Search - Ofra Haza :: My Soul

Ofra's Soul, A Sweet Feast

Night Sky Tiger | eastish of eden | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not so much a review, as it is a bit of what I hope will be useful information, for those of you who are considering buying this CD, but are hesitating, because of the lack of samples. If you are a fan of Ofra's beat driven music, like the songs on Desert wind or Kyria, but are not altogether comfortable with her pop CDs, like "Broken Days," or the early, "Let's Talk," or visa versa, it can be a little worrisome, buying without hearing. I suggest you go to www.israel-music.com, where clicking on any of their many Ofra haza titles (or titles by any of the Israeli singers they carry), will immediately bring up terrific samples of every song on the CD. These are quick downloading, long samples which give you a good taste of the feast that the CD has waiting for you...and once the samples of the CD have completed, they start up again, like a loop. The site has around 12 or so CDs of Ofra's, including Shirey Moledet A&B, Shirey Moledet C, Temptation, Let's Talk, Broken Days,Melody of the Heart 1 and Melody of the Heart 2, both of which are 3 CD collections...that have so many samples, it is wonderful to click on the page, and let it play in the background, while working, or cleaning, as they last a LONG time. (That collection 2, by the way, contains, "Queen in Exile," Ofra's CD which was, as far as I know, never released, so check it out, and then buy it! I have seen the single, "Mata Hari," which is included on this third CD, going on EBay, for more than I paid for this three CD set!). The site also offers one of Ofra's Israeli films, "West Side Girl," in which she plays a blind schoolgirl, and does a lot of singing! No, I am not suggesting you buy from this site, rather than Amazon...I have never ordered from it myself,and cannot give any opinion on ordering from it; but it does have the samples that are not offered with some of Ofra's CDs on Amazon.



I'm sure Israeli fans, familiar with Ofra's more than 30 CDs, must get tired of us who are primarily familiar with her world dance music, and are completely taken off guard by her pop tunes, like, "Flash Gordon," with all its really seventyish sound effects. I first heard Ofra's stunning vocals on the Sisters of Mercy's 1992 version of, "Temple of Love," and it seems like every time I buy a CD of Ofra's that I have not heard before, I am hearing another facet of her music and personality.



Yes, I do recommend buying "My Soul," a CD which goes beyond all her other CDs, in simple presentation of her timeless and moving voice. It is more restrained than both her pop and world dance CDs, but is not downbeat, by any means. It contains both traditional instrumentation, but again, not really beat driven music; along with modern music...but her voice is always first and foremost, in every song. It is always a delight, to hear any song from it, turning up on a CD shuffle. I wish Amazon featured it, along with her better known world dance CDs, that come up on the initial page of an Ofra Haza search. .



A suggestion for fans who love the more introspective music of "My Soul," and who appreciate the quieter, deeper tones of Ofra's voice, on this CD; you might want to seek out her soundtrack, "The Governess." Now out of print, it was put out on the Sony Classic label. It features a beautiful score that is a mix of traditional Sephardic and romantic, if more than just a little bit somber, music, by Edward Shearmur. There are no great, uplifting anthems, or dramatic love songs, or toe tappers (other than "Purim Dance," which, unfortunately, does not have vocals on it), but the heartbreaking voice of Ofra appears on most of the twelve songs of the soundtrack, which ends as it begins, with a haunting Ofra solo. Turn up the volume, when you put on the CD, and her beautiful voice, sans accompaniment, shimmering in mid-air, will blow you away. It is melancholy and contemplative....and beautiful beyond anything you have heard. The soundtrack is like a hypnotic but simple fabric, with repeated musical and lyrical motifs. Unfortunately it is not offered on the above mentioned site, so it is not easy to find, but it does turn up, now and then, on EBay, which is where I managed to get it.

"

Ofra Haza's Best Album

Nikolas Rodriguez | Marshall, VA, USA | 03/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ofra Haza's album 'Kol Haneshama' is the one of the greatest vocal performances I have ever heard. Ofra has such a sublime and angelic voice. The word 'angelic' is insufficient in describing her voice. She puts other vocally strong performers to shame (e.g., Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand); there will never be anyone who is even minutely comparable to her vocalic range and overall skill. Her beautiful soul (and voice) will be greatly missed..."

Her beauty of soul is sorely missed

Shalom Freedman | Jerusalem,Israel | 05/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many Israelis deeply loved Ofra Haza. I remember seeing her when she started out as a thin- pigtailed eighteen year old. Immeditately it was clear that she was very special indeed. I do not know how or why, but it seems that the physical beauty of a singer adds to the pleasure people have when listening to her. Ofra was truly beautiful, and had a gentleness and delicacy about her. Her music seemed to fit exactly the physical image she projected.

She had as a singer great melody and great range but also a quality of voice very rare indeed.

"