| Eyal Golan | |||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Eyal Bitton | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1971 4, df=yes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Origin: | Rehovot, Israel | ||||||||||||||||||
| Genre: | Mizrahi music, pop | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Musician | ||||||||||||||||||
| Instrument: | Vocals | ||||||||||||||||||
| Years Active: | 1989–present | ||||||||||||||||||
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Eyal Golan (Hebrew: אייל גולן; born Eyal Bitton; 12 April 1971) is an Israeli singer who sings in the Mizrahi music pop fusion genre, and considered one of the most successful singers in Israel. Golan reported the highest income of all singers in Israel in 2011.[1]
Eyal Bitton was born in Rehovot, Israel, to a family of both Moroccan Jewish and Yemenite Jewish descent. His parents are Daniel "Dani" Bitton and Ronit (nee Jamil) and grew up in the neighborhood of Kfar Marmorek in his hometown. When he was 4 his parents divorced and he resided with his mother's family.
Golan started performing in nightclubs at the age of 20. His first album, Lehisha ba'Laila (in Hebrew לחישה בלילה meaning Whisper in the Night) was released in 1995. In 1996, he put out another album, called BeHofa'a Haya (in Hebrew בהופעה חיה, "live show") being a live concert which included songs from famous Israeli singers such as Shlomo Artzi.
In 1996, Ze'ev Nehama and Tamir Kliski, members of the band "Ethnix", were searching for a Mizrahi singer for producing a music album. The two saw Golan in a concert in the "Chava Club" in Petah Tikva, and decided to feature Golan's vocals the album. Their collaboration lasted until 2000 resulting in three hugely successful albums: Bila'adayikh (in Hebrew בלעדייך meaning Without You) in 1997, Chayal shel Ahavah (in Hebrew חייל של אהבה meaning Soldier of Love) in 1998 and Histakli Eilay (in Hebrew הסתכלי אלי meaning Look at me) in 1999 before they parted in 2000.
Meanwhile Eyal Golan continued solo with ever-increasing success. He was managed for a long time by record producer Ishai Ben Zur, who was responsible for the success of many of Eyal's albums. However, because of financial disputes, they stopped working together.
In 2008, Golan put out the album Hoze Otah Muli (in Hebrew הוזה אותך מולי meaning Imagining you facing me) and in two months sold over 145,000 albums. Based on the success of the album he toured in Israel including shows at the Caesarea Amphitheater in 2008 and 2009. He also toured internationally, remaining popular in all countries of the Jewish Diaspora and with world music enthusiasts. Except for his debut album, all of Golan's studio albums have become platinum albums.
On 9 July 2018, singing competition, Aviv or Eyal, aired on Keshet 12. Golan, along with Aviv Geffen choose or reject competitors. If the competitor is chosen by both Geffen and Golan, the competitor chooses which singer will be his/her mentor.
Golan signed singer Yagel Oshri to his label in 2023. In February, Oshri released "Not Always Right" with Israeli musician under Liam Productions.[2] On 15 August 2023, Oshri released "Getting Out of Depression", which Israeli and Jewish media called the "anthem of the Israel-Hamas war.[3] [4]
On 20 February 2011, Eyal Golan introduced a new reality show on Israeli Music 24 called Eyal Golan Is Calling You (in Hebrew אייל גולן קורא לך) where he is searching for the next Mizrahi music singer together with Yosi Ganj, Adi Leon and Yaron Elan.
On 12 April 2011, and in the first season finale in Haoman 17 club, Moran Mazor won the contest.
The show was renewed for a second season, and the winner in the finale broadcast on 25 March 2012, was the Arab-Israeli singer Nasreen Qadri.
In 1997, he was awarded the "Performer of the Year" award by Israeli Channel 2.
He has been a semi-professional football player, having played with various lower-league teams.[5]
He is good friends with Greek singer Nikos Vertis, doing duets in Greek and Hebrew.
On 12 September 2002, Golan married the Miss Israel of 2001 Ilanit Levi. They have two children. In 2008 the couple divorced.
In 2010 he moved to Tel Aviv, Israel.
In 2012, Golan began dating Soviet Ukraine-born Israeli model Ruslana Rodina, but they never married. Rodina gave birth to a son in 2014. The couple separated in April 2017.
In December 2018, Golan started dating Israeli model and Big Brother Israel participant Daniel Greenberg. They married in 2020 and divorced in 2021. The couple returned be together on 2023 and they live together, they have two children together.
In November 2013, Golan was arrested as part of a group of men suspected of having sex with underage girls. Golan denied the charges, but admitted that his father, Danny Biton, had brought girls to his home to have sex with him. Although the charges against Golan were later dropped for lack of evidence, the allegations caused Golan's songs to receive less radio airplay and for performances to be cancelled.[6]
In December 2018, Golan was recognized by the Knesset, but many MKs and women's groups expressed anger that he would be honored. Protesters interrupted the event, but were removed by security before Golan performed a duet with MK Nava Boker, the chairwoman of the Knesset Caucus for Hebrew Music.[7]
In 2014 Golan pleaded guilty of evading 2.6 million NIS worth of taxes. He was sentenced to 4 months of community service and ordered to pay a fine of 75,000 NIS.[8] [9]
In an interview in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Eyal Golan reportedly called to "erase Gaza" and "not leave a single person there". In August 2024, Israeli authorities recommended bringing charges against Golan for "incitement to violence". His personal comments have been cited as evidence for genocide in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. [10] [11]