Diva was the Israeli entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham performed by transgender artist Dana International.
It was performed 8th on the night following Poland and preceding Germany. At the close of voting, it was declared the winner with 174 points, giving Israel its 3rd victory, waiting nearly 20 years between wins.
Lyrics[]
Yesh isha gdola mehachaim
Yesh chushim sheyesh rak la
Yesh ksamim veyesh yamim kashim
Uvama shehi kula shela
Lamal'achim Diva hi imperia
Al habama Diva hi histeria
Hi kula shir ahava
Viva nari'a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita
Viva la Diva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra
Yesh nashim – dma'ot shel hachaim
Hen yis'u tfila belo milim
Lamal'achim Diva hi imperia
Al habama Diva hi histeria
Hi kula shir ahava
Viva nari'a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita
Viva la Diva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra
Viva nari'a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita
Viva la Diva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra
Diva, Diva, Diva, Diva
Viva nari'a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita
Viva la Diva, viva Viktoria, Kleopatra
Viva nari'a, viva Viktoria, Afrodita
Viva la Diva, viva Viktoria
Diva!
There is a woman who is larger than life
There are senses that only she possesses
There is magic and there are hard days
And a stage that is all hers
To the angels Diva is an empire
On the stage Diva is hysteria
She is all a love song
Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite
Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra
There are women – tears of life
They will say a prayer with no words
To the angels Diva is an empire
On the stage Diva is hysteria
She is all a love song
Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite
Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra
Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite
Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra
Diva, Diva, Diva, Diva
Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite
Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria, Cleopatra
Viva we shall cheer, viva Victoria, Aphrodite
Viva to the Diva, viva Victoria
Diva!
| Eurovision Song Contest 1998 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Danijela Martinović •  Thalassa •  Marie Line Marolany •  Mikel Herzog •  Gunvor Guggisberg •  Katarína Hasprová •  Sixteen •  Dana International •  Guildo Horn •  Chiara •  Károly Horváth •  Vili Resnik •  Dawn Martin •  Alma Lusa •  Mălina Olinescu •  Imaani •  Michalis Hatzigiannis •  Edsilia Rombley •  Jill Johnson •  Mélanie Cohl •  Edea •  Lars Fredriksen •  Koit Toome •  Tüzmen •  Vlado Janevski
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Neka mi ne svane • Mia Krifi Evesthisia • Où aller • ¿Qué voy a hacer sin ti? • Lass' ihn • Modlitba • To takie proste • Diva • Guildo hat euch lieb! • The One That I Love • A holnap már nem lesz szomorú • Naj bogovi slišijo • Is Always Over Now? •Se eu te pudesse abraçar • Eu cred • Where Are You? • Genesis • Hemel en Aarde • Kärleken är • Dis Oui • Aava • Alltid sommer • Mere lapsed • Unutamazsın • Ne zori, zoro
| |||
Trivia[]
- Due to the controversy of her selection and the outcry from conservative groups in her homeland, Dana International was kept under police escorts and high security at all times during her stay in Birmingham, as well as being accommodated in a hotel with bulletproof windows.
- Both Conchita Wurst and Dana International won the contest as drag or transgender, and had outfits designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
- Both singers sung Waterloo (ABBA, Sweden) in Eurovision's Greatest Hits.
- Diva was the last song at the contest that the orchestra would ever play - but for the reprise only.
- One of only 40 songs to appear in every single ESC Top 250 since the list's inception in 2008.
Videos[]
Dana International - Diva (Eurovision 1998 - Israël)
Eurovision 1998 Israel - Dana International - Diva