Etti Ankri
Encyclopedia
Esther "Etti" Ankri is an Israel
i singer-songwriter
. She is a former Female Singer of the Year in Israel, and has also performed in the United States, England, and India. Ankri has been called a "rock genius", the "poet of Israeli spirituality," and "the contemporary voice of... Israel."
, the third of five siblings, to a Tunisian Jewish family. Her father, Andre, was a policeman, and her mother, Hanna, a homemaker. She attended the Ma'apilim elementary school, and the Ramle-Lod high school. Her artistic mentor in her teenage years was the actress Miriam Nevo, who was teaching at the community center in Lod. She served in the Israeli Education Corps, and then studied at the Rimon school of music. In 1985, her father committed suicide. She is married to theater actor Doron Linik and has three children. In 2001 she became baalat teshuva.
in Israel, where it sold over 90,000 copies. She followed it with six other albums. She is featured in Her Song: Exotic Voices of Women from Around the World (1996), and in Matti Caspi
's Duets (2000). She has also teamed with David D'Or
for a successful duo
.
In 2004 and 2005, she began to explore her spiritual side, gradually coming back to her Jewish roots. In 2005 Anrki toured to promote her double disc, 15-year best-of retrospective collection published by the NMC
label. In 2005–07 she performed with Neshama Carlebach
, who referred to Ankri as: "one of the most talented and inspiring Israeli stars", saying "It's a great honor to be working with her – she's just incredible." In 2007 she was also featured singing a ballad on the CD Putumayo Presents Israel, a collection put out by Manhattan-based Putumayo
which specializes in collections of "world music".
As of 2009 her most recent album was Beshirei Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, which set poems of Yehuda Halevi
to music. Ben Shalev of Haaretz
described the music as "beautiful", writing "she sings wonderfully. Her voice is clear and precise, radiating vulnerability and self-confidence in equal measure, and it presses emotional buttons similar to the ones it did 20 years ago. And as for the new melodies ... They are marvelous."
Shalev's review continues: "The songs begin with melodic elements that are so familiar and unstyled that they seem like folk songs. The handful of minor chord
s, the classical guitar
strumming, the Mizrahi-Sephardi "aroma".... But then, two or three minutes into most of the songs, something fascinating happens: The circular melodies, meandering along at a low register and seemingly trapped in it, suddenly take flight and open up. This movement usually reflects a point of departure in the text. This happens, breathtakingly, in both "Yona Ma Tehegi" and just as beautifully in "Yefe Nof." .... After the album's midpoint, another lovely thing happens: Ankri stops painting her palette entirely a traditional Jewish-Israeli color, and allows other hues to seep in to the album.... "Eli Rafeni," for example, is an Indian-inflected bossa nova
.... it's terrific. "Avdei Zman" verges on Arab music
, and "Ye'iruni Raayonai," ... is very reminiscent in its melody and delivery of the Ankri of 'Ro'ah Lecha Ba'einayim' .... On the album it serves as dessert: a side dish, tinged with sweet nostalgia.
Ankri is known for her moving, emotional, and often ethnic pop
song
s, which she writes herself. Her music has also been described as "introspective", "heartfelt", and "exotic, romantic, and spiritual." Her voice has been described as "mellow" and likened to an alto sax.
, and Steal the Sky
(1988) with Ben Cross
and Mariel Hemingway
.
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...
. She is a former Female Singer of the Year in Israel, and has also performed in the United States, England, and India. Ankri has been called a "rock genius", the "poet of Israeli spirituality," and "the contemporary voice of... Israel."
Early life
Ankri was born in 1963 in LodLod
Lod is a city located on the Sharon Plain southeast of Tel Aviv in the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2010, it had a population of 70,000, roughly 75 percent Jewish and 25 percent Arab.The name is derived from the Biblical city of Lod...
, the third of five siblings, to a Tunisian Jewish family. Her father, Andre, was a policeman, and her mother, Hanna, a homemaker. She attended the Ma'apilim elementary school, and the Ramle-Lod high school. Her artistic mentor in her teenage years was the actress Miriam Nevo, who was teaching at the community center in Lod. She served in the Israeli Education Corps, and then studied at the Rimon school of music. In 1985, her father committed suicide. She is married to theater actor Doron Linik and has three children. In 2001 she became baalat teshuva.
Music career
Ankri's debut album, I Can See It in Your Eyes (1990), reached double platinumPlatinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
in Israel, where it sold over 90,000 copies. She followed it with six other albums. She is featured in Her Song: Exotic Voices of Women from Around the World (1996), and in Matti Caspi
Matti Caspi
Matti Caspi is an Israeli composer, musician, singer, and lyricist. Born in 1949, he is regarded as one of Israel’s top musicians.His music style is difficult to classify. He is influenced by classical music, Brazilian and Latin music, Jazz, Rock and other genres. It is possible to hear all these...
's Duets (2000). She has also teamed 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...
for a successful duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
.
