"Toy"(Hebrewtransliteration:טוי) is a song by Israeli singerNetta Barzilai,composed and written byDoron Medalieand the song's producerStav Beger,[a]the song was released on 11 March 2018 along with its official music video clip, which was directed by Keren Hochma. Itrepresented Israelin theEurovision Song Contest 2018held inLisbon,winning the contest.
| "Toy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyNetta | ||||
| from the EPGoody Bag | ||||
| Released | 11 March 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Stav Beger | |||
| Nettasingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Toy"onYouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2018entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist(s) | ||||
| Languages | English[b] | |||
| Composer(s) |
| |||
| Lyricist(s) |
| |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | 1st | |||
| Semi-final points | 283 | |||
| Final result | 1st | |||
| Final points | 529 | |||
| Entry chronology | ||||
| ◄ "I Feel Alive" (2017) | ||||
| "Home" (2019) ► | ||||
| Official performance video | ||||
| "Toy" (First semi-final)onYouTube "Toy" (Final)onYouTube "Toy" (Reprise)onYouTube | ||||
The song reached the top of the charts in Israel. It held the title of the most viewed video on theEurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel until it was surpassed byRussia's2020entry "Uno"in July 2020.
Background
editConception
edit"Toy" was composed and written byDoron Medalieand the song's producerStav Beger.[a][2][3]Its lyrics are mostly in English, with the exception of the Hebrew phraseאני לא בובה(ani lo buba,"I am not a doll" ), and the slang wordסטפה(stefa,meaning a pile of banknotes).[4]The Japanese wordbaka(バカ"stupid" ) is also used extensively and thePokémoncharacterPikachuis used once. "Trump-pam-pau" refers to the then-President of the United States,Donald Trump,as Doron Medalie revealed in April 2019 to the Israeli media.[5]
Selection and release
editBetween 29 October 2017 and 13 February 2018,Nettacompeted inHaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion–the fifth season ofHaKokhav HaBa–, the show that theIsraeli Public Broadcasting Corporation(IPBC/Kan) used to select its performer for the63rd editionof theEurovision Song Contest.She won the competition and became the Israeli performer for Eurovision.[6]A committee of the IPBC/Kan internally selected later for her the song "Toy" as theIsraeli entrantfor the contest.
"Toy" was released on 11 March 2018 along with its official music video clip, which was directed by Keren Hochma.[7]The song was leaked online a day before the official release.[8]
Eurovision
edit
On 8 May 2018, the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held at theLisbon ArenainLisbonhosted byRádio e Televisão de Portugal(RTP) and broadcast live throughout the continent and abroad. Netta performed "Toy" seventh in a field of nineteen songs, and qualified for the grand final. After the grand final it was revealed that it had achieved first place, based on a combination of fourth placing from televote and first from jury.[9]
On 12 May 2018, Netta performed again "Toy" twenty-second in a field of twenty-six in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. At the close of voting, the song placed first winning the contest, based on third placing with 212 points from the jury and winning the televote with 317 points, achieving overall first place with a combined score of 529 points.[10]Its win marks Israel's fourth win at Eurovision along with the wins in1978,1979,and1998.[11]
Aftermath
editAs the winning broadcaster, theEuropean Broadcasting Union(EBU) gave IPBC/Kan the responsibility to host thefollowing editionof the Eurovision Song Contest. Its first semi-final, held on 14 May 2019 inTel Aviv,opened with Netta performing a new version of "Toy".[12][13]She also appeared in the opening sequence of the grand final held on 18 May 2019, performed her new single "Nana Banana"as part of the interval acts, and presented the trophy to the winner.[14]Also in the grand final,Verka Serduchkaperformed "Toy" as part of the "Switch Song" interval act.[15]
