Welcome, huge

A decade since he stormed into our lives, Itai Levy does not stop for a moment and continues to conquer Caesarea and the "next star".

In the interview, he talks about Galglatz, who did not forgive ("I won the radio"), tells about his late father ("As the son of a drug addict, the fear of falling exists") and reveals that he was not accepted to 'Kohav Nold' ("They said I don't pass the screen")

Sagi Ben Nun

08/18/2022

Thursday, August 18, 2022, 5:00 p.m

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The production of "The Next Next" is used to proudly pump up the fact that at the judges' table sit Ninet and Shiri, two singers who were finalists of "A Star Is Born", but what the production prefers to be humble and not tell the viewers is that next to them at the table are also two very successful singers who "A Star Is Born" Missed big.

Ran Denkar told two weeks ago in an interview with Walla!

Tarbut, who auditioned for the second season of "Kohav Nold" but failed already in the initial screening, even before he met the judges.

Now it turns out that Denker is not the only judge in "The Next Star" who was not transferred as a contestant in the previous incarnation of the show.

"At the age of 18 I came to be tested for 'Kohav Nold' - and I didn't pass," reveals Itay Levy in an interview with Walla!

Tarbut, "I left Rehovot at six in the morning, I traveled with three trains, four of my friends came with me after we stayed up all night. It wasn't until four in the afternoon that I entered the audition in the first screenings. I sang 'Hanni Kaan' and 'Buchah Billit'. I passed the first screenings. And after the second screenings, they sat us in the room, Tamira Jordani and Sion Young came in, and announced that I didn't pass. I'll never forget it in my life. They told me, 'You don't pass the screen.' The word Chachach. I was embarrassed. I really wanted to be accepted."

Since then you have proven that you are going through the screen in a big way, both as an artist, as a presenter and as a judge in the show that rejected you.

"After I didn't make it through the fourth season of 'Kohav Nold', it's a tremendous closing of the circle today to sit in this chair as the judge of 'The next star' and look at the contestants with a different eye. I told the production of the next star about it, of course. They were shocked. Today, me and Tamira It's like mother and son."

This was not the only time when Levy's great talent was missed at the beginning of his career.

"I worked for three years as a bartender. I believed in myself, and I was looking for someone to invest in me. I came to my boss, Amir. He asked me: 'How much do you need?' Stable. If I were to invest in someone - it's not in you.' I said to him, 'Why do you think I'm unstable?'. He told me, 'Because sometimes you come to work and sometimes you don't.' I told him: 'You know the way to success is To want to touch everything. To you, I look unstable. To me, I'm diligent.' After two years, he cried that he didn't invest in me."

Those who missed Itai Levy (34) at the beginning of his career really have a good reason to cry.

Almost ten years have passed since he stormed into our lives with his debut single "Almost a Love Song", which was received with a huge welcome, the hearts of the Israeli audience were strongly swept away by his extraordinary charm.

Among other things, he signed many hits that burned the country and reached the top of the radio charts, a huge amount of listening and viewing on networks and streaming and big shows that become sold out in an instant.

The one who is said to be "not passing the screen" was chosen as the most beloved judge on "The Next Star" in Beshet 12, signed a sixth season as a presenter for Lee Cooper, and is also serving for the second year as a presenter for the BUYME company with a salary of NIS 800,000, according to publications.

In addition, Levy returns to Caesarea for two big shows - on August 29 and 30 - and if that's not enough, he received an offer from the Bima Theater to star in the lead role in the new version of the musical "Casablanca" and is in advanced negotiations with the theater.

So who has more respect?

There is more respect.

Itai Levy (Photo: Eran Levy)

Before we continue with the interview, I just want to find out: after Danny Kushmaro interviewed you in the middle of a massage and even gave you a massage himself, did it become a binding standard for you from your interviewers or is it possible to waive this time?

"It may look funny from the outside, but we work so many hours a day and feel the load that we owe to Sage. The truth is that I was surprised by Kushmero, he didn't prepare me at all."

