The newborn star of Israel - Shiri Maimon

Shiri Maimon should be one of Israel’s most promising performers not only because she possesses a superb, metallic mezzo and has the rare ability to engage the audience in her performance, but because she does have an enormous potential for a successful international career. As her impassioned, impeccably professional performance in Eurovision proved, Shiri doesn’t need to resort, unlike many singers, to silly props to distract her public from the tediousness of a mediocre delivery: she commands the stage and the auditorium in equal measure, and does so with effortless elegance. Which is something VERY rare in Eurovision – only a handful of performers have managed to do it… Curiously, they were the only performers who had some talent, or were not long past their prime (Carola, anyone? :-P ).

Shiri was born in the picturesque city of Haifa, but her family soon moved to the town of Qiryat Chaim (in reality a mere suburb of Haifa), which seems to be, for what I have read, notorious for three things: its weight lifting team, the best beaches in Israel and large masses of poor Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Still, Shiri doesn’t seem to have been deprived of opportunities to develop and show her talent, since she was a member of several pop groups since late childhood.

After a stint as a soloist in the Air Force Entertainment Band during military service, La Maimon worked as a bartender-cum-dancer and singer in a club, and then went to present a popular television show called “Exit” – from there she moved on to Kokhav Nolad/A Star Is Born, Israel’s version of Pop Idol (which, unbelievably, she didn’t win) and became a bona fide star who had the dubious ‘honour’ of representing her country in the Eurovision Dumpster Farce. The rest is, as they say, history!



Or not. Her album seems to have had decent sales, but only three singles were released from it and Shiri seems to have abandoned all efforts to keep her musical career going to co-star in one of Israel’s most popular soap operas, called Yeladot Ra’ot (Bad Girls). I don’t know Hebrew, thus for the sake of my sanity, please someone tell that girl to keep singing! The world and I… Well OK, the obsessive stalking freak that I am, need another album from her to stay alive – she is that good!

Without further ado, I present you with her songs but, as usual (and making use of my oh-so-not-original phrase, ehem), go to buy her only record so far (:-( ) here.

Ahava Ktana/Little Love

This is a gorgeous pop/rock song that shows the power in Maimon’s voice. The chorus is…How can I say it? AWESOME? Yes! That’s it! The song begins with a melancholic piano introduction that bursts into sheer pop perfection all of a sudden. It is by far my favourite song by hers, and was a very well deserved hit for her. The video is a Shakira rip off, but the song still preserves all of its magic.

Lean She’Lo Telkhi/Wherever You Won’t Go (Henree remix)

As impossible to believe as it is, this song wasn’t a single – WHY?!?! You’ll ask yourselves. Madness? That’s the best answer I’ve been able to come up with. This is a rather superb dance version of the rocky, gritty original song, which is simply gorgeous. The chorus is anthemic, and it’s carried by an urgent bass line that will make you get up and dance wherever you are. However, in this remix you also get beautiful touches, such as bells and distorted flute descending scales that make it stunning!

Ha-Sheket She Nisha’ar/The Silence That Remains

This is one of the most beautiful ballads to ever grace the Eurovision stage – it deserved so much more than a meager fourth place. The live version is, shockingly, even better, with Shiri reaching the top notes in chest-quality voice, instead of soft head one as in the recording. Still, this is indispensable for any self-respecting ballad freak (like moi! :-D ). The surprising thing is, the rest of the ballads in her album are as good, with a few of them being even better! Before you have an orgasm, please watch a live performance here.

Ad She Tavin Oti/Until You Understand Me

This is a somewhat bizarre attempt at R&B that sounds as dated as it truly is – around 2001 it could have been a hit, but in a 2005 album it is somewhat out of place. Still, it is more melodic than the tuneless crap released by, say, undeservingly successful groups such as Destiny’s Child and the (bad) jokes that are the Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane. Obviously, Shiri pulls it off superbly, and it makes for a curious change of register within the stylistic mode of her album.