The song held the title of the most viewed video on the Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel until it was surpassed byRussia's2020entry "Uno"in July 2020.[16][17]
Critical reception
editCharlotte Runcie ofThe Daily Telegraphawarded the song five stars out of five, describing it as "gloriously bizarrepop"with" playful lyrics and a powerful vocal performance ".[18]In 2022, Ben Kelly ofThe Independentnamed it 39th bestEurovision-winning songof all time.[19]
Allegations were made that the performance of the song at Eurovision featuredappropriationofJapanese cultural imageryas a "prop", including Netta wearing akimonoandbuns,and the performance's staging featuringManeki-nekos—a Japanese symbol of luck.[20][21]Netta did not respond to the allegations, but did state in previous interviews that she was a follower ofJapanese popular culture,particularly thePokémonfranchise.[22]
Copyright claim
editOn 3 July 2018, IsraeliinfotainerGuy Pines reported thatUniversal Music Groupmay file a lawsuit claiming "Toy" similarities in rhythm and harmony withThe White Stripes' song "Seven Nation Army".[23][24]Universal sent a pre-suit notice letter to the songwriters Doron Medalie and Stav Beger, claiming copyright infringement.[25][26]In February 2019 the Israeli composers agreed to give writing credit toJack White,[27]and a share in theroyaltiesfor the song.[28]Medalie and Beger had reportedly agreed to give Universal some of the song's distribution rights in certain territories, potentially exposing the song to an even larger audience.[29]
Credits and personnel
editRecording and management
- Recorded at Stav Beger Studios (Tel Aviv)
- Published by Tedy Productions and Unicell
Personnel
- Netta– vocals, loop arrangements
- Doron Medalie– composition
- Stav Beger – composition, production, percussion, mi xing and mastering
- Jack White– composition[a]
- Avshalom Ariel – loop arrangements
- Ami Ben Abu – keyboards
- Shimon Yihye – guitars
- Daniel Rubin, Maayan Bukris and Liron Carakukly – background vocals
Commercial performance
editThe song reached the top of the charts in Israel.[30]
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[55] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[56] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
|
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Legacy
editThe song is featured in the gameJust Dance 2019.
Notes
edit- ^abcdIn 2019,Jack Whitewas added as co-credit composer afterUniversal Music Groupand the Israeli composers reached an agreement over copyright claims.[1]
- ^Contains several words in Hebrew.
References
edit- ^"White Stripes' Jack White gets co-credit for Israel's Eurovision-winning 'Toy'".The Times of Israel.8 February 2019.
- ^Herbert, Emily (25 February 2018)."Israel: Netta's Eurovision Song" Toy "To Be Released March 10th".Eurovoix.
- ^Ioannou, Dimitris (25 February 2018)."Netta Barzilai to sing" Toy "in Lisbon!".escXtra.
- ^"רוביק רוזנטל, מילון הסלנג המקיף" (Comprehensive Slang Dictionary),ISBN965-07-1401-4,p. 259
- ^"מתברר שישראל זכתה באירוויזיון עם שיר שתוקף את טראמפ".הארץ.
- ^Kavaler, Ron (13 February 2018)."Israel: Netta Barzilai wins" The Next Star for Eurovision 2018 "".Wiwibloggs.Retrieved13 February2018.
- ^"Keren Hochma".IMDb.
- ^"Netta Barzilai's Israeli Eurovision entry leaks online".Ynetnews.11 March 2018.
- ^"First Semi-Final: 10 Acts Qualify For Eurovision 2018 Grand Final".Eurovision.tv.8 May 2018.
- ^"The results of Eurovision 2018: Let's dive into the numbers! - Eurovision Song Contest Lisbon 2018".Eurovision.tv.14 May 2018.Retrieved4 July2018.
- ^"Israel Wins Eurovision Contest".Variety.12 May 2018.Retrieved13 May2018.
- ^"Toy"onYouTubeat the first semi-final of theEurovision Song Contest 2019
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 2019 - first semi-final".Eurovision Song Contest.14 May 2019.IPBC/Kan/EBU.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 2019 - grand final".Eurovision Song Contest.18 May 2019.IPBC/Kan/EBU.
