International Music, Made In Israel Quiz

Answer: Minimal Compact

What a unique band. Vocalist Samy Birnbach now performs as DJ Morpheus. Berry Sakharof and Rami Fortis returned to Israel to lead successful solo careers, and from time to time perform as a duo (FortiSakharof). Malka Spiegel lives and records with Colin Newman (from Wire). Drummer Max Franken, the only non-Israeli band member is still active in Holland.

Sophya is led by Israelis Idan Karuchi and Sonja Rosenblum, who are also members of the revived Dutch band Mecano. Mecano frontman Dick Polak has produced Minimal Compact's debut album "One By One" in 1982.

What's Kiss got to do with this? Gene Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel as Chaim Witz. He is the son of two holocaust survivors from Hungary. His mother has immigrated to the US with him when he was 8 years old.

Rockfour is an Israeli band which plays retro-prog and tours the USA regularly.

Answer: Cinderella Rockefella

Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JZ4aLBjzFI - I need not say more!

Answer: Infected Mushroom

Erez Eisen (aka I. Zen) and Amit Duvdevani (aka Duvdev) are also from Haifa. Like many other Israeli electronic musicians they emerged from the mid-90s Goa trance scene which was led by Israelis. Infected Mushroom is a regular participant in major electronic music festivals (http://www.myspace.com/infectedmushroomcentral).
The other bands mentioned are also well-known psy-trance bands recording with BNE.

Answer: Blackfield

Orphaned Land are from Petah Tikvah. They are active from 1991 and create a unique blend of Metal and middle-eastern music. They have many followers in Arab states which are formal enemies of Israel. In this respect their fan forum is a very interesting one (http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/orphaned-land-229/).

Their next album will be produced by Steven Wilson (from Porcupine Tree). Steven Wilson records and performs with Israeli musician Aviv Gefen, under the name Blackfield. Blackfield's music, of course, has nothing to do with metal. Betzefer and Salem are Israeli metal bands which gained popularity in Europe.

Answer: He committed suicide

The burden of success was too much for the young Israeli singer. His voice had an incredible depth. Try to listen to his most famous hit "Laisse moi t'aimer" ("Let me love you"), you won't regret.

Answer: Ofra Haza

One of the major catalysts of Ofra Haza's international career was the success of an illegal sampling of one of her songs ("Im Nin'alu", a prayer which originates in Yemenite jewry). Her English release of this song topped German charts for 9 weeks and put her on the road to fame. Her album "Shaday" (1988) sold more than a million copies worldwide. She has contributed her voice to the Sisters Of Mercy hit "Temple Of Love" (1989). She died of AIDS in Israel in the year 2000.

Ishtar is the stage name of Eti Zach, an Israeli singer who records in France and also leads the band Alabina.

Singer-songwriter Keren Ann was born in Israel, and raised in the Netherlands. In 2006 she returned to Israel following her marriage to an Israeli Air Force pilot.

Yardena Arazi is an Israeli singer who was considered Ofra Haza's major rival (mostly by fans) in the 80s.

Answer: "Hora" - Avi Toledano (1982)

"Hora" reached second place, like "Chai" ("Alive") by Ofra Haza did a year later (1983). In 1991, Israel clinched third place with "Kan" ("Here") by Duo Datz.

Interesting to note that all three Israeli winners are of a Yemenite origin. Yizhar Cohen comes from a family of singers which returned to Israel from Yemen at the turn of the 20th century, just like Gali Atari who was the vocalist of Milk And Honey. Before the sex change, Dana International used to be Yaron Cohen. Ofra Haza also was of a Yemenite origin.

Answer: Avishai Cohen

The "first" Avishai Cohen is the gifted contrabass player who has participated in about 10 Chick Corea albums in the 90s and went solo in 1998. Nowadays he is a hot name in the modern jazz scene.
The "second" Avishai Cohen is the trumpeter and member of fusion band Third World Love, three members of which are Israelis from Tel Aviv.

Nir Zidkyahu is a session drummer who played and toured with Genesis, as well as with many other bands. Aviv Cohen is also a session drummer who played with Gloria Estefan. Tal Herzberg is a producer whose clients span from Christina Aguilera to Herbie Hancock.

Answer: Skazi

Skazi's innovative and somewhat provocative approach has earned Asher Swissa (band leader, aka Skazi himself) a status of a heretic in the psy-trance scene. Hardcore trance fans will never forgive him for using the guitar and other rock hero antics :-) But, this does not prevent him from becoming one of the busiest performers in major raves all over the globe.

Answer: Red Hot Chili Peppers

True that this doesn't exactly fall under the category of "Israeli music", as Hillel Slovak's family left Israel for the USA when Slovak was 5. Like many others in this quiz he was born in Haifa (1962), and also was a son of two holocaust survivors. In 1988, he died from a heroin overdose.

Thanks for taking my quiz. Hope it lures you into further interest in the fascinating music Israel has to offer.