#85 Israeli music

The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish music traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture. For almost 150 years, musicians have sought original stylistic elements that would define the emerging national spirit. In addition to creating an Israeli style and sound, Israel’s musicians have made significant contributions to classical, jazz, pop rock and other international music genres. Since the 1970s, there has been a flowering of musical diversity, with Israeli rock, folk and jazz musicians creating and performing extensively, both locally and abroad. Many of the world’s top classical musicians are Israelis or Israeli expatriates. The works of Israeli classical composers have been performed by leading orchestras worldwide.

Music in Israel is an integral part of national identity. Beginning in the days of the pioneers, Hebrew songs and public singalongs (Shira beTsibur) were encouraged and supported by the establishment. “Public singalongs were a common pastime [of the early settlers], and were for them a force in defining their identity”, wrote Nathan Shahar. This view of music as nation-building continues to this day. “We are in the midst of creating a culture”, wrote Nahum Heyman, one of Israel’s leading music composers and music historians. Jewish immigrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere brought with them their musical traditions, melding and molding them into a new Israeli sound.

Internationally acclaimed Israeli singers and musicians

• Etti Ankri – a singer-songwriter, and former Female Singer of the Year in Israel, has also performed in the United States, England, and India. Ankri has been called a “rock genius”, a “poet of Israeli spirituality,” and “the contemporary voice of… Israel.”
• Keren Ann – performs in France.
• Mike Brant
• Daliah Lavi – performed mainly in Germany, where she became one of the most popular and successful female singers.
• Hadag Nahash – As well as songs in Hebrew, Hadag Nahash has several songs in other languages, such as Arabic, French, and English. Hadag Nahash provided many songs for the Adam Sandler film, Don’t Mess With The Zohan. Many of their songs are about peace, and “Zman Lehitorer (Time To Wake Up)” has been used as a memento song for movements.
• Hedva and David – A singing duo, comprising Hedva Amrani and David Rosenthal. In 1970, they won first place at the Yamaha Song Festival in Tokyo, Japan, with the song “I Dream of Naomi”, which sold more than a million copies in its Japanese version, ナオミの夢 “Naomi no Yume.” It was awarded a gold disc.
• David Broza – Recognized worldwide for his dynamic guitar performances and humanitarian efforts, Broza’s signature sound brings together the influence of Spanish flamenco, American folk, rock and roll, and poetry. With over 40 albums released, many of which are multiplatinum, in English, Hebrew, and Spanish, Broza continues to tour globally both as a solo musician and with his various musical projects. He is also the founder of the non-profit One Million Guitars, which gives underprivileged schoolchildren around the world hand-crafted guitars and the foundation of a musical education.
• David Serero – An internationally renowned French opera singer, baritone, born in France from Israeli parents. David Serero has won recognition for his versatile repertoire from Opera to Broadway and to popular songs. He has starred in several Broadway musicals such as Man of La Mancha for which he has won an award for best performance as Don Quixote. David has also recorded a duet with legendary pop singer Jermaine Jackson on Autumn Leaves. Very active in concerts, for which David has already performed more than 600, the French baritone often performs in benefit of charities and in hospitals in Israel.
• David D’Or – A countertenor, he has been Israel’s Singer of the Year, and Israel’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest. By February 2008, nine of his albums had gone platinum.[106] D’Or performs a wide variety of music, including pop, rock, dance music, world music, Israeli folk songs, classical, opera, baroque arias in the original Italian, klezmer, holy music, ancient chants, and Yemenite prayers.[107][108][109][110][111] He has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the US.
• Ofra Haza – Apart from her success in Israel, Haza was well known in Europe and North America in the 1980s and 1990s for her unique blend of Yemenite music and electronic dance sounds. She represented Israel in the ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ in 1983, and won second place with “Chai” (Alive). Haza collaborated with Iggy Pop, Paula Abdul, Sarah Brightman, and others. She played Yocheved in the Oscar-winning animation movie “The Prince of Egypt,” and sang a song, “Deliver Us.”
• Yardena Arazi
• Dana International – She achieved fame in Europe and North America, and became a gay icon after winning the “Eurovision Song Contest” in 1998 with her song “Diva”.
• Ishtar – (born Eti Zach), vocalist of the French dance music group Alabina.
• Yael Naïm – Her song “New Soul” was used by the Apple computer company in an advertising campaign. She was the first Israeli solo artist to have a top 10 hit in the United States. The song peaked at # 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Achinoam Nini – Known outside of Israel as Noa, Nini sings in many languages and styles, but her signature sound is a mix of traditional Yemenite and modern Israeli music.
• Gene Simmons of Kiss, the popular American band from the 1970s, was born in Haifa.
• Asaf Avidan
• Netta Barzilai – Netta is the winner of the 2018 edition of HaKochav Haba, the reality show that determines Israel’s next representative in the Eurovision Song Contest. on March 11, 2018 the song “Toy” was released, becoming very popular among Eurovision fans and eventually won the 2018 Eurovision contest.
• Dennis Lloyd
• Lola Marsh
• Infected Mushroom
• Minimal Compact