It seems that you stole the title of "National Mami" from Moshe Peretz.

If you put aside the case of Liam Hafkot leaving, no significant conflicts concerning you came up in the media.

Are you trying to get along with everyone?

"I've heard that I'm called the 'National Mami' a lot. It's amazing and I'm happy to hear it."

On the one hand, the image of the 'national mami' brought you more sympathy.

On the other hand, people who make messes are sometimes more interesting.

"I'm not a trouble maker by my nature. But listen, I... don't want to say militant, it would be misinterpreted, but I fight. Fight for my life and fight for my livelihood and fight for my career. But as they say - you have to know how to fight wars Quietly. The fire is above us. There is communication, there is pressure, there are statements that I am the 'baby of the quarrel'. It came up with a lot of difficult things - but it is over. We closed it with a handshake."

Levy is referring to his well-publicized separation from "Liam Productions" in 2020. As first published then in Vala!

Culture, he left the firm owned by Eyal Golan after about five years in which he was signed to it, against the background of the conflict between Golan and his former manager Benny Peretz who also managed Levy.

The singer, according to publications, reached an agreement with Golan according to which he will pay him about six million shekels on his way to freedom.

Why did you and Liam Pokot part ways?

Did you want to be the master of your own destiny?

"When I started at Liam Productions, I had two albums that were very successful. In them was 'Almost a Love Song'. Things came together in the section of 'Ben Tipohai'. As long as it contributed to the system it was amazing. When it worked it served all the various categories. Once it's a little bit Shaking the heads of the sifs didn't fit. When I got a little older, it served less."

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A person close to Eyal Golan told me: "What made Itay get up and walk away from the man who made his career, and after being his protégé? Eyal did a duet with Itay at an early stage of their relationship, unlike the duet that Eyal did with Nasrin only a longer time later."

He also added examples of how much Eyal invested in you, cared for you and boosted you.

"The duet with Eyal happened after I had already done 'Party in Haifa', and I had already performed at the Hangar and the Culture Hall. When you look at me, you think that someone can tell me what to do? Can someone tell me to do this way or that way? I can't tell you what was said about The song 'Party in Haifa'. Let's clap for those close to us. These are the same sentences that are repeated about people who have been with him all these years, 'Do this and do that'. OK. They did that too. And the one who got you on the bus is no less important than the one who drives the bus. He is a messenger of gratitude. Really, everything is fine. But I didn't leave because I had a good time. If I had a good time - I would have stayed. The one who understands will understand. I also think that throughout his career you can see how many times he didn't have a good time. I think that Eyal Golan did himself, and that I made myself."

A number of prominent figures in the music industry I spoke with claimed that Eyal Golan was jealous of you.

There was another claim that Golan told Bnei Peretz:

"That's what you said. Between me and Liam Productions, the girls' agreement was signed. I paid my debts like a Swiss watch. And it was agreed that what stays in the room - stays in the room. Although I hear that it doesn't stay. But I won't get down to these little things. It was a big family. I I'm sure you know what it's like to work under a certain place with so many people. There were a lot of singers there, both before and while I was there. There were also a lot of ego games there. How it opens and how it closes, why it's familiar and I'm not familiar. If it happens in the industry - think about what happens inside the house. And it's not cool sometimes. Sometimes it's a little hard. And you know what? I think it was most desirable in the world that we parted with love. But it was also most desirable in the world that we continue this love. And it didn't happen. I didn't I know why. And what those close to me say is regret. It was talked about that we were supposed to continue. We talked about a show together and we talked about a song together and we talked about a lot of good things. But you know, when the door closed and I went out - things changed. And that's okay, brother."

One of the arguments surrounding Golan Livni Peretz was about the distribution of the profits that came from you.

Maybe you will say, who deserved more money related to you - Benni or Eyal?

"I don't know how they divided among themselves. I divided against them fifty-fifty. And there are things I'm not allowed to say legally."

They say that Eyal and you don't talk.

