Ofra Haza - Kirya

After having essentially kick-started the idea of ethno-techno with Fifty Gates of Wisdom, Israeli diva Ofra Haza stalled creatively at the start of the 1990s. In 1992, however, she pushed herself ahead with the album Kirya while still keeping intact her Yemenite Jewish roots. The production was high-tech but underneath the machinery lay plenty of thought for the music. She added hip-hop as well as other musical genres to her sound. This hybrid style became a kind of forerunner to the work of Natacha Atlas and Transglobal Underground. Bringing Lou Reed into the picture for a duet on "Daw Da Hiya" was something of a masterstroke, even if it didn't pay dividends in terms of sales. In essence, this adventurous disc is a landmark in world fusion music with the title track and "Trains of No Return" clear standouts. Once again, Haza pushed the envelope. --Chris Nickson Amazon.com

"Kirya" - A Superb Musical Synthesis of Culture and Language

Kirya is a profound musical synthesis and distillation of Middle Eastern themes. It weaves together not only lyrics in several languages, Hebrew, Arabic, and English, but also weaves together the disparate cultural elements between Arabs and Jews.
The musical result on "Kirya" is nothing short of brilliant. The name "Kirya" is perfect for this CD because "Kirya" means Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is where the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths live. The lyrics and music here confront the strife and clash of cultures head on, and although it is a tough, and many times bleak road, there is a ray of hope for a better future. The song "Innocent" bemoans the fate of war refugees in general, particularly the innocent children. "Mystery, Fate and Love" is a mystical, and spiritual masterpiece. "Barefoot" is a pleasing samba like number where Ofra's trance like voice sets an intriguing mood. The CD ends on a happy note with the faster and upbeat "Take 7/8," a wedding dance that used to be performed only by women but today all together. All the songs are excellent, and they do entertain and intrigue despite the predominantly somber mood, especially in the lyrics. The production and instrumentation are superior, and Ofra's voice is beyond comparison with any other popular female vocalist. This CD is an important landmark in music. Five stars all the the way. November 21, 2005

stirring and hauntingly beautiful

Those of you who aren't familiar with Ofra Haza, I encourage you to please listen to this beautiful woman's albums. "Kirya" is definitely a wonderful example of the legacy Haza left, when she passed away in 2000. Although some call her the "Madonna of the Middle East," in my opinion I think she is far more talented, prolific and outstanding. For starters, Ofra Haza was devoutly religious, as a Yemenite Jew, from Israel, had a clean sound, put ancient poetry to music, and used her voice as an instrument for peace and liberation. That is where she and Madonna vear off quite differently from one another.

"Kirya" presents a beautiful cross-section of songs and experiences. We hear her sing in English, Arameic and Hebrew. The songs are about sadness, mortality and love. Some great, outstanding examples on this album include: "Trains of No Return" (about the effects of the Holocaust and the trains heading to Auschwitz and Dachau, amongst many other concentration camps, where Jews were systematically executed), "Daw da Hiya," (about the consequences of a young woman's premarital affair with her lover), and "Don't Forsake Me" (about old age).

This is a treasure of an album. Buy it today.....Let the legacy of Ofra Haza remain for many, many years to come. What an inspirational and beautiful woman....... October 6, 2005

Small Corrections

First of all; I believe that Ofra Haza had one of the most beautiful voices of our time; and it just goes to show you what the voice of liberty sounds like unrestrained free of the theocratic government of Yemen, (the land of her ancestors.) Just to correct Daniel (the previous reviewer,) like many of Ofra's later albums, some of these songs are sung in English, Hebrew and Arabic, like Innocent. Ofra sings Daw Da Hiya in Arabic, and her lyrics are actually based on a Yemeni folk song that is known throughout Yemen to Arabs and Jews alike, and really have nothing to do with the subject of imprisonment of love, and Iggy Pop accompanies her in English. In her latter albums Ofra tended to give props to her Yemenite roots by including Arabic lyrics to her songs, like Inta, I Want To Fly, D'ale D'ale, Taw Shi, (from Desert Wind and Shaday, -'Inta' actually means 'you' in Arabic). She also endeavored to sing songs in Arabic completely in Fifty Gates of Wisdom, the three songs sung exclusively in Arabic are 'Galbi,' 'A'salk,' and 'Yachilva Yachali.' She was never ashamed of her Arab (Yemenite) Jewish heritage and became the siren voice of Yemenite women everywhere, and some cases Yemenite men, (like moi). August 17, 2005

The Best Middle Eastern work of Ofra Haza

This is a wonderful work, because this great israeli singer sing in three languages of that zone of the world (hebrew, arabic and aramaic) with fabulous ryhtms of the jew and arab cultures. Any songs are half english, half semitic language.

I prefer the sounds ethnic, and the song Daw Da Hiya (english and judeo arabic), with the narration of Iggy Pop, is really stirring. This song reflects the sad life of many women in those countries. Also I like Mystery, Fate and Love, because is a magnetic song in english, like Barefoot, with that sensual rythm with lyrics in hebrew (she repeat constantly the arabic word "albi", "my heart"). And obvius, Trains of No Return, with a message of peace and alive, in memory of the jews died in the Holocaust.

Ofra Haza was a goddes of the world music. Only I had wanted that she sang more songs in spanish, because she had a magnificent voice.

Shalom Ofra. March 4, 2004

Essential Ofra Haza

After the more upbeat/pop/dance world music albums Shaday and Desert Wind, I was floored and immediately delighted when I bought this CD in the early 90's. At the time I had no other reference to Ofra other than the two prior albums (Ofra is so much more complex than just these U.S. releases). This album has a much slower groove that mixes traditional Middle Eastern music with a jazzy, soul, R&B feel. This album also contains some of the most amazing rhythms ever. To this day "Mystery, Faith And Love" is one of my favorite songs. And Ofra singing of the concentration camps in "Trains Of No Return" is very moving. "Daw Da Hiya" is a surprisingly good duet with Lou Reed lending spoken vocals to a song about a young woman scorned by her family because of her love for a man. This is one of my all time favorite albums and something I turn to anytime I need to settle down and relax and take a few minutes out of a crazy life to breathe. It never grows old and it always elevates my mood. February 27, 2004

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