Fifty Gates of Wisdom: Yemenite Songs

Amazon.com
It would have been groundbreaking enough for the Israeli Ofra Haza to have performed an album of Yemeni Jewish songs. But when she and producer Bezalel Aloni added synthesizers, drum machines, and a generous helping of dance beats, they ended up creating one of the seminal records of world music--one of the very first ethno-techno releases whose reverberations extended into dance clubs around the globe, most especially with "Galbi." While its contemporary sound might make it seem shallow, there really is a lot of depth here, the lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th-century rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Along with fellow spirits like Dissidenten, Haza helped pave the way for Transglobal Underground, Natacha Atlas, and Banco de Gaia. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Im Nin'alu
Lefelach Harimon
Ayelet Chen
Tzur Menti/Se'i Yona/Sapri Tama
Galbi
Ode Le'eli
Yachilvi Veyachali
Ash'alech

Amazon.com

It would have been groundbreaking enough for the Israeli Ofra Haza to have performed an album of Yemeni Jewish songs. But when she and producer Bezalel Aloni added synthesizers, drum machines, and a generous helping of dance beats, they ended up creating one of the seminal records of world music--one of the very first ethno-techno releases whose reverberations extended into dance clubs around the globe, most especially with "Galbi." While its contemporary sound might make it seem shallow, there really is a lot of depth here, the lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th-century rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Along with fellow spirits like Dissidenten, Haza helped pave the way for Transglobal Underground, Natacha Atlas, and Banco de Gaia. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

Yemenite Songs / Fifty Gates of Wisdom.......2007-04-10

Contrary to what one reviewer wrote, Yemenite Songs was the original release, and Fifty Gates of Wisdom was the reissue. Israeli websites list Yemenite Songs, and not the reissue. Niggling difference. Great music regardless.

Still, under whichever release, the songs are the same and are fabulous. This is what transformed Ofra Haza from an Israeli star into a global music superstar. It is hard to even pick favorites among the songs. The lyrics are Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic from classic Yemenite Jewish poetry and music. You may not understand the words, but the passions, the rhythms, and the beauty of the songs are universal and timeless.

This may be the greatest release by the greatest Israeli singer ever.

Fantastic!!!.......2004-08-29

This is the CD that I play the most right now! I have the other version of this album, but the music (and Ofra's voice) are fantastic! My absolute favorites are: #1, #2,#,4, #5, #6, and #8 (Aylet Chen)!

Traditional and trailblazing.......2003-06-20

"Fifty Gates of Wisdom" is Yemenite-Israeli Ofra Haza's masterpiece from 1987, melding ancient songs and rabbinical poetry with a dance beat hammered onto Yemenite drums that sound like pots and pans. It is an incomparable production that influenced the development of world-beat music and will stand proudly forever. I saw Ofra perform most of these songs live in 1990, and she exuded such joy, performing Yemenite dances around the stage as she sang. And she sang with such power, she could send a tremor down the back of the entire audience with the slightest trill. The standout track is "Im Nin'Alu" (a #1 hit in Europe), and my other favorites are Aleyet Chen, Ode Le'eli, Yachilvi Veyachali, and Ash'alech. Only "Galbi" fails to satisfy, sounding too much like a knock-off of "Im Nin'Alu". Unlike many of her later albums, she does not mix English in with her Hebrew, so unless you know Hebrew (or is there some Arabic or ancient Yemeni language here?), you won't understand a word. Believe me - it's no obstacle to a full appreciation of the music. There is another CD released more recently called "Yemenite Songs". It's the same CD with the songs in a different order - not sure what the point was there, but this is the original production. This is both a world-music classic and world-class music. It is the single most essential Ofra Haza recording.

A must have!.......2002-08-07

I am always baffled that to see albums of singers such as Ofra Haza in the "used" bin. Who would want to let them go?

This album is a must have for anyone who likes or wants to be introduced to the incomparable voice of Ofra Haza. For my taste I prefer the simpler "folk tunes" and mercifully this recording came out before the loud dance club style completely overtook Ms. Haza's work, such as in "Desert Wind". I would like to hear all Ofra's work reissued with the backing turned down. I have no problem with a background beat as long as it stays in the background. Ofra Haza was one of those rare singers who did not need accompanyment, just her voice alone soaring high was all we needed.

A jewish singing in arabic... ¡Simply Wonderful!.......2001-06-08

In this lines I don't wanna say nothing about israeli/palestinian conflict. Simply I wanna say: Hey, men and women of Middle East! Ofra was a jewish woman, bred in Israel, between jews, but she never forgot her arabs roots, yemenites, and sang for arabs and jews with the same beauty and talent of always. Because all we have the same God, and because arabs and jewish are brothers peoples. With "Fifty Gates of Wisdom/Yemenite Songs" Ofra sing wonderfully in the best album of folk music of the Yemen, with lyrics in arabic, aramaic and hebrew. "Galbi Yahib Al Hawa" is far the best song, tribal and mystic like few songs. Soon, in my opinion, "Im Nin'Alu", "Ode L'eli" and "Tzur Menti - Sei Yona - Sapri Tama" follow in beauty.

A great album, wonderful. It's cannot lack in the collection of who loves the ethnic music.

Sorry by my poor english. I do it by Ofra, the Queen of Middle East.

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