This is true?

"We're not in touch. But you know, if he says hello to me, I'll say hello to him. Let you know that I respect Eyal. He's been here for so many years, three decades and so many hits and songs. Eyal also worked very hard in life. Also He comes from a very low and very difficult and very militant place and he also comes from such a place of proving yourself. And he proved it. He comes from the neighborhood, and we are from the same city and the same neighborhood. He is also a kind of Casa."

When Iti Levy says "Kaza" he is implying that he recently received an offer from the Bhima Theater in collaboration with the Hasha Theater to star in the lead role in the new version of the mythological musical "Casablanca" in a double cast alongside the actor Ofer Hayon.

The negotiations between the parties are at an advanced stage and Levy says that there are more chances that it will happen than not.

"It's very exciting. I think about the stations I've passed through in life. When I was 17 years old I took a service taxi to Tel Aviv, I went for a walk and I said to myself: one day I'll be famous. I lived in Sha'areim and for me going to Tel Aviv was like going to New York. I got off at the old central station and walked the streets of the city And now the CEO of Bima Noam Samel and the theater welcome me warmly.

When I met with him in Bhima, I told him, Noam, let's go down to the hall.

We got off and he explains to me and I felt like I was on a guided tour."

You are first, Kaza.

Itai Levy (Photo: Public Relations)

In the theater you will earn much less for the show than you would earn in the performances that you will have to give up on those evenings.

are you ready for it

"This is a serious financial loss. But what does it matter, brother? I'm tickled by acting. There is physical bread and butter, and there is spiritual bread and butter. And there will be a double casting. So it's closer to you than not. By the way, there are plays that are also staged outside of Tel Aviv. Atonement About Noam Semal who said 'I'm not taking you out anywhere'. 'Casablanca' remains in limbo. I asked Noam for something. For me to give a show or two on the street, I want to bring the musical 'Casablanca' physically to the street, without money, like they used to do. Not to the park , to the street, it's Casabellan bro."

What appeals to you most about this musical?

"The answer is not my victory over the establishment. It's my victory over myself, over who I am. I wouldn't do any musical. I did it because I was moved by 'Casablanca' itself. There is a message in it. And also because there is some desire in my soul to conquer things I dreamed of As a child. Acting is one of the things I wanted the most in my life. I had several auditions for very respectable series - but it didn't happen. Okay, everything is good. And now I will also play in Yoav Tzafir's series in which Ella-Lee, Yoav Tzafir himself and his daughter will also play. I am in the role Myself.

"By the way, things I wanted as a child, one day I came to a friend's house, he had a computer with games.

Then I heard his mother tell him: 'Don't bring him here.

He came to you only to play'.

I wasn't angry.

As a child I also wanted to go to Eurodisney in Paris and we couldn't go, and now I performed at Eurodisney at a company event.

It's just a shame we didn't have time to go up to the facilities."

Kobi Apello caused a stir when he made a sharp criticism against new songs by young artists, calling them "a generation of musicians who are competing to come up with the lowest and dumbest text".

What did you think of it?

"First of all, there is no such thing as a low word. There is a text that does not work. What is a low word? Is 'house' a low word? 'Door'? 'Chair'? A word is a word. There is a messy text, unpleasant to the ear, sometimes it is an accident So it could be that a song, two or three didn't connect, they sounded like a mess in his head. He may be used to a different order. Everyone has their own rules. The luck is that there is freedom of expression here, and everyone can sing what they like. And sometimes we choose to sing something that fits the order of the day, and it may be that in four months it will not be relevant. It may be that next year they will say, 'How crazy we are that we even heard a song like that.' And I really like Kobi."

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You owe me eight shekels.

Shiri and with me (photo: Aran Chen photographers)

Avihu Medina won this year's Israel Prize for a Hebrew singer, and at the awarding ceremony he sang a verse from his songs.

With his win, do you feel that the institutional attitude towards Mediterranean music has changed?

