This week (November 19), Ofra Haza would have been 61 years old. And we miss her more than ever.
On the day that would have been her birthday, Helicon Records, in conjunction with Kan Gimmel Radio, released a new album: “Kol Haneshama: Artists Sing Ofra Haza”.
Ofra passed away in 2000 at the age of 42. But her songs are timeless, and are as popular today as they ever were. Everyone loved and respected Ofra, and so it’s little wonder that so many Israeli singers were excited to participate in this new project.
The album includes 13 of Ofra’s hits, sung by several of Israel’s most popular singers, including Avraham Tal, Miri Mesika, Kobi Aflalo, Harel Skaat, Ivri Lider and many others (full track list below).
Some of the artists reflected on their experiences in participating in the project.
Miri Mesika – “B’kerem Teiman”:
Ofra Haza is one of the greatest Israeli singers of all time. She had the voice of a bell, which expresses itself phenomenally in each one of her songs. It is a great honor for me to participate in this exciting project…the song describes a naive reality, with much beauty, which characterized the Yemenite Vineyard at that time. I chose to perform this song because of a special connection I have with the name ‘Tamar’, the name of my eldest daughter.
Harel Skaat – “Im Nin’alu”:
One of my strongest childhood memories is of my Saba Yosef, who would sit me on his knees, and with his big fingers would teach me the Yemenite accent. Grandpa Yosef always urged me to come up and lead the service at my neighborhood synagogue, and I refused shyly. I dedicate this performance of ‘Im Nin’alu’ to Grandpa Yosef, who died before I kept my promise to him.
In recording this song I am closing another circle with the musical producer Izhar Ashdot. Yizhar produced Ofra Haza’s historic “Im Nin’alu”, and many years later – he produced my first album. also the first albums Yizhar was also the first to understand how deeply rooted Yemenite is within me…and in our conversations in the studio about Ofra Haza – in a sort of prophecy – he said that the day would come when Yemenite will emerge from me once again.
Nasreen Qadri – “Goral Echad”:
Ofra was and remains the greatest Israeli singer in my eyes. When I was a girl, I would stand in front of the mirror for hours and sing her songs. I admired her, and I am a singer largely because of her. When they approached me to participate in the project I was very moved. I chose to perform the song “Goral Echad,” whose words are my approach to coexistence in this country. Jews and Arabs, Ashkenazim and Sephardim, rightists and leftists. I hope the words seep into each and every one of us, because there is no other choice.
Sapir Saban – “Gavriel”:
I grew up in a house where my father listened to Turkish music, and my mother, on the other hand, loved to listen to Shlomo Artzi and Ofra Haza, who was then the pride of the city of Yahud, my hometown. As a child who listened to her songs at home, I always had a dream to meet Ofra in the street…”the neighbor”, the singer with the voice of bells, who, with her wonderful music, broke out of Israel’s borders and became the most successful Israeli singer in the world. Unfortunately, the dream has not come true, but I’m happy that I had the privilege of performing “Gavriel”. I hope and believe that they both protect us from above.
Kol Haneshama: Full Track List
- Ofra Haza – Kol Haneshama
- Avraham Tal – L’orech HaYam
- Nasreen Qadri – Goral Echad
- Kobi Aflalo – Tefilla
- Miri Mesika – B’kerem Teiman
- Harel Skaat – Im Nin’alu
- Ivri Lider & Ninet Tayeb – HaKe’ev HaZeh
- Avigayil Roz – Od Mechaka L’echad
- Liron Amram – Galbi
- Sapir Saban – Gavriel
- Zehava Ben – Yad B’yad
- Yasmin Levy – Mishehu Holech Tamid Iti
- Yardena Arazi – Ga’agua Shel Manginah
What are your memories of Ofra Haza? What is your favorite Ofra Haza song?
