A roundup of new Israeli songs released this week.
Some new Israeli songs we think you should know about as you head into the weekend. Shabbat shalom from MyIsraeliMusic.com!
1. Miri Mesika – Nisharnu B’yachad (We Stayed Together)
“It’s an Israeli love song, and even more than that, a love song for Israel.” So writes Miri Mesika about her new song of unity during these tumultuous times. Miri is recently back from London, where she received high praise for her starring role in “The Band’s Visit”. In fact, she was nominated for “Best Actress in a Musical” for London’s 2023 Olivier Awards. But Miri says she remains Israeli through and through. “”I came back from London and realized that you can take me out of Israel, but you can’t take Israel out of me,” says Miri. “Even where they speak English, I saw Haifa and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. My loves are forged on the road, always on some trip on the way to Kinneret, Masada to Tel Aviv. And even when we have the most bitter fights in the car, in the end we always got home. And we stayed together.”
“Outside, sunsets bleed / like the square of 95 [Rabin Square, presumably]
Maybe it’s time to ask for / some light, some hope
Love has seventy faces / We are all a bit the same
We want one thing..”
2. HaMishkafayim Shel Noyfeld feat. Guy Mazig – Tamid Yeladim (Always Children)
Shmulik Noyfeld is a songwriter who regularly composes songs for others under the “Noyfeld’s Glasses” umbrella. This time, he composed a melody and sent it to Guy Mazig. He knew just what to do with it. “When Shmulik contacted me and sent me this beautiful melody,” Guy writes, ”I immediately felt that he was touching me exactly at the points that connect me to my place as a father to Zohar, my daughter, and her need for an anchor and comfort. ‘Tamid Yeladim’ is a very personal song that talks about a personal experience we went through as a family. Amit Mizrachil, our beloved 10-year-old nephew left us two years ago. He was a member of our house and a soulmate of Zohar Mezig – my daughter. They were a duo! The moment when we had to tell Zohar that Amit would not be coming back was one of the hardest times we went through, and the words came out of it.” A beautiful, emotional musical experience, emerging from one of life’s darkest moments.
3. Elai Botner feat. Yishai Levy – Itach Ad Sof HaZman (With You Until the End of Time)
Yet another songwriter who regularly writes songs for other artists, Elai Botner has partnered with the best of ‘em. This time, he dips his toe into the “Mizrachi” genre with the help of Yishai Levy. “As a creator – I’m always looking for new challenges,” Elai writes. “Things I haven’t done yet ignite my curiosity and turn on the creative switch. As a kibbutznik, it goes without saying that the Mediterranean (Mizrachi) genre was not innate. Certainly not in the formative years of my childhood. But ‘Mediterranean’, really, is the most Israeli there is. And the very musical trills of the best singers in the genre always amazed me, fascinated me.”
“You don’t need to be familiar with the history of Mediterranean singers throughout the ages,” Elai continues, “to know that Yishai Levy is one of the forefathers of the genre, and one of the people whose voice and songs shaped it. Mediterranean or not, as far as I’m concerned, there aren’t many singers of such stature…those who know how to give each syllable in the text a special treatment, and each note its own flavor and emphasis. Yishai Levy serves with supreme grace, so for a songwriter like me, a collaboration like this is both a challenge and a dream.”
4. Lior Narkis & Shahar Saul – Kapayim (Clapping)
Lior Narkis, a 30-year veteran in Israeli music, hasn’t released a new song in almost a year. Shahar Saul, meanwhile, is a newcomer who’s having an incredible year. His song “Duvshania” was one of the hottest songs of 2022, and the song of the year on Kan Gimmel radio. Throw in songwriting by Eden Hason and others, and you have the makings of a big hit in Israel. One listen, and we think you’ll have this song stuck in your head for a long time. And that’s a good thing.
5. Aviv Geffen & Micha Shitrit – Osher B’kapiyot (Happiness In Spoonfuls)
Aviv Geffen and Micha Shitrit, two veterans of Israeli music, clearly are not happy with the state of Israeli society today. Here’s what they have to say about their new collaboration: “The song is about the daily survival war of the citizen who is playing in the impossible reality in Israel. It doesn’t matter which [party you voted for] in the last election and which team you support, in the end every person feels that their voice is not heard and the war for their tomorrow becomes more difficult. It’s a feeling that sadness comes in bags and happiness comes in spoonfuls. This is a protest song of the “gray man”, citizens without a single crushing line [i.e. everyday centrists] but those who are counted only in polls. It is a prayer for brighter days of hope and less social darkness.” Ouch – strong words indeed.
6. Mergui feat. Marina Maximilian – Segol Bahir (Light Purple)
Segol Bahir is a 2021 hit for Mergui that you won’t find on YouTube, now that Mergui is working to become an international star. But it’s a song that he apparently struggled with before its initial release. “I didn’t know exactly how to deal with it, let alone releasing it. But seeing how each of the people closest to me cried when he heard it, made me realize that…something special happened. And that the reason I was afraid of [releasing the song] was because it was an open book, yes, and vey real.” Now, Mergui performs the song with Marina Maximilian in an emotional performance in front of a small audience.
7. Static & Agam Buchbut – Tarantula
A few weeks ago, we brought you details of Static’s new album, “Liraz”. While the critics haven’t been all that kind to Static over his new endeavor, one song that was well-received was his collab with Agam Buchbut. Well, now there’s a music video for “Tarantula”, enabling more people to see and hear what all the buzz is about. It’s hard not to miss his antics with Ben-El Tavori, but Agam isn’t a bad substitute at all.
Heard any other great new songs lately? Let us know in the comments!