Yael Levy, who is responsible for a variety of classics that will forever be imitated in Hebrew song, began her singing career somewhere in 1997, and since then? history. Levy’s hits have accompanied and still accompany many, and her unique voice continues to elaborate on the strings of the heart. To our delight, the beloved singer complied with our request and connected us to her musical world as part of the ‘Artists Performing Hebrew Shabbat’ project.
In 1954, Levi, originally named Orna, was born in Nahariya, and began her musical career as a singer in the Navy Band during the Yom Kippur War. At the same time, her first appearance as a soloist was in the performance of Jonathan Geffen alongside Yitzhak Kepelter. Following the great success of the show, a broadcast record was released in which the song she performed in a duet with Klepter – ‘Forever I Will Wait’.
The songs performed by Levy quickly became hits. Among them, ‘Green Island at Sea’, ‘Bedouin Love Song’, ‘Forever I Will Wait’ and the most successful vocal piece – ‘Picture’, also known as ‘Deba Deba De’, which is used as a signal for the radio program ‘Four in the Afternoon’ on IDF waves .
At the end of 1979, Levy released her first song on the radio – ‘Ballad for the Naive’. A year later, the singer participated in the Singing and Choral Festival, where she sang with Klepter the duet ‘Night’, which was also a great success among listeners then and to this day.
Levy’s work did not end, and in 1981 she embraced her first album, which bore her name – ‘Yael Levy’. The album included the songs she recorded over the years and other songs such as, ‘Guessing of the Sea’ and ‘Rain of Attention to Women’, which also became big hits.
Levy’s second album, ‘Love Toy’, was released 3 years after its predecessor. The album featured translated songs and ranged from jazz and bossa tried styles. It was musically produced by Amikam Kimmelman and was highly acclaimed by music critics. In 1992, Levy released to fans her third album – ‘Don’t Buy Me a Rose’, in which the collaboration with Rose Klepter could be clearly seen. Also, in 1997, produced by Johnny Shuali, the talented singer released her album ‘Quench the Storm’, which was a success and included songs written by her for the first time. From the album came the hit ‘Do Not Disappoint Me’.
After several years of silence, in March 2004 Levy embraced the album ‘Five’, when all the songs on the album were written and composed by Vered Klepter, except for two songs that were applied to the words of Tirza Atar. In 2011, Levy released his first double album – ‘Green Island in the Sea’. The first disc featured innovations to her greatest hits and the second disc contained new songs when their arrangements were minimalist and based solely on vocals, guitar and vocals.
Recently, Levy went on a successful duet with the musician Roni Yedida, Levy performed the lullaby of the accomplished poet Natan Alterman – ‘Noma Ben’. The two spoke with Iris Cole on 103fm and told about the decision to breathe new life into the song.
As part of the ‘Artists Edit Shabbat Hebrew’ project, exclusive to 103fm digital, Yael Levy edited her favorite Hebrew songs with her favorite performances, from Arik Einstein, through Miri Aloni, Tzila Dagan, Aviv Geffen, to The High Windows and Fortisharof. Pleasant listening!
The list of songs chosen by Yael Levy:
- Arik Einstein – You and I
- Shem-Tov Levy – a post-war song
- Yael Levy and Yitzhak Klepter – I will wait forever
- Tzila Dagan – a tree stands on the road
- The tall windows – you can not
- Navy Band – My Dead
- Miri Aloni – a song for the eve of the holiday
- Yael Levy and Yitzhak Klepter – at night
- Assaf Amdursky – My dear
- Noise – sometimes
- Ehud Banai – City of Refuge
- Aviv Geffen – Seasons
- Yitzhak Klepter – We met
- Arik Einstein – Children of Life
- A little different – the little prince
- Shalom Hanoch – Night
- The tall windows – a little girl
- Fortisharoff – At the end of the day