 countries that have won Eurovision contests over the years, Ireland is ahead with seven wins, followed by France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, with five wins each.
Eurovision, which is one of the longest-running and most widely watched television shows in the world, was inaugurated on May 24, 1956. When Israeli singers who are considered to be icons at home do poorly at Eurovision, there is often a hue and cry about politics influencing the vote. Zvika Pick, who has composed several melodies for the contest and who has often accompanied the Israeli delegation, discounts such allegations. In a recent interview on Channel One, Pick said that politics had nothing do with the outcome. “All you need is a good song,” he said.


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