Dana International is an Israeli pop singer known for her vibrant music and groundbreaking achievements in the LGBTQ+ community.
She made history by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 with her hit song "Diva," becoming the first transgender winner.
Dana was born in Tel Aviv and identified as female from a very young age, coming out as transgender at just 13 years old.
Biography
Early Life
Sharon Cohen, known professionally as Dana International, was born on February 2, 1969, in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a family of Yemenite-Jewish descent. The youngest of three children, she was named after an uncle who was tragically killed in a terrorist attack. From a young age, Dana identified as female and aspired to be a singer, a dream supported by her mother despite their family's financial struggles. At just 13, she came out as transgender, marking the beginning of her journey toward self-acceptance.
Career Beginnings
Dana's career took off at the age of 18 when she performed as a drag queen, parodying famous female artists. It was during one of these performances that she caught the attention of Offer Nissim, a prominent Israeli DJ, who produced her debut single "Saida Sultana." This satirical take on Whitney Houston's song garnered significant attention and helped launch her music career. In 1993, after undergoing male-to-female sex reassignment surgery, she released her first album, "Danna International," which achieved gold status in Israel and was distributed in several countries, including Jordan and Egypt.
Rise to Fame
Dana's second album, "Umpatampa," released in 1994, solidified her status as a pop icon in Israel, going platinum and producing several hit singles. Her most notable achievement came in 1998 when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham with her song "Diva," making history as the first transgender winner of the competition. This victory not only elevated her career but also made her a symbol of LGBTQ+ representation in the music industry. Over the years, Dana has released multiple albums, including "Maganuna," "Free," and "Diva: The Hits," showcasing her evolution as an artist and her enduring impact on pop music.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
הכל זה לטובה2007
- 1.הכל זה לטובה3:51
- 2.יום הולדת3:55
- 3.בראשית3:42
- 4.לא מאמינה3:18
- 5.יאללה בלאגן3:45
- 6.סרט הודי3:19
- 7.Love Boy3:32
- 8.את מוכנה4:10
- 9.איפה הלב4:26
- 10.אתה ממגנט אותי3:09
- 11.יום אחר4:06
- 12.חורבות האהבה4:24
- 13.הכל זה לטובה (Ziv Goland & Dani Tuval remix)7:35
- 14.Love Boy (remix)7:00
החלום האפשרי2002
- 1.Ad HaYom4:07
- 2.Tachlom (radio edit)3:46
- 3.Tagid Li Mi3:29
- 4.Makat Chom (Ey La Dir La Da Da)3:01
- 5.HaHalom HaEfshari3:21
- 6.Yihye Tov3:30
- 7.Raq Lo HaYom3:39
- 8.Gotta Move On3:45
- 9.Superman4:08
- 10.Sipur Katzar3:51
- 11.Nitzachti (acoustic version)3:07
- 12.Yihye Tov (S.T.E.R.N. remix)6:09
- 13.Tachlom (Zigo remix)6:31
Yoter Ve-Yoter2001
- 1.Nitzachti (I Won)3:32
- 2.Ten Li-Chyot (Let Me live)4:06
- 3.Elef Yamin Shel Ahava (Qesher) (1000 Days of Love)3:50
- 4.Yoter We-Yoter (More and More)4:30
- 5.La-Qum Ba-Boqer (No Reason)3:27
- 6.Ata Hores (You Mess All Up)4:10
- 7.Ata Ha-DJ Sheli (My DJ)4:06
- 8.Hargasha Tova (He Makes Me Feel Good)4:40
- 9.Shir (A Song)4:51
- 10.Ba-Derekh El Ha-Chofesh (On the Road to Freedom)4:49
- 11.Ha-Kol Yihye Warod (Turning Pink)4:15
- 12.We-Acherey Ha-Kol (After All)4:26
- 13.Ad Sof Ha-Zman4:24