In 2004 and 2005, she began to explore her spiritual side, gradually coming back to her Jewish roots. In 2005 Anrki toured to promote her double disc, 15-year best-of retrospective collection published by the NMC
NMC
NMC may refer to:* NMC Records, an Israeli record label and music company.* NMC Recordings, a record label and music company in the United Kingdom* National Meteorological Center, now the National Centers for Environmental Prediction...
label. In 2005–07 she performed with Neshama Carlebach
Neshama Carlebach
Neshama Carlebach , daughter of the Jewish singer-songwriter Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is a singer, the protege of her late father.-Biography:...
, who referred to Ankri as: "one of the most talented and inspiring Israeli stars", saying "It's a great honor to be working with her – she's just incredible." In 2007 she was also featured singing a ballad on the CD Putumayo Presents Israel, a collection put out by Manhattan-based Putumayo
Putumayo World Music
Putumayo World Music is a New York City based record label, now specialising in compilations of music from various nations, regions or musical styles which may be classified as world music.-Etymology:...
which specializes in collections of "world music".
As of 2009 her most recent album was Beshirei Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, which set poems of Yehuda Halevi
Yehuda Halevi
Judah Halevi was a Spanish Jewish physician, poet and philosopher. He was born in Spain, either in Toledo or Tudela, in 1075 or 1086, and died shortly after arriving in Palestine in 1141...
to music. Ben Shalev of Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
described the music as "beautiful", writing "she sings wonderfully. Her voice is clear and precise, radiating vulnerability and self-confidence in equal measure, and it presses emotional buttons similar to the ones it did 20 years ago. And as for the new melodies ... They are marvelous."
Shalev's review continues: "The songs begin with melodic elements that are so familiar and unstyled that they seem like folk songs. The handful of minor chord
Minor chord
In music theory, a minor chord is a chord having a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a minor triad....
s, the classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
strumming, the Mizrahi-Sephardi "aroma".... But then, two or three minutes into most of the songs, something fascinating happens: The circular melodies, meandering along at a low register and seemingly trapped in it, suddenly take flight and open up. This movement usually reflects a point of departure in the text. This happens, breathtakingly, in both "Yona Ma Tehegi" and just as beautifully in "Yefe Nof." .... After the album's midpoint, another lovely thing happens: Ankri stops painting her palette entirely a traditional Jewish-Israeli color, and allows other hues to seep in to the album.... "Eli Rafeni," for example, is an Indian-inflected bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
.... it's terrific. "Avdei Zman" verges on Arab music
Arab music
Arabic music or Arab music is the music of the Arab World, including several genres and styles of music ranging from Arabic classical to Arabic pop music and from secular to sacred music....
, and "Ye'iruni Raayonai," ... is very reminiscent in its melody and delivery of the Ankri of 'Ro'ah Lecha Ba'einayim' .... On the album it serves as dessert: a side dish, tinged with sweet nostalgia.
Ankri is known for her moving, emotional, and often ethnic pop
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...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, which she writes herself. Her music has also been described as "introspective", "heartfelt", and "exotic, romantic, and spiritual." Her voice has been described as "mellow" and likened to an alto sax.
Discography
- I Can See It in Your Eyes (1990); double platinum album
- Esther (1993); gold album
- Her Song: Exotic Voices of Women from Around the World (1996); one song
- Nonetheless and Regardless (1997)
- Live Show (1998); with David D'OrDavid D'OrDavid 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...
- Duets (2000); one song, "Wheel Within a Wheel," with Matti CaspiMatti CaspiMatti Caspi is an Israeli composer, musician, singer, and lyricist. Born in 1949, he is regarded as one of Israel’s top musicians.His music style is difficult to classify. He is influenced by classical music, Brazilian and Latin music, Jazz, Rock and other genres. It is possible to hear all these...
- Sea (2001)
- Millions (2004)
- The Best of Etti Ankri (2005)
- Putumayo Presents Israel (2007); one song
- Beshirei Rabbi Yehuda Halevy (2009)
Film career
Ankri has also appeared in a number of Israeli and US movies. Among them are Deadline (1987) with Christopher WalkenChristopher Walken
Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
, and Steal the Sky
Steal the Sky
Steal the Sky is a 1988 HBO movie starring Mariel Hemingway and Ben Cross. The movie is based on the true story of Iraqi pilot Munir Redfa flying a MiG-21 fighter jet from Iraq to Israel in 1966.-External links:**...
(1988) with Ben Cross
Ben Cross
Ben Cross is a British actor of the stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
and Mariel Hemingway
Mariel Hemingway
- Early life :Hemingway was born in Mill Valley, California, the third daughter of Byra Louise Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, a writer. Her sisters are Joan Hemingway and Margaux Hemingway...
.
Abridged filmography
- Deadline 1987) ... as Samira
- Lehem (1987) ...as Navah, aka Bread
- Te'udat Ma'avar (1987) ... aka Across the Border
- Steal the Sky (1988) ... as Fara
- Resisim (1989) ... aka Burning Memory
- Eretz Hadasha (1994) ... as Roza, aka New Land
- Shabatot VeHagim (1999) ... as Hagit
External links
- IMDB link
- Analysis of Ankri's song "Yetziat Mitzrayim"
- Transliterated lyrics to "Lolita"
- Transliterated lyrics to "Ahava G'dolah"
- Etti Ankri sings Rabbi Yehuda Halevi(Hebrew), an intreview for Mako, March 9.
- photo gallery