ISRAEL – Singer Netta Barzilai, who belted out Israel’s Eurovision song contest winner “Toy,” has defended the ditty as wholly original, after a major label reportedly threatened to sue over similarities to another song.
Universal Music recently sent a pre-suit notice to the writers of “Toy” saying it was copied from The White Stripe’s 2003 hit, “Seven Nation Army.” If the claim is proven in court, it could disqualify Toy’s eligibility to participate in Eurovision and strip Israel of its win and hosting rights for the 2019 tournament, Hadashot TV reported.
But Barzilai told the station she found the situation “funny.”
“When I got Toy I had many feelings. but I couldn’t ignore how fresh, innovative it was. It didn’t sound like anything else,” she said.
Barzilai didn’t write the song, nor will she have to deal with the lawyers and judges who will settle the case, and she acknowledged that her priorities lie elsewhere.
“The matter will be sorted out by the people who deal with that kind of thing and I’ll continue to make music,” she said.
The colorful singer is touring Europe at such a frenzied pace that she saod hardly knows where she is, and wherever she goes she is recognized and praised by adoring fans.
She said controversies over Israel losing hosting rights over politics or a bid to reform the country’s public broadcaster were “just noise.”
“Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are 30 minutes apart. The Eurovision events, the red carpet, all the things like that, could happen anywhere in the country,” she said. “If it is in Jerusalem that would be amazing, and if it is in Tel Aviv that would be amazing and if it would be in Haifa that would be amazing. Simply amazing. The Eurovision will be in Israel and that’s what’s important.”
SOURCE: TIMES OF ISRAEL