- ^"Switch Song" (with Conchita Wurst, Måns Zelmerlöw, Eleni Foureira, Verka Serduchka)onYouTubeat the grand final of theEurovision Song Contest 2019
- ^Cobb, Ryan (26 May 2018)."RECORD BREAKER!" TOY "becomes most viewed video EVER on Eurovision YouTube channel".Escxtra.Retrieved27 May2018.
- ^"Uno! Little Big's Music Video is the most watched video on the Eurovision YouTube Channel!".Eurovision. 20 July 2020.Retrieved10 February2021.
- ^Runcie, Charlotte (13 May 2018)."Eurovision 2018: Israel's winning song is gloriously bizarre pop — review".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved13 May2018.
- ^Kelly, Ben (10 May 2022)."All 68 winning Eurovision songs ranked from worst to best".The Independent.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"Israel's Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai accused of cultural appropriation".SBS News.Retrieved14 May2018.
- ^"Eurovision 2018 winner Netta has been accused of cultural appropriation".The Independent.13 May 2018.Retrieved14 May2018.
- ^"Eurovision favourite Netta: 'I don't sing beautifully'".The Independent.7 May 2018.Retrieved14 May2018.
- ^"Does 'Toy' sound like 'Seven Nation Army'?".The Jerusalem Post.3 July 2018.
- ^"Major US label claims Israel's winning Eurovision hit 'Toy' plagiarized".i24NEWS.3 July 2018.
- ^"Universal threatens to sue 'Toy' creators for copyright infringement".Ynetnews.7 April 2018.
- ^"Songwriters of Israeli Eurovision Winner 'Toy' Threatened With Plagiarism Suit".Haaretz.4 July 2018.
- ^"Jack White of The White Stripes gets writing credit for 'Toy' - Israel News - Jerusalem Post".The Jerusalem Post.7 February 2019.
- ^"White Stripes' Jack White gets writing credit for Israel's Eurovision hit 'Toy'".i24NEWS.7 February 2019.
- ^"White Stripes frontman Jack White now listed as composer of" Toy "".wiwibloggs.7 February 2019.
- ^ab"Media Forest 11 11-03-18 17-03-18".Media Forest.Retrieved11 May2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40.Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in French).Ultratip.Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^"ČNS IFPI "(in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 20. týden 2018 in the date selector.Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^"Euro Digital Song Sales Chart (The week of May 26, 2018)".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2020.Retrieved30 May2020.
- ^"Netta: Toy "(in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat.Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in French).Les classement single.Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^"Official IFPI Charts-Digital Singles Chart"(in Greek). IFPI.gr. Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2018.
- ^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ "(in Hungarian).Stream Top 40 slágerlista.Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^"IRMA – Irish Charts".Irish Recorded Music Association.Retrieved19 May2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^"VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 20, 2018".VG-lista.Retrieved19 May2018.
- ^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^"Top 100 Canciones – Semana 20: del 11.05.2018 al 17.05.2018"(PDF)(in Spanish).Productores de Música de España.Retrieved23 May2018.
- ^"Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista".Sverigetopplistan.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^"Netta – Toy ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^"Top-Charts Netta-Toy".Top-Charts.Retrieved9 April2022.
- ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^"Israel's Netta Barzilai tops Billboard dance chart with Eurovision winning 'Toy'".i24NEWS.Retrieved20 August2018.
- ^"Dance/Electronic Songs: January 1, 2019".Billboard.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Dance Club Songs - Year-End".Billboard.Retrieved12 December2018.
- ^"Hot Dance/Electronic Songs - Year-End 2018".Billboard.13 December 2013.Retrieved12 December2018.
- ^"Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2019".Billboard.13 December 2013.Retrieved6 December2019.
- ^"Brazilian single certifications – Netta – Toy"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^"OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień"(in Polish).Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.Retrieved18 October2023.Click "TYTUŁ" and enterToyin the search box.