The dreadful year 2020 is fading into the rearview mirror, and like everyone, we’re glad to see it go. But in a year when many of us had some time to kill, our site was more popular than ever. We’ve already covered our favorite Israeli musical moments of 2020, but we thought it would be fun to take a look back at the top 10 most popular posts on our site over the past 12 months.
10. Ishay Ribo Pays a Musical Shiva Call To the Family of Slain IDF Soldier Amit Ben Yigal, z”l
Hate to start this article on such a depressing note, but sadly, it reflects an integral part of Israeli society. On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Sergeant First Class Amit Ben Yigal (21) was killed during an overnight raid in the West Bank town of Yabed. As his parents were sitting shiva for their son, singer Ishay Ribo stopped by with his guitar. His emotional musical shiva visit is a powerful example of the close-knit family of which all Israelis are a part.
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9. What Are The Lessons of Coronavirus? A Powerful Israeli Song Helps Us Learn What We’ve Lost
In the early days of Coronavirus, we were scared, confused, and shocked. We couldn’t believe what was going on before our eyes. When Hanan Ben Ari released this powerful, short song in late March, the combination of imagery and lyrics took my breath away. It still does today.
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8. Lior Narkis + Omer Adam + Moshe Peretz = A New Song the World Needs Now
Israeli music has been REALLY good at comforting us during this difficult year. Exhibit A: just days into the pandemic, three of Israel’s biggest superstars brought us a song of strength and inspiration. Lior Narkis, Omer Adam, and Moshe Peretz covered Meir Banai’s “Shiri Shel Shafshaf”, and it just felt right.
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7. New From Static and Ben-El: “Bananot”
What the world needs now? Good, stupid fun. Perhaps that’s why this 2019 hit from Static & Ben-El ranked so high on our site this year. The imagery, the sound, the costumes and the dancers all transport you to another world. It’s hard not to get swept up in the African ambience of “Bananot”, brought to you by our favorite Israeli duo.
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6. We’ve Overcome Everything, We’ll Overcome This: 40 Israeli Artists Sing ‘Katan Aleinu’ – Promoting Unity During Corona
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, no doubt you’ve heard this song by now. This incredible anthem released near the end of the year became an instant hit, but it’s easy to understand why. When 40 Israeli musical superstars join together to tell us it’s all gonna be ok, it’s hard not to be inspired.
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5. You’ve Been Singing This Hebrew Song Your Whole Life. This Year, You’ll Sing it Differently.
Continuing on the theme of musical comfort food amidst a pandemic, please welcome Shiri Maimon. As the Jewish New Year came close, Shiri took the classic Israeli song “Bashana Haba’a” (Next Year) and forced us to take a look at the well-known lyrics in a whole new way. I think it’s safe to say she succeeded.
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4. Is English the New Hebrew? A Brilliant New Song By Hatikva 6 Says “Yes”
Nearly 18 months since its release, this song remains extremely popular on our site. It remains one of my personal favorites too! This incredibly clever song from Hatikva 6 is so much fun. Whether or not you’re fluent in Hebrew, you’ll love hearing the many ways in which English words have crept into the language of Israel. Pure joy.
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3. Who Knows 31? A Star-Studded Seder Song To Skyrocket Your Spirits This Passover
I’ve watched this countless times, and it brings a smile to my face each time I see it. Passover 2020 was a lonely time for many, as all were advised NOT to leave their homes on seder night. Israeli TV to the rescue! “HaSeder HaYisraeli HaGadol” (the big Israeli Seder) aired on Israel’s Channel 12 that night, with a star-studded virtual Seder for the nation to enjoy. At the end of the evening, 31 of our favorite singers joined together for the most epic version of “Who Knows One” ever created. Don’t miss it.
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2. Counting the Omer: The Top 20 Omer Adam Songs of All Time
He remains one of the most popular singers in Israel, and the popularity of this post proves it. Omer Adam is a superstar, and his repertoire is an integral part of the Israeli soundtrack. Kan Gimmel radio counted down Omer’s greatest hits last year, and the results are a lot of fun to listen to. Did your favorite Omer Adam song make the list?
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1. “This Is My Home, This Is My Heart”: 35 Israeli Singers Record a Song In Honor Of Israel’s 71st Birthday
Unbelievable. This 2019 hit is already a classic, and may prove to be the most popular Israeli song of all time. Long before we were all on Zoom all day, this Zoom-style music video caught quickly caught the attention of world Jewry. Its patriotic lyrics and memorable refrain continue to inspire all who care about the modern State of Israel, and continue to attract many visitors to MyIsraeliMusic.com.
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Wishing you a fantastic 2021! What were your favorite Israeli music memories of 2020?