Today I wanted to take the time to honor the life of global POP star Ofra Haza, who passed away 12 years ago today. Born in Israel to a Yemeni family, Ofra's musical career spanned decades. She released over fifteen albums, including the internationally acclaimed Shaday in 1988. During her solo career she experimented with an endless variety of musical styles, including dance, electronica, folk, rock, & orchestra, always updating her sound. Known as "the Madonna of the East," Ofra Haza was an international POP star at a time before the internet, before mp3s, before iTunes, & before Youtube. Few people who read this blog may have ever heard of Ofra Haza, but as someone who grew up listening to her music, I wanted to share one of her most extraordinary & famous songs, Im Nin'Alu. This is a remarkable POP ballad; once you listen to it, you will understand why it remained a top 10 hit in Europe for weeks in 1988 (hitting #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100). It is truly timeless. Watch & listen below.
Ofra passed away on February 23, 2000, from pneumonia related to AIDS. Thankfully, the world she sang for will always have her music, despite her untimely death.
Rest in Peace, Ofra.
Unapologetically,
