Netta Barzilai serenades radio listeners with acoustic ‘A-Ba-Ni-Bi’
The Eurovision 2018 singer puts aside her looper and picks up guitar for a haunting rendition of Israel’s winning song in 1978
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Israel’s Eurovision star, singer Netta Barzilai, performed a haunting, acoustic version of “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” in the Galgalatz studio on Monday with deejay Hadar Marks.
The song, now an Israeli classic, gave Israel its first Eurovision win in 1978, as sung by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta.
But Barzilai was singing this time without her famous looper, the machine that adds layers of sound to any song. (Incidentally, the looper won’t be traveling with her to Lisbon, either, for the Eurovision contest held May 8-12.)
She told Marks that she’s very busy these days, constantly getting her nails redone after breaking them, as well as with the many rehearsals for the Eurovision performance that is sure to be the most complicated that’s ever taken place in Israel, said Barzilai, with dozens of production staff working on it.
“I never thought I’d be part of something like this,” she told Marks. “It’s a crazy privilege to make art like this for so many people, on such a stage.”
Besides taking a turn updating listeners about morning traffic, she spoke about the courage she’s needed to dive into “prime time,” and how to build the Eurovision song in a way that Israelis will want to hear it.
“They’re all listening to it, from kids to adults, and you feel the hug,” she said.
The Times of Israel Community.