Dana International

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Dana International performs at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest

Dana International (Hebrew: דנה אינטרנשיונל); (stage name of Sharon Cohen, born Yaron Cohen in Tel Aviv, Israel on February 2, 1972) is an Israeli transsexual pop singer of Yemenite origin, who won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest for her song "Diva". She was the first Israeli artist to be interviewed on MTV.

Next to original songs, International is known for her cover versions of old hits. She has so far released eight albums, and a further three compilation albums, and has worked closely with other Israeli artists, including DJ Ofer Nissim.

She made an appearance as both a guest presenter and performer at the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2005, when her 1998 winner Diva was nominated as one of the 14 finalists in the search for the greatest Eurovision song.

Biography

Dana International was born as Yaron Cohen in 1972 in Holon, Israel. He was youngest of three children (the others are an older sister Limor and an older brother Nimrod).

Yaron realized early that he belonged on stage. He enjoyed the Eurovision Contest and followed it closely, especially when Ofra Haza represented Israel with the song "Chai" (1983).

International's first hit was the song "My Name Is Not Sa'ida". It was a lampooning cover version of Whitney Houston's song "My Name Is Not Susan" It received a great deal of radio airplay.

In 1993, International flew to London for sex reassignment surgery, returning as Sharon Cohen. That same year she released her first album, Dana International, in Israel, which was soon released in other Middle East countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Her stage name came from the title track of this album. Dana International soon went gold in Israel. She is also very popular in numerous other countries, and an icon for LGBT activists around the world.

Dana has participated in an Amnesty International campaign with the motto Gay rights are human rights.

She is currently recording her new Israeli album which is going to be released in 2006, first single is expected to be released in the summer.

Albums

• 1993 - Dana international, IMP Dance
• 1994 - Umpatampa, IMP Dance
• 1995 - EPtampa, IMP Dance
• 1996 - Maganuna, Helicon/Big Foot
• 1998 - Diva - The Hits, IMP Dance
• 1999 - Free, CNR Music
• 2000 - Free (Israeli edition), NMC
• 2001 - Yoter ve yoter, NMC
• 2002 - Ha'chalom ha'efshari, IMP Dance
• 2003 - The CD's collection, IMP Dance

Controversy

She drew controversy from many Israelis who thought it was shameful for a transsexual to represent Israel.

External links

• [Dana International - A Star Online; Website & Forum]
• [Dana's NYC Fansite]
• [Dana's Official website]
• [The Dana International Artistic Page]
• [Dana's Fanpage]

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