Subliminal – Prachim Bakane

Kobi Shimoni, better known by his stage name Subliminal, has helped nationalize hip-hop in Israel by rapping about issues that touch the core of Israelis. Younger Israelis embrace Subliminal’s controversial infusion of music and right wing politics because it reflects the frustration, anger and politics that are a part of their every day lives. Prachim Bakane (Flowers in a gun barrel)

"Hip-hop Speaks to the Reality of Israel"
Hartwig Vens in World Press Review, February 2004

Eyal Golan – Lev Shel Gever

Much Middle Eastern music has its roots in Arab speaking countries, and is important in Israel because it represents the different backgrounds and experiences of all Israelis. Artists with more western and Middle Eastern influences typically dominated the Israeli music scene, but Eyal Golan's Lev Shel Gever (Heart of Man) was one of the first modern Mizrachi songs to be popular with mainstream Israelis. Golan remains popular and his Middle Eastern style has continued to bridge different ethnic backgrounds within mainstream Israeli music.

Ievri Lider- Bo

Rita and Rami Kleinstein's, who have both individual and collective albums, music and lyrics are said to touch the essence of Israeli culture. Both immigrants to Israel, Rita from Iran and Rami from America, their music echoes their experiences and the unrelenting resolve of the Israel spirit. Ivri Lider is a popular Israeli artist whose individual style and influence can be seen in the works of many other singers. The remake of Bo, written by Rami and sung by Rita, appeared in the popular Israeli move Yossi and Jagger, about two gay men serving in the IDF.

David Broza – Shir Ahava Bedui

Singing in Hebrew, English, and Spanish, David Broza blends multi-cultural instrumental sounds with provocative poetic lyrics to create modern "folk rock" that has wide appeal and following. In addition to being popular in Israel, Broza gained international recognition, especially in North America, for his sophisticated and attractive style. Broza's remake of Shir Ahava Bedui (Bedouin Love Song) is a popular love song that reminds us the landscape of Israel has always included wanderers. Bedouins, derived from the Arabic word Bedu meaning "inhabitant of the desert", have a strong connection with the land and traditionally live a nomadic lifestyle wandering in the desert.

Yehuda Poliker – Pachot Aval Koev , "Hurts But Less"

Yehuda Poliker was born in Salonika, Greece to Holocaust survivor parents. His childhood greatly influenced his music and one of his first albums, called Ashes and Dust was dedicated to their life and experience. His urban rock music with its Greek influence is popular among all ages in Israel. Poliker’s 4th solo album "Hurts But Less" has become one of his and one of Israel's best selling albums to date (triple platinum plus) and tracks from his album are to this day still included on all radio station play lists. This song is about getting over the loss of his nephew in an army related accident.

Shlomi Shabat – Metukim

Shlomi Shabat mixes Turkish, South American, traditional rock and Yeminite influences to create a unique Middle Eastern sound, and is emerging as one of the top Middle Eastern performers. Shabat began his career in the U.S. in clubs frequented by Israelis living abroad.

Naomi Shemer – Kinneret

The Kinneret Cemetery holds both the graves of Rachel the Poetess and Naomi Shemer, two of Israel's most prominent women artists whose works reflected Zionist ideology and love and devotion for the land of Israel. Rachel, who came to Palestine in the early 20th century, wrote Hebrew poetry that contains her affection and dedication to the land of Israel, particularly the areas around the Golan and Kinneret. Naomi Shemer, who was born and raised in the Kinneret, used folk music to demonstrate the power of the historical link between Jews with each other and the land of Israel. Shemer put Rachel's poem Kinneret to music, and the result is not only a beautiful ballad about the Golan Heights and Kinneret, but also a song about how the land unifies and strengthens people in Israel.

Shlomo Artzi – Yareach

Considered to be one of Israel's top artists, Slomo Artzi has been a central figure in the Israel music scene for over 30 years. His traditional folk rock style and passionate lyrics make him popular with Israelis of all ages. The most famous line of the song tells us that yesterday was good and yet it will also be good tomorrow, sort of a mantra for every day life in Israel.

Shir Lashalom – various artists

A Song of Peace, Shir Lashalom has been part of Israeli culture since the 1960s as an inspiration for peace. It was one of the last songs sung at the peace rally in 1995 where Rabin was assassinated. Following the assissnation, Shir Lashalom demonstrated the power of a song to comfort, motivate and desire to move forward toward peace even in the most difficult of times.

Sarit Hadad - Yalla Lech Habayta Moti

Sarit Hadad, now a standard household name in Israel, first entered the Israeli music scene in late 1995 and has maintained her status as a modern Israeli cultural icon because of her fresh looks and universal appeal. A Jordanian music tour resulted in a special album entitled "Sarit Hadad Sings Arabic" which continued her popularity in Israel as well as Arab speaking countries. Her spunky songs helped popularize and mainstream oriental music. Like most of her songs, Yalla Lech Habayta Moti is easy and fun. Her simplistic lyrics act as a release from the demanding life Israelis often feel faced with.

