Arik Einstein
Encyclopedia
Arik Einstein is an Israel
i singer-songwriter
.
Einstein was a vocalist for Batzal Yarok (Green Onion
), Shleeshiyat Gesher Hayarkon (Yarkon Bridge Trio) and Hahalonot Hagvohim (The High Windows
). His collaboration with Shalom Hanoch
and the Churchills
planted the seeds for the first Israeli rock albums. He dominated the nascent Israeli Bohemia scene along with his best friend, Uri Zohar
. Einstein's influence has been so profound that virtually all Israeli pop music
can be traced back to musical projects in which he participated. He managed to infuse the new styles of rock and pop with a deep Israeli flavor.
Einstein wrote many of the songs that he performed, among them "Ani Veata" (Me and You), "Sa Le'at" (Drive Slowly), "Yoshev Al HaGader" (Sitting on the Fence), "Ima Sheli" (My Mother), and "Uf Gozal" (Fly, Little Nestling).
, a left-wing Zionist youth movement. In his youth, Einstein was Israel's junior champion for the high jump
. His father urged him to audition for an army entertainment troupe, and he was accepted into the Nahal Brigade
troupe.
"Ari Goren."
In the Yarkon Bridge Trio, he performed with Yehoram Gaon
, Benny Amdursky and later Israel Gurion. In 1964, he played in the comedy film Sallah Shabbati, along with Chaim Topol
, who was also from the Green Onion band.
In 1966, Einstein released the album Shar Bishvilekh (Singing for You), and joined the High Windows
, in which he performed pop songs. Two years later, Einstein released the album Mazal Gdi (Capricorn), which was not very successful. He therefore looked for a new sound and went on to produce the album Puzi with the Churchills, considered the first Israeli rock album.
Einstein was part of the early 1970s TV series Lool (Chicken Coop), a sketch-and-song show with an original format and cast. The show had an off-the-wall sense of humor not unlike Monty Python's Flying Circus
. However, Lool also featured songs written by prominent poets performed by some of Israel's best singers has ever produced. In spite of the fact that it had only four parts, it remains a cult-show to this day. It as well as movies such as Shablool (Snail), showcased Einstein both as a top-of-the-line singer and comedian
.
Einstein continues to write songs and release albums. In 2004, he released Shtei Gitarot Bas Tupim (Two Guitars, Bass, Drums).
In 2005, he was voted the 22nd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Einstein sang a duet with David D'Or
on D'Or's CD, Kmo HaRuach ("Like the Wind") released on 27 March 2006.
With the High Windows:
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Einstein was a vocalist for Batzal Yarok (Green Onion
Green Onion (band)
Green Onion was a theatre and entertainment troupe, founded in 1957 by The Nahal Band graduates. Until its disbandment in 1961, the group made five shows.-Shows:...
), Shleeshiyat Gesher Hayarkon (Yarkon Bridge Trio) and Hahalonot Hagvohim (The High Windows
The High Windows
The High Windows was a 1960s Israeli pop group founded by Arik Einstein, Shmulik Kraus and Josie Katz.-History:Hahalonot HaGvohim trio was formed at the end of 1966. As composer and vocal arranger, Kraus was the group's moving spirit...
). His collaboration with Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch
Shalom Hanoch is an Israeli rock singer, lyricist and composer.He is considered to be the father of Israeli rock and the most important artist of that area. His works have profoundly influenced Israeli rock and modern Israeli music...
and the Churchills
The Churchills
The Churchills was an Israeli band founded in 1965, active until the mid-1970s. It was a part of the rhythm bands scene that were active in Israel in the 1970s, especially in Ramla. The band played rock music in English, from psychedelic rock to hard rock...
planted the seeds for the first Israeli rock albums. He dominated the nascent Israeli Bohemia scene along with his best friend, Uri Zohar
Uri Zohar
Uri Zohar is a former Israeli film director, actor, and comedian who left the entertainment world to become a rabbi.-Biography:Zohar was born in Tel Aviv in 1934. In 1952, he graduated high school and did his military service in an army entertainment troupe. His first marriage ended in divorce.By...
. Einstein's influence has been so profound that virtually all Israeli pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
can be traced back to musical projects in which he participated. He managed to infuse the new styles of rock and pop with a deep Israeli flavor.
Einstein wrote many of the songs that he performed, among them "Ani Veata" (Me and You), "Sa Le'at" (Drive Slowly), "Yoshev Al HaGader" (Sitting on the Fence), "Ima Sheli" (My Mother), and "Uf Gozal" (Fly, Little Nestling).
Early life
Einstein's father, Yaakov Einstein, was a theatre performer and a member of Hashomer HatzairHashomer Hatzair
Hashomer Hatzair is a Socialist–Zionist youth movement founded in 1913 in Galicia, Austria-Hungary, and was also the name of the group's political party in the Yishuv in the pre-1948 British Mandate of Palestine...
, a left-wing Zionist youth movement. In his youth, Einstein was Israel's junior champion for the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
. His father urged him to audition for an army entertainment troupe, and he was accepted into the Nahal Brigade
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
troupe.
Music career
In 1959, after his release from the IDF, Einstein joined the Green Onion band and the Sambation theatre. In 1960, he released his first solo album. He sang in a band under the pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Ari Goren."
