Yemenite Songs

Ofra Haza

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 27, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Globe Style
• ASIN: B000008U6H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #142,464 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #25 in	Music > Indie Music > New Age > World Dance
  #68 in	Music > World Music > Middle East > Israel

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It would have been groundbreaking enough for the Israeli Ofra Haza to have performed an album of Yemeni Jewish songs. But when she and producer Bezalel Aloni added synthesizers, drum machines, and a generous helping of dance beats, they ended up creating one of the seminal records of world music--one of the very first ethno-techno releases whose reverberations extended into dance clubs around the globe, most especially with "Galbi." While its contemporary sound might make it seem shallow, there really is a lot of depth here, the lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th-century rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Along with fellow spirits like Dissidenten, Haza helped pave the way for Transglobal Underground, Natacha Atlas, and Banco de Gaia. --Chris Nickson

Product Description
Gold edition reissue of the late world music superstar's 1984 album packaged in a digipak. World. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich Collection of Devotional Poetry in Song, July 26, 2003

By	Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is the *very* best of the Ofra Haza CDs ... many of the songs are in Hebrew, Arabic & Aramaic which makes this one of the most unusual and outstanding Middle Eastern CDs ever produced. Her voice is indeed beautiful, the voice combined with the complex meter and beat of the poetry written by Rabbi Shalom Shabbazi from the late 16th C. provides a rare and unusual glimpse into the past but with a contemporary sound. The melodies created by traditional and modern musical instruments: wooden & metal percussion, Yemenite tin and tambala, stringed instruments, flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn, bassoon, clarinet, French horn, and bass clarinet produce striking rhythms which captivate the listener. This CD is a mirror reflecting the beautiful music of the past within a modern framework ... it is an artistic masterpiece. How sad this musical legend is no longer with us but how very lucky we are she left us a legacy of her musical creations, so we never forget her ... Erika Borsos (erikab93)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Incredible Ofra, February 10, 2002

By	Daryl B (Nashville, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

I first bought this as a cassette tape in the 80s and wore it out. I was amazed at this woman's incredible voice and the beautiful songs that she sang. I now have this on cd and it still as impressive as ever. Ofra Haza's voice was like some kind of angelic instrument. I was stunned to hear of her death in 2000 and the realization that we'll have no more gems from this unique artist. At least, however, we have the cds she left behind and this one is one of the best.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best in the west from Ofra, August 23, 1998

By	John Coxe "jcoxe" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fifty Gates of Wisdom: Yemenite Songs (Audio CD)

This album is a must. It chronicles the more familiar works of the great Rabbi Shabazi that comprise a typical Yemenite Jewish diwan. And Ofra Haza has a voice that leaves all but a few of her peers in the dust.

The album opens with Im Nin'alu, a juggernaut that clears the way for the rest of the LP. The mix is solid and full and the sound completely infectious. The rest of the tracks are good but may have varying appeal depending on the mood you're in.

Galbi, an original (if memory serves me), became an international hit, spawning remixes (same for Im Nin'alu) for play in Eurodiscos. This also overcame obvious political barriers and found acceptance in some Arab markets.

Ofra is the daughter of Yemenite Jewish immigrants to Israel. Some have criticized her pronunciation of Arabic, but few can fall short of praising her vocals.

This work along with her Shirei Moledet series marked a much welcomed departure from her more pop sound. I highly recommend this album.

...oh and she's a very beautiful woman too.