March 1, 2019: Our daily look at Israeli music news and information! Today: Hadag Nahash opens up about their creative process…this week’s biggest winners on the Israeli music charts…and “Toy” in Ladino?

Israeli Music Today: Transcript

This is MyIsraeliMusic.com, I’m Josh Shron, and here’s your Israeli music news for Friday, March 1, 2019.

“Toy” in Ladino?

When Dana International won the Eurovision back in 1998 with her song “Diva”, it was only a matter of weeks before the song began springing up in other languages like English, Russian, and more. Well last year, another eccentric performer won the Eurovision for Israel. Netta Barzilai, of course, won with “Toy”, and we’ve already seen it in Yiddish…and now? Ladino.

Ladino is, of course, the Judeo-Spanish language spoken by Sephardic Jews after their expulsion from Spain. The song is performed, quite nicely, I might add, by Israeli singer Dganit Daddo.

Hadag Nahash Opens Up Their Creative Process

Last week we told you about the new song by Hadag Nachash, called “Ana Anachnu”. Well, if you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes during the creation of a hit song by a major artist, Hadag Nachash has released a video which documents the creative process – stretching all the way back to 2016. Take a look.

I love that they’re letting us listen in on every step in the process, and they’ve done it for every song on their new album.

Top Israeli Music of the Week

And finally, our weekly list of the top Israeli songs is out, and the two biggest winners of the week are Hanan Ben Ari and Yishai Ribo! Hanan released a new song this week called “Aluf HaOlam” – and it shot straight to #2 in nationwide radio airplay. And, in its second week on the Galgalatz countdown, Yishai Ribo’s “Halev Sheli” shot from #8 all the way to #3. You can check out all of this week’s results at myisraelimusic.com.

That’s your Israeli music news for today! Don’t forget we’re live on the air Sunday at 11am Eastern over at wrsu.org, I hope you will join me then. I’m Josh Shron, Shabbat Shalom, Al Tafsiku Lashir (don’t stop singing).