Ofra Haza - Im Nin'alu (Original Version - 1984)
"Im Nin'alu" is a hebrew poem by the 17th century's Yemenite Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, which has later been put to music and was sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza, among others.
Yemenite Jews have been singing it in various celebrations, mainly weddings. Most of the song is about the angels praising and singing to god.
This is the original version recorded by Ofra, from the album "Yemenite Songs" a.k.a. "Shirey Teyman".
In this album Ofra returned to her roots interpreting traditional Yemeni Jewish songs with lyrics coming from the poetry of Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. The album was recorded with both traditional and modern musical instruments; wooden and metal percussion, Yemenite tin and tambala, strings, brass and woodwind as well as drum machines and synthesizers.
In 1988, a remix of this song became an international hit for Ofra, topping the charts in various countries including the UK, Germany and the US. You can hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5px-ppcQDps&feature=related
A third version was recorded by Ofra in 1997:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0TKXyUbxPw
And there is also a live version from 1978:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2xNTzlFSk0
The album Forever Ofra Haza - Her Greatest Songs Remixed was released in 2008.
My two favoriets from this album are:
the unplugged mix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuL0CFZCKF0
and the bridge mix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2wcDyG639Y
Madonna used parts of "Im Nin'alu" for her song "Isaac", when she released the album "Confessions on a Dance Floor" in 2005.
Some of the lyrics are:
IM NIN'ALU - If they are locked,
DAL THAEY NA DI VIM - The doors of the generous ones.
DAL THAEY MA ROM - The doors of the sky,
LO NIN'ALU - won't be locked.
EL HI MA RE MAM AL KARUVIM - God is alive and sublime to the angels,
KULAM BA RUHO YA'ALU - In his spirit they'll rise above.
EL HI - god is alive.
And in English only:
If the doors of the generous ones are locked,
The doors of the sky won't be locked. (sky refers to heaven/god).
If the doors of the generous ones are locked,
The doors of the sky won't be locked.
God is alive and sublime to the angels,
In his spirit they'll rise above.
God is alive.
Cause they are close to him,
They will thank and praise him.
God is alive.
Six wings around (of the angels),
They are flying (around god).
If they are locked
If they are locked,
If the doors of the generous ones are locked,
The doors of the sky won't be locked.
God is alive and sublime
God is alive and sublime,
God is alive and sublime to the angels,
In his spirit they'll rise above.
Check out my new video by Ofra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-IUGa0MLcM&feature=BFa&list=HL1345911090
