Re: The Israeli music scene and cross-over artists

[Eliezer Kaplan <zelwel...>]

>And-to my ears, there isn't much that separates these artists musically-their 
>music has its roots in the musical traditions of the Arab world and the 
>Eastern Mediterranean, 

Well you have to get to Salim Halali and Cheikh Raymond as 'missing' links 
between the traditions (and many others which I'm sure those more expert than 
me could list).
                                                                    ek


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eva Broman 
  To: World music from a Jewish slant 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 7:51 AM
  Subject: The Israeli music scene and cross-over artists


  Hi Judith,

  Sounds like a very interesting lecture! I'm a newcomer to Israeli music, but 
to me it seems as if there is an amazing variety in the Israeli music scene-if 
you explore a music site like Israeli music, you'll find anything from Western 
rock and pop, to "Oriental" pop to cantorial works, klezmer and "ethnic" musics 
from all over the world. It's amazing how many different musical traditions 
exist side by side-which is, I guess, just a reflection of the demographic 
variety of the Israeli people.

  >Apparently many Palestinian kids are watching the same music videos as the
  >Jewish kids, and many of the songs are just as popular with them.

  I'm not familiar with the mainstream Israeli pop-rock scene, but from what 
I've gathered some of the Mizrahi/Oriental artists have a great cross-over 
appeal. Haim Moshe and Zehava Ben are popular among Palestinians and sell 
cassettes by the thousands in the neighbouring Arab countries, and Palestinians 
like Samir Shukry, or "the Druze boy" Sharif (who sing both in Hebrew and 
Arabic) are popular among Israeli Jews. And-to my ears, there isn't much that 
separates these artists musically-their music has its roots in the musical 
traditions of the Arab world and the Eastern Mediterranean, with more than a 
sprinkling of Western pop influences.

  Another interesting phenomenon is the penetration of Greek music into the 
musical landscape of Israel, which according to journalist Shimon Parnas is 
something unique in the world. He points to the great popularity of artists 
such as Glykeria and Giorgos Dalaras, and claims that if the late "laika" 
singer Stelios Kazantzidis ever had come to Israel to sing, he would have 
filled stadiums-which is quite remarkable since Kazantzidis was at his peak in 
the fifties and sixties, and unlike Glykeria never got into the "world music" 
market.

  >He talked about how popular the sing-along tv shows are in Israel right
  >now....Everyone is singing.  

  Maybe this is a kind of continuation of the Zionist "sing-along" tradition? 
Or maybe it's because "Levantine" (in want of a better word!) audiences in 
general participate more actively? I can't say anything about Israel, but, 
again, at every Greek and Turkish concert I've been to *everyone* sang along 
with *every song*-it seems as though folks learn the lyrics and melodies of 
popular songs through a kind of "osmosis" (probably because they're belted out 
from cafes and taverns all day long!;-)), and take great joy in singing along 
with the artists on stage. Maybe something similar is happening in Israel?

  Thanks for the info, and I'm looking forward to reading the playlist!

  Eva