"I don't think the award that Abihu Medina received changed anything. It's a shame that it came late. These are things that make me very angry, but I won't open it up right now. Besides, when they called to invite me to sing at the Israel Prize ceremony, I was very excited. Ask Abihu, and he could To say 'I don't want to, I want someone else to sing'. It moved me to see his tears. By the way, I think his father also has criticism of such and such songs."

True, and he even supported Hiram Gaon after he said that Eastern music is garbage not created by Satan.

"This statement, that there is, and there is, and there is - is an amazing statement. I can also say about myself that I have songs that are much more serious and I have songs that are more Dakhkist. Everything is fine, that's the beauty. If I want to be the court jester - that's my full right, As long as I don't have any offensive statement in the text, I don't put anyone down and I don't humiliate anyone. I can sing songs like others have sung - 'pa la pa la pa pa pa' or 'Zot Eni', and that's fine. And I can be serious and convey a message . All is well".

Today's Mediterranean music has moved very far from the Eastern music that Haim Moshe, Yoav Yitzhak and his father Medina once made.

When you are with friends at karaoke or alone with yourself, what do you prefer to hear and sing - Moshe Peretz or Zohar Argov?

What is closer to your heart?

"An amazing and difficult question. I'm on the fence. I'm 35. I'm not 22. In my youth I also loved Moshe Peretz and Dodo Aharon, and I also loved Chaim Moshe and Yoav Yitzhak in their adulthood. I'm in the middle. Look, I sing a lot of old songs. When you create Outside you hear new songs, and when you come to karaoke you want to remember for a moment all the songs from Haim and Yoav's time and even Eyal's from the beginning. I cling to the past but I don't stay there. The world changes, the music changes. As they say - we assimilate. There is an amazing assimilation of the Mizrachi with jazz, pop, reggae and hip-hop. Everything comes together, for example Yemen-blues. I love it."

As part of that assimilation, you recorded several songs with Stefan.

Tell us about the connection between you.

"That's right, I recorded four songs with him. We were with the same PR man, Shir Pinto. We were in Eilat, and Pinto said to me: 'Do you want to do a duet with Stefan?' ?'. That's right, real. I asked to hear it. Then I heard it for the first time, and it sounded cool to God. It's a connection from heaven."

"If I had a good time at Liam Productions, I would stay."

Itay Levy and Eyal Golan (Photo: Aloni Mor)

It's amazing that earlier in your career you performed at weddings with songs that are strange to sing to a couple on the happiest day of their lives, such as "May love burn".

"That's right. They once wanted me to sing 'Let the love burn' also at the entrance to the canopy - and I didn't agree, because I can't sing in the canopy, I suffocate with excitement. I sang 'Party in Haifa' at the wedding - it's a song about someone who cheated on someone and he saw her. A hallucination. I sang 'Unbelievable, she said yes to him, our brother is getting married' - it's a question about the groom. He has some problem that she won't say 'yes' to him. And one day I was at a wedding and they ask me to sing 'If the world ends'. I tell him, What are you talking about? It's crazy, it includes the words 'If the world ends, will you come to me?', 'I am a zero that has no life', as if she had completely finished him."

You also signed the exciting song "Waiting for you to come".

Just after Tu Bab we will mention that your mother is also waiting for a partner to come, she is not getting any younger.

"True, true. Yesterday my mother told me that. By the way, my mother only wants me for herself, that's how it was throughout the years. She kept saying 'you're mine'. She has three children, I'm the youngest. Finding true love is a difficult journey Very. It becomes much more difficult even than being a singer. Everything in its time.

"Some people look from the sidelines and say: 'I would like what he has.' And the one who has says: 'I would like what they have.' Lou Mercedes. You can't eat the whole cake. I also believe that you need the time. I'm very busy. I really like my job. I was on a cloud for so many years. I didn't know what I wanted from my life. I couldn't study because I didn't have Money. I couldn't work because I took care of my mother. And today I feel that I stand on my own merits. I have two birthdays - the day I was born, January 25, 1988, and the day I released my first single, 'Almost a Love Song', on July 17, 2013 ".

