Kirya (album) explained

Kirya
Type:Album
Artist:Ofra Haza
Cover:Ofra haza kirya cover.jpg
Released:February 25, 1992
Recorded:Microplant (Los Angeles), Conway, Devonshire, Record Plant, Bee Studio (Bahia, Brazil)
(1991–1992)
Genre:
Length:43:46
Language:Hebrew, Arabic, English
Label:East West Records, Warner Music Group
Producer:Don Was, Ofra Haza, and Bezalel Aloni
Prev Title:Desert Wind
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Kol Haneshama • My Soul
Next Year:1994

Kirya (an ancient Hebrew nickname for Jerusalem) is a 1992 album by Israeli singer Ofra Haza. Intended as the follow-up to Haza’s internationally successful Shaday (1988) and Desert Wind (1989) albums, it built on her successful blend of Electronic dance music and traditional Middle Eastern sounds, being a logical next step for Haza. Musically, it applied the sensibilities of pop producer Don Was to traditional song writing and instrumentation; lyrically, it delivered powerful themes of longing, joy, and the plight of the downtrodden in several languages, much like Haza's earlier work.

Along with producer Was, Haza was joined by other Western musicians, including a featured duet with Iggy Pop on "Daw Da Hiya", a song about a girl sentenced to death for becoming pregnant out of wedlock while the man responsible remains free. Music videos were made for two of the album's tracks, "Daw Da Hiya" and "Innocent" - "A Requiem for Refugees".

In 1993, the album was nominated for a Grammy[1] in the "Best World Music Album" category,[2] an achievement which to this day has not been matched by any other Israeli singer.

Track listing

  1. "Kirya" (Traditional, Haza, Aloni) - 6:11
  2. "Horashoot – The Bridge" (Traditional, Ben Amram, Haza, Aloni) - 3:46
  3. "Innocent" – A Requiem for Refugees (Haza, Aloni) - 4:46
  4. "Trains of No Return" (Haza, Aloni) - 4:15
  5. "Mystery Fate and Love" (Haza, Aloni) - 5:24
  6. "Daw Da Hiya" (featuring Iggy Pop) (Haza, Aloni, Morriss) - 4:55
  7. "Don't Forsake Me" (Traditional, Shabazi, Haza, Aloni) - 4:35
  8. "Barefoot" (Haza, Aloni) - 5:14
  9. "Take 7/8" (Amram, Haza, Aloni) - 4:35
  10. "Today I'll Pray" (Bonus track certain editions) (Haza, Aloni) - 4:33

Personnel

Production

Notes and References

  1. News: Pareles . John . Ofra Haza, 41, Israeli Pop Singer Who Crossed Cultural Bounds . 7 May 2019 . New York Times . 24 Feb 2000.
  2. Web site: Ofra Haza . Grammy Awards . Recording Academy . 7 May 2019.