Ortal

Ortal (born Marie Ortal Malka) is a French singer best known for representing France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. She was born in Israel in 1978 to parents of Berber and Andalusian heritage. Ortal started singing as a teenager and developed a passion for music early on. Her multicultural background gave her a mix of North African and European musical influences, which shaped her unique style.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Ortal was raised in Israel and began performing around age 16. In 2000, she moved to Spain to join a group called Gipsy Sound. This group played flamenco and gypsy-inspired music, which helped Ortal grow as a live performer. Living in Spain added Latin flavor to her repertoire. By the mid-2000s, she settled in Paris, France to pursue her professional music career.

Eurovision Song Contest 2005

In early 2005, Ortal entered and won France’s national selection for Eurovision. She was a relatively unknown artist at the time. However, her catchy up-tempo song “Chacun pense à soi” (“Everyone Thinks of Themselves”), which she co-wrote, impressed the judges and TV voters. This victory earned her the right to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 held in Kyiv. Ortal performed in front of an international audience at the contest’s 50th anniversary edition. Her song reached #52 on the French music chart and #47 in Belgium. However, it finished 23rd out of 24 entries in the Eurovision final. Despite that low placement, appearing on Eurovision gave Ortal broad exposure and a loyal fan following.

Post-Eurovision Career

After Eurovision, Ortal shifted her musical focus and explored her cultural roots. She recorded several albums of popular Jewish and Israeli songs, releasing no less than seven albums in this genre. One example is her 2004 album Mazeltov Jewish Songs, which features traditional melodies and festive tunes. She became known for performing at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and community events, bringing a joyful spirit to these celebrations. Ortal also began working as a DJ and songwriter. She regularly performed in trendy Paris clubs, where she sang and DJed for diverse audiences.

Ortal has collaborated with other artists as well. In 2010, she was featured on the dance track “Pop Like That,” working with the electronic music duo KNOB. She continued to release new music over the years, blending world music with modern pop. For instance, she put out dance singles and remixes in the late 2010s, showcasing her versatility as an artist.

Personal Life

Ortal’s personal life also saw happy developments. In 2013, she gave birth to twins (a boy and a girl) in Paris. She has balanced motherhood with her ongoing singing career.