Shaday
Encyclopedia
Shaday was a 1988 album by Ofra Haza
, released after the international chart success of the single "Im Nin' Alu (English Mix)." Like the follow-up "Galbi
," it was originally included on the 1984 album Yemenite Songs
, which consisted of traditional folk songs with lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Both tracks were released in a wide array of dance remixes both in Israel and internationally, following Eric B. & Rakim
, Coldcut
, M/A/R/R/S, and a number of other hip-hop and dance acts sampling Haza's voice.
In fact, the hit-single Im Nin' Alu was preceded by a 12" remix of "Galbi" named Special Mix (Long Version and Short Version) released by the record label Globe Style. It was an underground club hit in both Israel, Europe and the United States in 1985 and 1986. For the Shaday album, the track was again remixed with an arrangement similar to that of "Im Nin' Alu" and also partly re-recorded with English language lyrics and subsequently re-issued as the follow-up single in both Europe and the United States in 1988.
Shaday, recorded both in Tel Aviv and England, became Haza's international breakthrough album and includes Hebrew-English language remixes of both "Im Nin' Alu" and "Galbi," as well as the singles "Shaday" and "Da'Ale Da'Ale," also released as remix singles. The name of the album is a somewhat controversial double entendre
, meaning one of the acronyms for Yahweh
but also a Modern Hebrew
translation for "my breasts".
"Love Song," an a cappella
with lyrics from the Old Testament
's "Song of Songs
" (8:6-7), first recorded under the Hebrew title "Azah Ka'Mavet Ahavah" on the 1979 album Shir HaShirim (Love Songs), has, just like the original 1984 version of "Im Nin' Alu," been sampled and remixed frequently through the 1990s and 2000s.
Two further songs on the Shaday album were English-language versions of tracks previously recorded in Hebrew: "My Aching Heart" (as "Hake'ev Haze") and "Take Me to Paradise" ("Bo Venagen Otti"), both released on the Israeli pop album Yamim Nishbarim (Broken Days) in 1986.
The US Sire Records
CD release of Shaday adds the 1988 12" Sehoog Mix of "Galbi" bonus track.
Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
, released after the international chart success of the single "Im Nin' Alu (English Mix)." Like the follow-up "Galbi
Galbi (song)
"Galbi" is an Arabic poem by the 17th century Yemenite Rabbi Shalom Shabazi which later was set to music, and was sung by Israeli Yemenite singer Ofra Haza and others...
," it was originally included on the 1984 album Yemenite Songs
Yemenite Songs
Yemenite Songs a.k.a. Shirey Teyman is a 1984 album by Ofra Haza, in which the Israeli pop star returned to her roots interpreting traditional Yemeni Jewish songs with lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi...
, which consisted of traditional folk songs with lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Both tracks were released in a wide array of dance remixes both in Israel and internationally, following Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
, Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
, M/A/R/R/S, and a number of other hip-hop and dance acts sampling Haza's voice.
In fact, the hit-single Im Nin' Alu was preceded by a 12" remix of "Galbi" named Special Mix (Long Version and Short Version) released by the record label Globe Style. It was an underground club hit in both Israel, Europe and the United States in 1985 and 1986. For the Shaday album, the track was again remixed with an arrangement similar to that of "Im Nin' Alu" and also partly re-recorded with English language lyrics and subsequently re-issued as the follow-up single in both Europe and the United States in 1988.
Shaday, recorded both in Tel Aviv and England, became Haza's international breakthrough album and includes Hebrew-English language remixes of both "Im Nin' Alu" and "Galbi," as well as the singles "Shaday" and "Da'Ale Da'Ale," also released as remix singles. The name of the album is a somewhat controversial double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, meaning one of the acronyms for Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh is the name of God in the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jews and Christians.The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew , transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is unknown...
but also a Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
translation for "my breasts".
"Love Song," an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
with lyrics from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
's "Song of Songs
Song of songs
Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. It may also refer to:In music:* Song of songs , the debut album by David and the Giants* A generic term for medleysPlays...
" (8:6-7), first recorded under the Hebrew title "Azah Ka'Mavet Ahavah" on the 1979 album Shir HaShirim (Love Songs), has, just like the original 1984 version of "Im Nin' Alu," been sampled and remixed frequently through the 1990s and 2000s.
Two further songs on the Shaday album were English-language versions of tracks previously recorded in Hebrew: "My Aching Heart" (as "Hake'ev Haze") and "Take Me to Paradise" ("Bo Venagen Otti"), both released on the Israeli pop album Yamim Nishbarim (Broken Days) in 1986.
