Toy (song)
| "Toy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Netta | ||||
| from the EP Goody Bag | ||||
| Released | 11 March 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Stav Beger | |||
| Netta singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Toy" on YouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2018 entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist(s) | ||||
| Languages | English[a] | |||
| 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) ► | ||||
"Toy" (Hebrew transliteration: טוי) is a song recorded by Israeli singer Netta Barzilai. Written by Doron Medalie and the song's producer Stav Beger,[fn 1][2][3] the song was released on 11 March 2018 along with its official music video clip, which was directed by Keren Hochma.[4] It is best known as Israel's winning entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 held in Lisbon, Portugal. The song was leaked online a day before the official release.[5]
The song marks Israel's fourth Eurovision win along with 1978, 1979 and 1998,[6] having won with 529 points. The song reached the top of the charts in Israel.[7]
The song held the title of the most viewed video on Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel until it was surpassed by Russia's 2020 entry "Uno" in July 2020.[8][9]
The song is featured in the game Just Dance 2019.
Lyrics[edit]
The song's lyrics are mostly in English, with the exception of the Hebrew phrase אני לא בובה (ani lo buba, "I am not a doll"), and the slang word סטפה (stefa, meaning a pile of banknotes).[10] The Japanese word baka (バカ "stupid") is also used extensively and the Pokémon character Pikachu is 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.[11]
Eurovision Song Contest[edit]
"Toy" was first drawn to compete at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, in which it was performed seventh in a field of nineteen songs, and achieved first place, based on a combination of fourth placing from televote and first from jury. It thus qualified for the final, under a format progressing the top ten most-voted songs from each semi-final.[12] In the final the song was performed 22nd in a field of 26, and won, 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 which Israel later won hosting rights for 2019 in Tel Aviv.[13]
Critical reception[edit]
Charlotte Runcie of The Daily Telegraph awarded the song five stars out of five, describing it as "gloriously bizarre pop" with "playful lyrics and a powerful vocal performance".[14]
Allegations were made that the performance of the song at Eurovision featured appropriation of Japanese cultural imagery as a "prop", including Netta wearing a kimono and buns, and the performance's staging featuring Maneki-nekos—a Japanese symbol of luck.[15][16] Netta did not respond to the allegations, but did state in previous interviews that she was a follower of Japanese popular culture, particularly the Pokémon franchise.[17]
In 2022, Ben Kelly of The Independent named it 39th best Eurovision-winning song of all time.[18]
Copyright claim[edit]
On 3 July 2018, Israeli infotainer Guy Pines reported that Universal Music Group may file a lawsuit claiming "Toy" similarities in rhythm and harmony with The White Stripes' song "Seven Nation Army".[19][20] Universal sent a pre-suit notice letter to the songwriters Doron Medalie and Stav Beger, claiming copyright infringement.[21][22] In February 2019 the Israeli composers agreed to give writing credit to Jack White,[23] and a share in the royalties for the song.[24] 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.[25]
Credits and personnel[edit]
Recording 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, mixing and mastering
- Jack White – composition[fn 1]
- Avshalom Ariel – loop arrangements
- Ami Ben Abu – keyboards
- Shimon Yihye – guitars
- Daniel Rubin, Maayan Bukris and Liron Carakukly – background vocals
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Chart (2018–19) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] | 15 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] | 29 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[28] | 19 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] | 88 |
| Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[30] | 9 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] | 10 |
| France (SNEP)[32] | 117 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[33] | 19 |
| Greece Digital Singles (IFPI Greece)[34] | 12 |
| Hungary (Stream Top 40)[35] | 36 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[36] | 63 |
| Israel (Media Forest)[7] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] | 60 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[38] | 19 |
| Scotland (OCC)[39] | 28 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] | 16 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] | 5 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] | 34 |
| Turkey (Radiomonitor Top 100)[43] | 36 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[44] | 49 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[45] | 1 |
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[46] | 11 |
Year-end charts[edit]
| Chart (2018) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[47] | 48 |
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[48] | 78 |
| Chart (2019) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[49] | 45 |
Decade-end charts[edit]
| Chart (2010–19) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Israel (Mako) | 1 |
| Israel (Walla!) | 5 |
| Israel (Kan Gimmel) | 32 |
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[50] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[51] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c In 2019, Jack White was added as co-credit composer after Universal Music Group and 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.
- ^ "Keren Hochma". IMDb.com.
- ^ "Netta Barzilai's Israeli Eurovision entry leaks online". Ynetnews. 11 March 2018.
- ^ "Israel Wins Eurovision Contest". Variety. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Media Forest 11 11-03-18 17-03-18". Media Forest. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ Cobb, Ryan (26 May 2018). "RECORD BREAKER! "TOY" becomes most viewed video EVER on Eurovision YouTube channel". Escxtra.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Uno! Little Big's Music Video is the most watched video on the Eurovision YouTube Channel!". Eurovision. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "רוביק רוזנטל, מילון הסלנג המקיף" (Comprehensive Slang Dictionary), ISBN 965-07-1401-4, p. 259
- ^ "מתברר שישראל זכתה באירוויזיון עם שיר שתוקף את טראמפ". הארץ.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ Runcie, Charlotte (13 May 2018). "Eurovision 2018: Israel's winning song is gloriously bizarre pop — review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Israel's Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai accused of cultural appropriation". SBS News. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Eurovision 2018 winner Netta has been accused of cultural appropriation". The Independent. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Eurovision favourite Netta: 'I don't sing beautifully'". The Independent. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ Kelly, Ben (10 May 2022). "All 68 winning Eurovision songs ranked from worst to best". The Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201820 into search. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Euro Digital Song Sales Chart (The week of May 26, 2018)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "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 from the original on 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. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "Netta – Toy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 20, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "Netta – Toy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Top-Charts Netta-Toy". Top-Charts. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Dance/Electronic Songs: January 1, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "Dance Club Songs - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs - Year-End 2018". Billboard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Netta – Toy" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 October 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Toy in the search box.