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Considering making a film about Itai Levy's life.

Avi Nesher (Photo: Reuven Castro)

At the end of May, while you were performing the song "Simcha Gholoda Halesh", you crashed from the stage towards the audience in the first rows.

what happened there?

"I didn't know that my mother would come to the concert, and it stressed me out. At the concert, I am in two hours of intoxication. Those who know me know that I give my soul and my guts on stage. I invest a lot in every detail, I want it to be the best, that everything will work on time, that everything will be according to the book When things suddenly happen that I'm not ready for - it unsettles me. I must have gotten some kind of intoxication from the depths. I walked on water. I heard the panic from the crowd next to me. The funny part is that the crowd above didn't understand what happened. They thought I just jumped. Only after three days did I feel In pain from the fall, in my knees, I'm turning blue."

Itai Levy came from a difficult family background and had a challenging childhood.

His father was a drug addict, who also served time in prison and died of lung cancer when Itti was 16. His mother suffered from several strokes that left her with a nursing disability ever since, and Levy took care of her over the years.

Are you afraid that something of what happened to your father will happen to you too?

"As the son of a drug addict, the fear that I will fall in his path is always present in me. The fear exists because I know that what happened to my father was not caused by the fact that he wanted it to happen to him. I am not afraid to be like him. The fear is from the bad hour that took over him. I am not afraid to be like father My, it's a pride to be like my father. Although he was a drug addict, but he was a man, man. Really. I think he had a lot of bad times. My fear does not come from being the son of a father who uses drugs and a mother who was not mentally healthy, and from growing up in a house with divorced parents. If there's a problem - I know how to deal with it. But I do fear the bad hour my father had. It's the scariest thing a person can have. You sometimes see a person who feels good, and then you don't understand how he took the Life. It's very stressful. But as they say: 'Don't be afraid of fear,' and Napoleon said: 'Cowards die before they die.'"

Against the background of your difficult childhood, you once expressed your disapproval of the phrase "grow from hardship".

"It is very difficult to grow from a difficult childhood, but you can overcome it. And if you overcome the difficult childhood and from it - you are a hero of life, brother."

"He received the Israel Prize too late."

Avihu Medina (Photo: Flash 90, Noam Rivkin Fenton)

An artist is threatened with falling not only when there is soap on stage.

This industry can be brutal - get someone up high quickly and then bring them down dramatically.

How do you maintain success and try not to let it go to your head?

"Don't give too many complaints to the industry. It's easiest to say that the industry cheated and it's easiest to blame the industry for doing something to you. But the industry is not the one that cheats and it's not the one that does things to you. There are cases when the industry tried to do something and didn't succeed. I have complete faith in the right way , in doing the right things, consistently, diligently, being loyal to yourself, your profession and the people around you. How do you say? Sometimes they shoot and don't hit. Sometimes you don't recognize the right note for a second, sometimes you don't perceive what's on the ground. That's okay. You have to be optimistic and do things are good".

You have great hits.

But there is still nothing that will stand out as an eternal classic, something that is sure to remain here for another 20 years, an iron sheep property like "Halaye", "Latat" or "Tsilil Mithra".

Is it a failure of the media, a matter of time to produce a super classic or a more difficult task for everyone in this era?

"First of all, the question is whether we will be here for another 30 years. I don't think that this is happening only to me. I think that many singers from my generation and a younger generation would like to sing songs like 'Let' and 'Clilil Mithar'. I also want to sing songs like that But listen, the ears have changed a bit. At the end of the day, you shave, get dressed and go to work, and it's important that the audience likes it. Obviously, it's not just the audience. Sometimes the radio doesn't embrace. Sometimes someone hears a song and says 'it doesn't fit', and outside 200 million hear the song . Happens".

The radio really did not embrace you in the proper dose, despite your great talent, the great love of the audience, the success on the networks and on television.

