Yael Naim [Import]

Yael Naim | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: BMG/Arista
• ASIN: B000VS8UJY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,250 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Paris

2. Too Long

3. New Soul

4. Levater

5. Shelcha

6. Lonely

7. Far Far

8. Yashanti

9. 7 Baboker

10. Lachlom

11. Toxic

12. Pachad

13. The Endless Song of Happiness [Shir Haosher Hanitschi]

Editorial Reviews

2007 sophomore album from the Paris-born and Israel raised singer, songwriter and musician who has also recorded under the name Yael. This album, which features songs sung in French, English and Hebrew, features the worldwide sensation 'New Soul', a track that has gained fame as being the music played during Apple's Macbook Air ad campaign in 2008. . 13 tracks total. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How's your Hebrew?, March 26, 2008

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yael Naïm (Audio CD)

Like many people, I got this album because of the MacBook Air laptop ad featuring the track "New Soul", which is already released as a single. Yael Naim is a French artiste now living in Israel, and the tracks are in Hebrew, French and English.

She has a distinctive singing voice, and specializes in sultry jazzy numbers, sometimes with a folksy lilt. The song of the album is of course "New Soul", and there's an unusual, unexpected and very strange interpretation of "Toxic", originally sung by Britney Spears.

Other tracks to note are:

"Paris" - sung in Hebrew and French, which translated is an ode to her favorite city.

"Too Long" - a plaintive song in English where she sings "I waited for so long / Outside myself / You see I was pretending / To be someone else"

"Shelcha" - a slow Enya-type song in Hebrew and English

"Lonely" - a minimalistic, simple, melancholy song in English, definitely NOT a karaoke song

"Far Far" - another single, in English, that goes "How can you stay outside? / There's a beautiful mess inside"

"Lachlom" - a dreamy song in Hebrew

"Pachad" - jazzy piano intro leading into Hebrew lyrics

A great easy-listening album for when you're in the mood for something new and a little different.



Amanda Richards, March 26, 2008

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Israeli Nouvelle Chanson, March 24, 2008

By 

Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yael Naïm (Audio CD)

Yael Naim's self-titled album is a refreshing musical discovery. It's a breakup album, but it is more thoughtful and melancholy. It was recorded entirely in Yael's Parisian apartment. The album art recalls the Jewish feast of Sukkot, the harvest festival when people make booths open to the stars above. It's a musical feast. Like autumn, it is melancholy, yet it is fruitful.

The opening song,"Paris",is a bittersweet ode to the City of Light. "Too Long" is a mesmerizing song of longing. Of course, there's the klezmer/trip-hop of the hit "New Soul." "Levater" and "Shelcha" are hypnotic,haunting melodies. "Lonely" is a plea to an emotionally distant lover, with the words "I'll never leave you/standing in a storm." "Far far" is colored with sampled birdsong. The closing song, "Endless Song of Happiness" is optimistic and hopeful. The most surprising track is Naim's cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." She turns bubblegum pop into something desperate and sad.

Yael Naim is an amazing musical discovery. She's brought new soul into the world of music! Along with the Idan Raichel Project and David Broza, she's transforming Israel into a musical oasis.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "There's a beautiful mess inside..." (4.5 stars), March 14, 2008

By 

Clarissa Bowen (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Yael Naim (Audio CD)

One day while browsing Amazon I somehow stumbled upon Yael Naim. I had never heard of her before but when I learned that she was the voice behind the wispy music featured on Apple's Macbook Air commercial my interest peaked. "New World" has such a fun, playful feel to it but the rest of the album is a bit more somber sounding. More notable tracks like "Too Long" and "Far Far" are definitely accessible to the ears, making for perfect radio play, but for me the highlights include those not sung in English. "Levatar", "Shelcha" with David Donatien, and "Pachad" in particular stood out with me the most. Her voice is like sweet silk rolling off the tongue when she sings in French and Hebrew, which I find to be a wonderful example of how music can be universal. She breaks through the language barriers for a truly unique listening experience that centers heavily on her gorgeous, expressive vocals with just subtle acoustics and electronics to enhance the mood. She even does a decent downtempo cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic" that's actually made tolerable in the hands of someone with talent.

Yael Naim is definitely a promising new artist to watch out for. I can't stop listening to her debut album and hope this isn't the last I hear from her.