1. Sharon Cohen, professionally known as Dana International, is an Israeli pop singer.
37 Facts About Dana International
1. 2.
Dana International has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums.
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Dana International was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham with the song "Diva".
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Dana International following up this success with the albums Free, Yoter VeYoter, HaHalom HaEfshari and Hakol Ze Letova, she represented Israel in Eurovision a second time in 2011, this time with the song "Ding Dong", which failed to make it into the final.
5.
Dana International is the youngest of three children, and was named after an uncle who had been killed during a terrorist attack.
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Dana International wanted to become a singer from the age of eight, when she watched Israeli singer Ofra Haza perform her song "Chai" in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest.
7.
Dana International came out as transgender at the age of 13.
8.
Sharon's stage name Dana International comes from the title track of the album, and was originally spelled with two n's.
9.
In 1994, Dana International released her second, Trance-influenced album Umpatampa, which built on the success of her debut and provided further hit singles.
10.
In 1995, Dana International attempted to fulfill her childhood dream of performing in the Eurovision Song Contest.
11.
Dana International entered the Eurovision qualifying contest in Israel with a song entitled "Layla Tov, Eropa" which finished second in the pre-selections, but became another hit single.
12.
Dana International was chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham with the song "Diva".
13.
In May 1998, Dana International performed "Diva" at the Eurovision final and won the contest with 172 points.
14.
Dana International became known internationally, and was interviewed by CNN, BBC, Sky News, and MTV among others mostly focusing on her life as a transsexual person before winning the contest.
15.
Dana International released "Diva" as a single in Europe and it became a hit, reaching number 11 in the UK charts and the top ten in Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
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In 1999, Dana International released "Woman in Love", a Barbra Streisand cover.
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In May 1999, Dana International again participated in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem.
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Dana International was a part of the interval act and sang the Stevie Wonder song "Free".
19.
Dana International released her next album Free in Europe in 1999, which enjoyed moderate success.
20.
In 2001, after a break, Dana International released her seventh album Yoter Ve Yoter.
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Dana International recorded the song "Lola", to which she released a video.
22.
On 26 February 2008, Dana International gained an additional achievement when the song "Ke'ilu Kan" written and composed by her and performed by Boaz Mauda, was chosen on Kdam Eurovision to represent Israel at Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia.
23.
Dana International recorded the song "Mifrats HaAhava" for an Israeli version of the TV-show "Paradise Hotel".
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Dana International collaborated with the Ukrainian duo NeAngely, recording "I Need Your Love" and releasing a video.
25.
Dana International campaigned for Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni shortly before 2009 legislative elections in Israel.
26.
Dana International performed a cover version of Danny Robas' song "Lo Nirdemet Tel Aviv" in front of 250,000 people.
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Also in 2009, Dana International joined the 7th season of "Kokhav Nolad" as a judge, joining the 8th one in 2010.
28.
Dana International made a guest appearance, as herself, in an episode of the second series of UK sitcom Beautiful People, which was set around her Eurovision appearance.
29.
On 8 March 2011, Dana International won the Israeli National Final for Eurovision with the song "Ding Dong", and represented Israel at Eurovision for a second time.
30.
On 29 May, Dana International released a video clip for the song Loca, to promote the Gay Pride Tel Aviv 2013.
31.
Dana International is the main judge on the show, attempting to find Israel's next girl group.
32.
Also in 2014, Dana International was the main attraction aboard the first Jewish boat to participate in the Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade.
33.
Dana International could not sing in front of the community since she was a woman, according to the rabbi, and that would violate the Orthodox rule of kol isha.
34.
In June 2017, Dana International released a new single, called "Ruti".
35.
In July 2018, Dana International performed at the rally during the 2018 Israeli LGBT's strike events with her song "Ani Nitzakhti".
36.
In May 2019, Dana International performed "Just The Way You Are" as an interval act in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, held in Tel Aviv, 20 years after her Eurovision win last brought the contest to Israel.
37.
Dana International later performed Omer Adam's "Tel Aviv" and her Eurovision-winning song "Diva" during the final's opening flag parade.