"It's funny that I've never won song of the year or singer of the year on the radio. Let's say 'Suddenly Love' is a super hit of mine that exploded in the field and exploded on YouTube. But it wasn't played on Galgaltz. How does that make sense? I don't understand. Even when my first song came out, 'Almost a Love Song' , I did a million and a half views in a month - but it didn't make it into Galgaltz. If it had also received this stage, we would have said that we are blessed because we won and we were judged. It bothered me, because I really did a good song here that some claim changed the face of music. I remember that after I came back From the United States, while no one yet knew who Itay Levy was, I heard Yossi Gisfan at Didi Harari's saying, 'What is this fringing?', and that's how it started. The break into the mainstream happened after three years

. Me a little: 'You beat the radio'.

I believe in the Holy Trinity - the field, the radio and the networks, and I always try to maintain this Bermuda Triangle.

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We mentioned earlier "Kohav Nold", which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

Which of the contestants of this initial incarnation of "Next Star" were your favorites?

"Shiri Maimon. I voted for Shiri. I told her: You owe me 8 shekels and ninety cents for each vote. Vaninette knows I didn't vote for her. We used to have evenings with friends, prepare borkas and watch 'Kohav Nold'. Then there was no VOD yet, we sat and waited for the program. We were groups of it. And I remember all the performances of Ninet, Shiri and Gebso. They did an amazing format."

Are you missing more judges than the curling music on "The Next Star"?

Still, you represent more viewers than Ninet.

"תראה, רן דנקר עיראקי. נינט מרוקאית. שירי מימון ממשפחה ספרדית. אני לא מגדיר את המוזיקה שלי כמזרחית או כים תיכונית. מבחינתי זאת מוזיקה ישראלית, מוזיקה שלנו. אני לוקח הרבה מהפופ, מהרוק, מהג'אז, מההיפ הופ. ואם באותה מידה הרוק והפופ והג'אז יקחו דברים מהמוזיקה שקוראים לה מזרחית או ים תיכונית - יכול להיות טוב. ואני לא מתעסק בלמי יש יותר קהל".

צביקה פיק ישב לפניך על כסא השופט בתכנית, אתה השתתפת לצדו בפסטיגל ובערב מחווה שנערך לו בקשת בו ביצעת גרסת כיסוי ל"מת אב ומת אלול". השבוע צביקה הלך לעולמו. מה תזכור ממנו?

"צביקה היה איש גדול, אמן דגול ויוצר אדיר. בכל מפגש איתו הוא תמיד השאיר בי חותם של חריצות ואהבה למקצוע ולאומנות. לא סתם קראו לו המאסטרו. זו אבידה ענקית לנו. הוא אדם שהשפיע רבות על התרבות בישראל והשאיר אחריו דברים ענקיים. זכורים לי בעיקר שמחת החיים וההומור שלו. הוא יחסר לי ולעוד רבים".

אחד הרגעים שבהם היתה תחושה שהבחירה בעדינות גברה אצלך על נקיטת עמדה נוקבת בווליום גבוה הייתה כשהופיעה ב"הכוכב הבא" ים גרוניך, בתו של המוזיקאי שלמה גרוניך. כשהוצפה התבטאותו המקוממת של גרוניך לקהל בפסטיבל עין גב, "צ'חצ'חים", השמעת ביקורת על דבריו - אבל באופן מינורי יחסית למה שניתן היה לצפות ממך. גם לא התעמתת עם אסף אמדורסקי שיצא להגנת גרוניך.