In the Yarkon Bridge Trio, he performed with Yehoram Gaon
Yehoram Gaon
Yehoram Gaon is a Jewish Israeli singer, actor, director, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure...
, Benny Amdursky and later Israel Gurion. In 1964, he played in the comedy film Sallah Shabbati, along with Chaim Topol
Chaim Topol
Chaim Topol , often billed simply as Topol, is an Israeli theatrical and film performer, actor, writer and producer. He has been nominated for an Oscar and Tony Award, and has won two Golden Globes.-Early life:...
, who was also from the Green Onion band.
In 1966, Einstein released the album Shar Bishvilekh (Singing for You), and joined the High Windows
High Windows
High Windows is a collection of poems by English poet Philip Larkin, and was published in 1974 by Faber and Faber Limited. The readily available paperback version was first published in Britain in 1979...
, in which he performed pop songs. Two years later, Einstein released the album Mazal Gdi (Capricorn), which was not very successful. He therefore looked for a new sound and went on to produce the album Puzi with the Churchills, considered the first Israeli rock album.
Einstein was part of the early 1970s TV series Lool (Chicken Coop), a sketch-and-song show with an original format and cast. The show had an off-the-wall sense of humor not unlike Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
. However, Lool also featured songs written by prominent poets performed by some of Israel's best singers has ever produced. In spite of the fact that it had only four parts, it remains a cult-show to this day. It as well as movies such as Shablool (Snail), showcased Einstein both as a top-of-the-line singer and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
Einstein continues to write songs and release albums. In 2004, he released Shtei Gitarot Bas Tupim (Two Guitars, Bass, Drums).
In 2005, he was voted the 22nd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Einstein sang a duet with David D'Or
David D'Or
David D'Or is an Israeli singer, composer, and songwriter. A countertenor with a vocal range of more than four octaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" and "Best Vocal Performer" awards. He was also chosen to represent Israel in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, at...
on D'Or's CD, Kmo HaRuach ("Like the Wind") released on 27 March 2006.
Discography (incomplete)
- 1966 – Shar bishvileh (Singing for you)
- 1968 – Yashan vegamHadash" (Old and New)
- 1968 – Mazal Gdi (Capricorn)
- 1969 – Puzi
- 1970 – Shablul (Snail)
- 1970 – Plastelina
- 1971 – Shirey Yeladim (Kids' Songs)
- 1971 – Badeshe etzel Avigdor (At Avigdor's on the Grass)
- 1972 – Yasmin (Jasmin)
- 1973 – Hashanim Harishonot (The First Years)
- 1973 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Good Old Land of Israel)
- 1974 – Sa leat (Drive slowly)
- 1975 – Shirim (Songs)
- 1976 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova bet (Good Old Land of Israel part 2)
- 1976 – Yeladim (Kids)
- 1976 – Haahava panim rabot la (Love Has Many Faces)
- 1977 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova Gimel (Good Old Land of Israel part 3)
- 1978 – Leket (Medley)
- 1978 – Yeladudes (Kidoes)
- 1980 – Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova-Meshirey Sasha ArgovSasha Argov-Early life:Argov was born in Moscow. He immigrated to Palestine from Russia in 1934 with his parents.-Music career:He started composing at the age of five, began his formal music training one year later, and composed hundreds of popular songs. Among them were songs for the Israel Defense Forces,...
(Good Old Land of Israel-Sasha Argov's Songs) - 1980 – Hamush Bemishkafaim (Armed With Glasses)
- 1981 – Leket Leyladim (Collection for Kids)
- 1982 – Yoshev Al Hagader (Sitting on the Fence)
- 1983 – Shavir (Fragile)
- 1984 – Pesek Zman (Time Out)
- 1984 – Nostalgia-Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Nostalgia-Good Old Land of Israel)
- 1985 – Totzeret Haaretz (Made in Israel)
- 1986 – Ohev Lihiyot Babait (Love Being Home)
- 1987 – Al Gvul Haor (On the Boundary of the Light)
- 1988 – meshirey Avraham Halfi (Avraham Halfi's Songs)
- 1989 – hashanim Harishonot (The First Years)
- 1989 – Haiti Paam Yeled (I was a Boy Once)
- 1992 – Nostalgia-Eretz Yisrael Hayeshana veHatova (Nostalgia-Good Old Land of Israel)
- 1992 – Haarye, Hayona, veTarnegolet Kchula (The Lion, The Dove, and a Blue Chicken)
- 1995 – Yesh bi Ahava (Filled With Love)
- 1996 – Ktzat lakahat Hazara (Take Back a Little)
- 1997 – Lean Parchu Haparparim (Where Have the Butterflies Gone)
- 1999 – Muscat (types of grape)
- 2002 – Yahsan vegam Hadash-remastered (Old and New)
- 2002 – Shemesh Retuva (Wet Sun)
- 2004 – Shablool-remastered (Snail)
- 2004 – Shtei Gitarot, Bass, Tupim (Two Guitars, Bass, Drums)
- 2006 – Rega'im (Moments)
- 2007 – Kol Ha Tov Shebaolam (All the Good Things in the World)
With the High Windows:
- 1966 – Hahalonot hagvohim (The High Windows)