Shlomo Artzi
Shlomo Artzi is an Israeli folk rock musician, composer, music producer, radio host and singer-songwriter. He is one of the most popular and successful musicians in Israel.
Biography
Shlomo Artzi was born on Moshav Alonei Abba. Artzi's parents were Holocaust survivors and their memories deeply influenced him and his sister Nava Semel, a playwright. His father, Yitzhak Artzi, a Zionist activist in Bukovina, Romania in his youth, was later a member of the Knesset. His maternal grandmother was the sister of Rabbi Meir Shapiro.When Artzi was eight years old, his family moved to north Tel Aviv. Artzi's schoolmates thought he would become an actor, not a musician, as he was known for his acting skills at elementary school. However, at the age of twelve, he started playing the guitar and singing in a boy scouts group and at friends' parties.
Artzi has been married twice and has three children from his first marriage: Ben Artzi, Shiri Artzi, and Jonathan Artzi.
Artzi resides in Ramat Gan. He is a fan of the football club Maccabi Netanya and composed its championship song in 1971.
Music career
1960s: Teen and army bands
At age 16, he began writing and composing songs. As the Sinai Duo, he started performing before soldiers, along with his classmate Rivka Menashe, who later gained fame as Riki Gal.During his military service, Artzi was recruited to the Artillery Corps, and after serving for a year and a half, he joined Lehakat Kheil Hayam. While in this band, he took part in the programs "And on the Third Day" and "Rhapsody in Blue", alongside other soon-to-be Israeli celebrities, such as Rivka Zohar, Dov Glickman, Avi Uriah and Riki Gal. He was yet to stand out during the first program. By the second program, he became the lead singer and one of the main stars. He sang lead vocals on songs such as "The Sailor Gabriel" and "When I Grow Up".
1970s: Emerging and evolving as a solo singer
In 1970, Artzi competed in the Israel Song Festival. Still in military service and wearing a military uniform, he sang Pitom Achshav, Pitom Hayom, also known as "Ahavtiha". The song, written by Tirtza Atar and composed by, won first prize. It was included in his first album, Shlomo Artzi, which came out in 1970, and came in first in the annual chart-toppers countdown of Kol Israel. Artzi was voted Singer of the Year.In 1975, he was selected to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest. The selected song was At Ve'Ani, written by Israeli songwriter Ehud Manor, and composed by Artzi himself. "At Va'Ani" won 11th place.
Over the next few years, Artzi's records did not sell well and he produced few hit singles. Most of these albums became rare collectibles. In 1977, he made "He lost his way…" whose success convinced Artzi to continue singing. In 1979, he recorded Drachim, with a fresher style. His 1981 LP "Khatzot" was the second part of "Drachim".
1980s: Dance, Restless Night, July-August Heat
Artzi's fame rose throughout the 1980s and reached a peak with the release of the albums "Dance" and "Restless Night" which sold tens of thousands. He began to appear in the country's largest parks and theatres.In 1980, Artzi hosted his radio show on Israeli Army Radio. In this show, he talked about the week's headlines and told interesting stories about things he heard or saw. "Od lo Shabbat" was broadcast on Fridays.
His records "Tirkod", "Layla Lo Shaket", and "Hom Yuli August" albums sold hundred thousand copies, and his live shows at Israel's largest concert venues were fully booked.
1990s: Ticket to the Luna Park, Moon, Two
Artzi opened the nineties with the album "Kartis Laluna Park", produced by Louis Lahav and arranged by Adi Rennert. Artzi wrote and composed most of the songs on the album, including "Nikhnast Lechayay", "Rocker Chayay", "Me-Ever LaNahar" and "Agadat HaEsrim VeAhat". Rennert composed the song "Situatia" to the words of Artzi. After the great successes of his previous albums, the album was considered a commercial failure, and did not leave many hits, although it did not stop the glory days of Artzi.In 1992, Artzi released Yareah, one of his most successful albums. Out of twelve songs on it, eight became radio hits and finally solidified Artzi's status in Israeli popular music.
In 1995, popular Israeli musicians recorded a CD together in memory of Yitzhak Rabin, named "Shalom Chaver". Shlomo Artzi played two songs during the memorial service, which later became anthems of those days – "Haish Ha'hu" and "Uf Gozal", which was originally written and recorded by Arik Einstein and Miki Gavrielov.
In 1996, Artzi released a double album called "Shnayim", selling an almost unprecedented 160,000 copies, making it a certified 4× platinum record. The most notable songs in this CD were the title track, sung with Israeli singer Rita, "Hi Lo Yoda'at Ma Over Alai", '"Menagev Lakh Et Hadmaot" "Ze Ma Shenish'ar", "Ha'ahava Hayeshana", "Le'an, Le'an, Le'an", "Shisha", "Absurd" and "Dokh Retzhakh" on the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin compared to that of JFK. "Shnayim" signaled the beginning of a string of original material, among them some of the best-selling Israeli records of all time.
2000s: I Loved Them, Thirst, Sane
In 2000, Artzi released "Ahavtihem", a collection of reworked love songs, many originally written by him for other artists. The album featured a revision of his hit "Ahavtiha", "Nof Yaldoot", "Anakhnu Lo Tzrikhim", "At Va'ani", "Ma'avir Daf" – a duet with Nurit Galron, "Shir Preda" – a duet with his singer-songwriter son, Ben Artzi and "Melekh ha'olam". The album went on to sell over 200,000 copies – an unprecedented achievement in the little Israeli music market."Tzima'on", released in 2002, featured the title track as its lead single, as well as "Al-Pi Tnuat Harakavot" LeHatzil Otakh and "Ptzatzat Atom Bashamaim". The albums sold over 60,000 copies in the first two weeks of their release but the reviews were critical. Artzi later described these albums as flawed.
In 2007, Artzi released "Shfuyim". The album came out in July, with a lead single "Ha'amiti". His collaboration with Mooke was panned. "Nitzmadnu" helped to restore his reputation with a catchy sing-along melodic line and lyrics. The came one of Artzi's most enduring hits, "TeTa'aru Lakhem", with a romantic message: "Imagine yourselves a beautiful world, a little less sad than it actually is, and there we are, walking, with sunshine in our pockets".
2010s: Happiness Express, Whipped Cream
In 2012, Artzi finally released "Osher Express". This album enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success. It featured a strong collection of new songs, beloved singles, and an intriguing lead-off single: "Khozrim Habaita" which featured the iconic Israeli singer Arik Einstein. This was followed by "Kol Yom", a life-affirming duet with Dudu Tasa "Latet Velakakhat", and a spiritual duet with Abraham Tal "Elohim". Additional singles produced at this time were "Nedaber Mehalev" and "Shelo Ye'almu Hadvarim Hayafim". The album included "Ometz", "Florida", and Artzi's unique take on the wave of social protests in 2012, "Kayitz Be'eretz Lu".In 2016, Artzi released "Katzefet".