Free1999
- 1.Dror Yikra (Traditional Prayer For Freedom)4:03
- 2.Free2:55
- 3.Love Is All There Is3:26
- 4.Language Of Love3:36
- 5.La Vita È Bella (Life Is Beautiful)4:02
- 6.Tease Me3:52
- 7.If You Don't Love Me The Way I Am2:52
- 8.This Is The Night4:41
- 9.Ani ohevet (I love)4:00
- 10.Glamorous4:32
- 11.Woman in love (C & N remix)3:35
- 12.Diva '994:00
- 13.Free (C&N Remix)7:50
Diva: The Hits1998
- 1.דיווה3:02
- 2.ישנן בנות2:33
- 3.דון קיחוטה4:05
- 4.אני לא יכולה בלעדיך4:14
- 5.מגנונה (רמיקס 1998)4:19
- 6.סעידה סולטנה4:41
- 7.דנה אינטרנשיונל (שושו)3:25
- 8.נוסעת לפטרה3:40
- 9.פטה מורגנה4:44
- 10.לילה טוב אירופה2:59
- 11.מנפנפת4:15
- 12.גבר %1003:21
- 13.סקס אחר (סקס אחר)4:29
- 14.Power (Radio Mix)4:04
- 15.Chinquemilla4:56
- 16.זמר שלוש התשובות3:44
- 17.אני לא יכולה בלעדיך (אקוסטי)3:23
The Album1998
- 1.Cinque Milla (Remix)3:26
- 2.Maganuna (Remix)3:40
- 3.Qu'est Que C'est? (Remix)6:02
- 4.Power4:04
- 5.I'm Gonna Let5:22
- 6.Dana International3:24
- 7.Good Night, Europe2:57
- 8.Arusa3:33
- 9.Don Quixote4:05
- 10.Going To Petra (Nosa'at Le Petra)3:40
- 11.Cinque Milla4:56
- 12.Maganuna3:47
- 13.Qu'est Que C'est?4:15
Maganuna1996
- 1.מגנונה3:48
- 2.Let's Kiss3:17
- 3.דון קיחוטה4:05
- 4.יש בו אש4:17
- 5.I'm Gonna Let5:22
- 6.Chinquemilla4:05
- 7.מנפנפת4:16
- 8.אות משמים3:28
- 9.סיפור אהבתם של חס וחלילה3:15
- 10.בוא3:40
- 11.סיפור אהבתם של חס וחלילה (Instrumental)2:43
- 12.מנפנפת (Club Mix)5:17
- 13.מגנונה (Club Mix)5:46
Umpatampa1994
- 1.Layla T'Ov, Eiropa (original version)3:00
- 2.Petrance3:49
- 3.Ani Lo Yekhola Bil'Adeikha (radio edit)4:14
- 4.Yeshnan Banot (radio edit)2:33
- 5.Umpatampa (English)3:49
- 6.Qu'Est-Ce Que C'Est?4:16
- 7.Right Now (English)4:37
- 8.Mea Akhuz Gever3:21
- 9.Betula (radio edit)3:10
- 10.Zomba4:02
- 11.Dror Yikra3:28
- 12.Nosa'at Lepet'Ra3:39
- 13.Ani Lo Yekhola Bil'Adeikha (Power dance version)3:31
Danna International (Offer Nissim Presents)1993
- 1.Fata Morgana4:46
- 2.Samar Mar3:59
- 3.Mi She-Lo Rotze Oti4:00
- 4.Mishak Ma-Dma'Ot3:01
- 5.No Alibi4:14
- 6.Arusa3:40
- 7.Yes Sir I Can Boogie4:27
- 8.Sa'Ida Sultana5:48
- 9.Dana International3:54
- 10.Ha-Hatzga Chayyevet L-Himshakh3:08
- 11.Fata Morgana (Strings Mix)4:46
- 12.Samar-Mar (Night Mix)3:50
- 13.Dana International (Airport Version)3:54
עושה שלום2025
Tracklist not collected yet.
אחלה גבר2022
Tracklist not collected yet.
Ding Dong2011
Tracklist not collected yet.
עד היום2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
Woman in Love1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
Free1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
Diva1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cinque Milla1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
E.P. Tampa1995
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Hed Arzi Music
Achievements
- Award
- First prize of the Eurovision Song Contest
- Award
- Independence Day (Israel) torchbearer
Groups
- אמני ישראלcurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Danna International, Sharon Cohen, Yaron Cohen, דנה אינטרנשיונל, ירון כהן, שרון כהן
Sharon Cohen, professionally known as Dana International, is an Israeli pop singer. She has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums. She was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham with the song "Diva" - the first transgender winner in Eurovision history.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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