The Israeli Eurovision entry, Netta, has taken the high road after her song was branded “horrible” by reigning champion Salvador Sobral.
Netta is among the top favourites to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Toy’, her high-energy track which has raised eyebrows with its vocal loops and chicken-inspired beatboxing.
But while it’s the entry every Eurovision viewer will have an opinion on during this year’s competition, it seems current victor Salvador Sobral - who won on behalf of Portugal last year - is no fan.
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Netta rehearses for the Eurovision semi-final
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hitting out at Netta, and the Song Contest in general, he told Eurovision fansite Wiwibloggs: “YouTube thought I would like the Israeli song. I opened it and a horrible song came out of it. Luckily this year I do not have to hear anything.
He added: “Last year people would say, ‘Now that you’ve won things [at Eurovision] will change!’ I do not think so. Maybe in the future.”
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Salvador Sobral during last year's Eurovision final
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like Netta is too bothered with what Salvador thinks of her musical offerings, tweeting: “Sending only love to Salvador, and to all artists of all genres.”
Netta was previously praised by this year’s UK Eurovision entrant SuRie, who told HuffPost UK earlier this year: “I want to see how [‘Toy’] is done live, I cannot wait.
“I think she’s a class act with her vocal looping, I’ve gone down a YouTube black hole watching all of her amazing looping live, and how she integrates that within the chicken beatboxing.
“She’s a pro… I think she’s going to smash it.”
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SuRie
BBC
Salvador’s win last year, with acoustic ballad ‘Amar Pelos Dois’ was a change of pace for Eurovision, with its stripped-back arrangement and minimal staging.
The track was written by his sister, who performed it with him at the end of the ceremony, following his victory.
Take a listen to Netta’s ‘Toy’ below:
Most Memorable Eurovision Costumes Ever
Bucks Fizz from Britain, 1981(01 of15)
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All the (primary) colours of the rainbow. (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
Verka Serduchka from Ukranie, 2007(02 of15)
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Disco ball-meets-WW2 garrison caps. We'll be in the bunker. (credit:SVEN NACKSTRAND via Getty Images)
D'Nash from Spain, 2007(03 of15)
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This is 10 years too late to even be acceptable, guys. (credit:SVEN NACKSTRAND via Getty Images)
Jedward from Ireland, 2011(04 of15)
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That hair. (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
Jedward again, 2012(05 of15)
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Back again, in silver armour. (credit:Pablo Blazquez Dominguez via Getty Images)
Ruslana from Ukraine, 2004(06 of15)
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Ruslana: "So there's this TV show called "Xena: Warrior Princess'..."
Costumer: "Say no more." (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
Scooch from Britain, 2007(07 of15)
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Britney's Toxic costume went to Butlin's and it didn't quite come back the same person. (credit:HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA via Getty Images)
Is this some kind of metaphor? The Austrian singer rising like a sequined phoenix out of the flaming ashes of dead dancers? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? (credit:Johannes Simon via Getty Images)
Naviband from Belarus, 2017.(10 of15)
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Just a lot of lace. (credit:NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Yohanna from Iceland, 2009(11 of15)
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Frozen before Frozen was even Frozen. (credit:Oleg Nikishin via Getty Images)
Jordan from Britain, 2005(12 of15)
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Ok so technically she didn't make it through to the actual show, but Jordan - aka Katie Price's bid for Eurovision glory in a latex catsuit with sparkly corset while heavily pregnant is TV history. (credit:REX)
Joci Papai from Hungary, 2017.(13 of15)
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Is a red bull near? (credit:Michael Campanella via Getty Images)
Nina Kraljic from Croatia, 2016(14 of15)
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So metallic. So futuristic. (credit:Vyacheslav Prokofyev via Getty Images)
Sakis Rouvas from Greece, 2004(15 of15)
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Simon Cowell prepares his imaginary friends for attack. (credit:AP)