Uzi Chitman – Adon Olam

Adon Olam is a popular hymn that emphasizes the nature of the human relationship with G-d. Adon Olam proclaims that despite the everlasting nature of G-d's power,
G-d continues to intervene as a source of help and strength and is constantly sung to different melodies throughout the world. Uzi Chitman's version of Adon Olam gained worldwide popularity, as it combined Jewish Liturgy and tradition with the sounds and spirits of modern Israel. Uzi Chitman died in 2004 but will be remembered for his ability to transform classic songs with fresh energy.

Hadag Nachash – Shirat Hasticker

Two Jews, three opinions, the saying goes, and no less is true in Israel with its wide array of political opinions about issues ranging from Palestinian statehood to compulsory service in the IDF to the environment. Author David Grossman realized that there is no greater spectrum of Israeli public opinion expressed then on the never-ending supply of bumper stickers on Israeli cars. 54 such phrases collected by Grossman have been compiled into a song that represents the plethora of beliefs and endless political friction that exists in Israel. Sung by Hadag Nachash (snakefish), a popular left leaning hip-hop group that sings primarily about Israel's domestic policies, The Sticker Song represents with sensitivity the passion and fervor that forms the core identity of Israelis.

"Honk if You Love to Sing Bumper Stickers"
by Samuel Freedman in The New York Times, August 2004

Aviv Geffen – Livkot Lecha

Aviv Geffen, often compared to the looks of David Bowie, uses his music to challenge popular youth ideas. He made headlines in the early 1990s for refusing to serve in the IDF based on conscientious objection. Geffen originally wrote Livkot Lecha after the premature death of a close friend in a car accident, yet following Yitzhak Rabin's assignation the song became definitively associated with the mourning and anguish of the loss of Rabin.

Ehud Banai – Egel Hazahav

Ehud Banai, a member of the famed Israeli Banai family of musicians and actors, combines his Persian roots with influences from American 1960s rock to create a unique folk rock sound. After spending six months in London making a living by playing music in the Underground, Banai decided making music was how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

Shuli Natan – Yerushalim Shel Zahav

The classic "Jerusalem of Gold" was written by popular Israeli artist Naomi Shemer for the 1967 Israel Song Festival. The song originally contained only three stanzas, but Shemer added a fourth about the Old City following the unification of Jerusalem after the Six Day War. The song became an instant hit because it represented the longing Israelis felt and became an anthem of Israeli strength, purpose and determination. After hearing Shuli Natan's voice on a young talents radio program, Shemer insisted that Natan was the perfect person to perform Yerushalim Shel Zahav.

http://www.jerusalemofgold.co.il

Idan Reichel Project – Bo'i

The Idan Reichel Project is a unique compilation of songs produced by Idan Reichel that brings Israel's ethnic diversity to center state. Although traditional ethnic music is popular among Ethiopian Israelis, Reichel's project represents the first time Ethiopian music was embraced by mainstream society. By mixing of traditional Ethiopian music with Israeli popular style, Reichel chose to highlight themes of conventional Jewish texts, multiculturalism, and most of all the use of music to penetrate the richness and diversity of Israeli culture.

"From the Desert, From a Far-Away Land: Ethiopian music has hit the big time in Israel"
by Mitchell Ginsberg in the Jerusalem Report, March 2003

Teapacks – Yoshvim Bevet Café

Teapacks, led by well-known singer/songwriter Kobi Oz, has been credited with transforming and popularizing hip-hop music in Israel by including elements of social protest and lyrics about the hardships of life in Israel. Mixed with Middle Eastern and Western musical influences, Teapacks's music is filled with meaning and purpose as it not only begins to blend ethnic gaps but also makes statements about society. Sitting and talking in a coffee house is very typical pastime amongst young Israelis and the Teapacks song Yoshvim Bevet Café (Sitting in a coffee house) is about the dichotomy between the normalcy of schmoozing and drinking coffee and the intensity and reality of life in Israel.

Sheva – Shir La'Malot

Psalm 121, Shir La'Malot, is one of 15 songs of ascent sung by ancient Israelites as they entered the hills of Jerusalem and during the ascent to the Beit Hamikdash (temple). Both in historic and modern times, Shir La'Malot, with its famous line "I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come?" is commonly used to strengthen and affirm faith in G-d and as an assurance of G-d's unrelenting love and protection over the Jewish people. Sheva (Seven) a popular Israeli band originating from the Galilee Mountains combines instruments from all over the globe with inspirational lyrics of Hebrew and Arabic origin to create a modern motivational experience. Sheva's mystical journey can be heard in their modern rendition of Shir La'Malot.