Meir Ariel

Meir Ariel (Hebrew: מאיר אריאל‎) (March 2, 1942 – July 18, 1999) was an Israeli singer-songwriter.

He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as Natan Alterman, S. Y. Agnon and Hayim Nahman Bialik, and American singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan.

Biography

Ariel was born on the Fast of Esther in 1942 and grew up in Kibbutz Mishmarot. He and Israeli rock singer Shalom Hanoch were friends from childhood. He served in the Paratroopers Brigade and was one of the soldiers who took Jerusalem at the beginning of the Six-Day War.^[1] This inspired him to write the song "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" ("Jerusalem of Iron"). The song was based on Naomi Shemer's hit song "Jerusalem of Gold", and borrowed its tune. It was represented as a cynical reaction to the over-patriotism of the Israeli public and media of that time. Ariel was referred to in the media as "The Singing Paratrooper" because of the "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" mini-album cover that represented him in his military uniform.

After he had lived in the USA for some time, Ariel returned to Israel and decided to create folk rock inspired music. He served in the Yom Kippur War in the Suez Canal and returned to his kibbutz after the war. Between 1978 and 1988, he released his three first LPs. The first album's title, Shirey Chag Umoed Venofel, is a parody of the term "Shirey Chag Umoed" which means "Songs for holidays". The album's title could also mean, in Hebrew, "Songs for the circling, tripping and falling".^[2]

In 1987, Ariel, his wife Tirtza and their three children moved to Tel Aviv. Between 1990 and 1997, he released one more EP, one collection album, one live album and three more LPs, the last one being Bernard ve Louise (Bernard and Louise).

Ariel died on July 18, 1999 from the Mediterranean spotted (or "Boutonneuse") fever which is caused by the rickettsia parasite and transmitted by a tick bite.^[3] He was buried in the Kibbutz Mishmarot cemetery.

Three live albums with various Israeli artists performing his songs have been released so far, as well as an album of Ariel's recordings, released posthumously and titled 'Mode Ani', which can be translated as 'I am thankful' and also as 'I confess'.

Among the many singers for whom Meir Ariel wrote are Shalom Hanoch, Arik Einstein, Rita and David Broza.^[3]

In 2005, he was voted the 34th-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.^[4] In 2009, the Israeli postal service issued a stamp in his honor.^[5]

Discography

Albums

• Shirey Chag Umoed Venofel (Songs of holiday and falling commemrative day) 1978
• ...Ugluy Eynayim (...And With Eyes Revealed) 1984
• Yerukot (Green) 1988
• Zir'ey Kayitz (Seeds of Summer) 1993
• Rishumey Pecham (Coal Sketches) 1995
• Bernard Velouise (Bernard and Louise) 1997
• Mode Ani (I Thank/I confess) 2000

EPs

• Yerushalayim Shel Barzel (Jerusalem of Iron) 1967
• Avarnu Et Par'o (We overcame Pharaoh) 1990

Best of albums

• Mivchar (Selection) 1991
• Haosef (The Collection) 2001
• Hameytav (The Best of Meir Ariel) 2004

Live albums

• Dlatot Niftachot Me'atzman (with the band, 'Charisma') (Doors Are Opened By Themselves) 1998
• Behofa'a Acharona Bemoadon Barby 1999 (On a Last Concert At The Barby Club 1999) 2002

Tribute live albums

• Im Hagav Layam (With My Back To The Sea) 2000
• Erev Kachol Amok (Deep Blue Evening) 2002
• Chamesh Shanim (Five Years) 2005

DVDs & VCRs

• Masa Habchirot Shel Meir Ariel (Meir Ariel's Campaign Tour) 1988
• Derech Dim'a Shkufa – Hahofa'a (Through a Clear Tear – The Show) 2003

References

External links

• Meir Bareshet, Official site (Hebrew)
• Jerusalem of Iron, Lyrics and analysis