The US Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
CD release of Shaday adds the 1988 12" Sehoog Mix of "Galbi" bonus track.
Track listing
- "Im Nin'aluIm Nin'Alu"Im Nin'alu" is a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that has been set to music and sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and others...
" (English Mix) (Aloni, Ashdot, Shabazi) - 3:29 - "Eshal" (Aloni, Haza) - 3:57
- "Da'ale Da'ale" (Aloni, Haza) - 3:23
- "My Aching Heart" (Ashdot, Barak, Haza) - 5:47
- "Love Song" (Aloni, Traditional) - 2:27
- "GalbiGalbi (song)"Galbi" is an Arabic poem by the 17th century Yemenite Rabbi Shalom Shabazi which later was set to music, and was sung by Israeli Yemenite singer Ofra Haza and others...
" (Aloni, Amram) - 3:13 - "Face to Face" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:52
- "Take Me to Paradise" (Barak, Haza) - 4:48
- "Shaday" (Aloni, Haza) - 5:40
- "Galbi" (The Sehoog Mix) (Aloni, Haza) - 5:04
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 | 130 |
Personnel
- Ofra HazaOfra HazaOfra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
—lead vocals - Izhar Ashdot—all instruments trks 1 & 6, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
trk 2, 3, & 9, additional percussion and keyboards trk 4 - Iki Levy—percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
trks 2, 3, & 9 drums & percussion trk 4 - Alon Oleartchik—stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
trk 2 - Ruby St James—backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
trk 3 - Sylvia Mason-JamesSylvia Mason-JamesSylvia Mason-James born in 1959 is a British singer who has worked extensively as a backing vocalist and solo artist.She started her career with the disco band Voyage in 1977....
—backing vocals trk 3 - Charles JonesCharlie Jones (musician)Charlie Jones is a British bassist, songwriter and record producer. He has toured and recorded with Robert Plant, Page and Plant, The Strange Sensation, Goldfrapp and many others. He was married to Robert Plant's daughter Carmen Plant, they divorced in 2010....
—bass trks 7 & 8 - Steve Greetham—bass trks 7 & 8
- Nick Brown—drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
trks 7 & 8 - Steve Goulding—drum programming trks 7 & 8
- Chris Jarret—guitar trks 7 & 8
- Dani Ali—keyboard programming trks 7 & 8
- Robin Langridge—keyboard programming trks 7 & 8
- Scott DavidsonScott Davidson (musician)Scott Davidson played keyboards with Bros and Pet Shop Boys, before founding the Trade-It free advert paper and becoming a director and then chairman of Bristol City FC from 1996-2001...
—keyboard programming trks 7 & 8 - Jamie Talbot—saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
trk trks 7 & 8 - Gilad Atsmon—saxophone, fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
Production
- Izhar Ashdot—producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
trk 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 musical arranger trk 2, 3, 4, 9 - Yair NitzaniYair Nitzani-Biography:Yair Nitzani was born in Beersheba in 1958. After serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a broadcaster on Galei Zahal in the 1980s, he joined the rock group T-Slam as a keyboardist and vocalist...
—executive producer trk 1 - Wally Brill—producer, engineer trk 4, producer trk 5, producer, engineer & sound mix trks 7 & 8
- Bezalel Aloni—executive production and management
- Benny Nagari—arranger trk 1, 6
- Bob KraushaarBob KraushaarRobert Peter Kraushaar is an English pop music record producer specializing in mixing. Kraushaar has mixed and produced commercially successful songs and albums for numerous British and international artists....
—mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
trk 1, 2, 3, 9 - Gil Toren—engineer trk 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9
- Paul Wright—assistant engineer trk 1
- Jeff Ward—engineer trk 2, 3, 4, 9
- Gili Uriel—assistant engineer trk 2, 4, 9
- Pete Frith—assistant engineer trk 2, 4, 9
- Jean Christophe Vareille—assistant engineer trks 5, 7
- Pete Schwier—engineer trk 6
- Ren—assistant engineer trk 6
- Mainartery London—artworkCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
& designDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan... - Trks 1–3 recorded at DB Studios, Tel Aviv, Israel. Mixed at Sarm West, London, England, UK.
- Trk 4 recorded at DB Studios, Tel Aviv and the Justice Room, Somerset, England. Mixed at Sarm West, London, England, UK.
- Trk 5 recorded at the Justice Room, Somerset, England, UK.
- Trk 6 mixed at Sarm West, London, England, UK.
- Trks 7 & 8 recorded at the Justice Room, Somerset, England, UK.
- Trk 9 recorded at DB Studios, Tel Aviv, Israel. Mixed at Sarm West, London, England, UK.