"גם כשהאש גבוהה וגם כשהאש נמוכה - היא עדיין שורפת. זה לא משנה איך אמרתי את זה. דיברתי מדם לבי. ככה צריכים להיאמר הדברים. אני חושב שבשקט שלי מול אמדורסקי היה משהו נחרץ. אני מאוד מכבד את אמדורסקי. הוא כבר בעשור השישי של חייו. גרוניך יכול להיות סבא שלי. נזכרתי בערכים שספגתי מהבית וזה הוביל אותי להיות מאופק. שמע, אני לא איש מלחמות ולא צ'ה גווארה. אבל מאוד נפגעתי מהאמירה 'צ'חצ'חים'. אני לא מייצג אף אחד אלא רק את עצמי, את המקום שבאתי ממנו ואת המשפחה והחברים שלי. והמילה 'צ'חצ'ח' היא מילה איומה, שאחרי 50 שנה לא הצליחו לעקור אותה. זה פגע בי מאוד. וגם פגע בי שאף אחד לא הרים לרגע את הראש. אבל אני לא רוצה לעשות רע לגרוניך. הוא מוזיקאי-על עם תרומה אדירה למוזיקה".

עוד בוואלה!

"ניסו לאנוס אותי, הטרידו אותי, ואני רק הרגשתי אשמה שאני יפה מדי"

לכתבה המלאה

איתי לוי(צילום: עופר חג'יוב)

היו מי שסברו שהקהל של "הכוכב הבא" לא העביר את הבת שלו כנקמה על דברי אביה, אבות אכלו בוסר וכו'.

"זה ממש לא נכון. למרות שמישהי, לא רוצה להגיד שמות, אמרה את זה לאורך כל התכנית - זה לא נכון. ושמע, הבת שלו מדהימה. היא קסם. הורידו בעריכה של 'הכוכב הבא' קטע שבו קמתי וחיבקתי אותה ולהתנצל בפניה על כך שהיא נפגעה מזה, כי זה לא היה אישית נגדה. היא התבאסה נורא, והיא אומרת - תבינו, זה לא אבא שלי".

אומרים שאתה פריק קונטרול, או כמו שניסח את זה בכיר במוזיקה הים תיכונית: "אם חלילה יהיו טענות כלפי איתי בענייני מס, הוא לא יוכל להגיד 'לא ידעתי', כי הוא יודע מה קורה עם כל שקל שלו".

"זה מחמיא לי. נכון, אני פריק קונטרול. זה חשוב לי יותר מלהיות זמר השנה או שיר השנה. אנשים לפעמים מפרשים לא נכון את זה שאני מעורב בהכול. אני רוצה להעביר מסר לכל הזמרים: 'לפני שלאדם יהיה מנהל - הוא חייב להיות מנהל של עצמו'. זה משפט שחרוט לי על הראש מאז שאני בן לא יודע כמה. אי אפשר להגיד כל היום 'לא ידעתי', ולטמון ראשך בחול, אי אפשר להיות בת יענה. אז אני בשליטה מלאה. עכשיו הייתי בפגישה ב'לי קופר' על הקולקצייה החדשה. עשו פרזנצטיה ואני עם דמעות בעיניים. כי בגיל 15-16 עברתי ב'לי קופר' ולא יכולתי לקנות ג'ינס. אני מאמין בלהכניס רוח חדשה למקום. ואני יכול לגלות לך שוויתרתי על המון כסף ממותגים אחרים כי לא התאים לי".

על מה אתה מתחרט?

"חשבתי על זה שיש כאלה שאומרים 'אני מתחרט על זה שהייתי טוב מדי'. אבל אין דבר כזה 'טוב מדי'. או שאתה טוב או שאתה רע. אני רוצה להיות 'טוב מדי' עד סוף ימיי. מה שאני מתחרט עליו זה שהייתי טוב לאנשים הלא נכונים".

הסדרה "דברים מוזרים" החזירה לתודעה את השיר "Running Up That Hill" של קייט בוש, ובעלילה השיר מציל את החיים של מקס. איזה שיר או יצירה תרבותית הצילו אותך?

"אני חושב שהאלבום של 'בית הבובות'. האלבום שלהם לגמרי שינה לי את החיים. בתחילת דרכי, היה לי לא פשוט להיות זמר מזרחי. כשהסתכלתי על המוזיקה הבנתי שקשה להצליח כזמר, וקשה להיות זמר מזרחי עם כאלה שועלי-על שיש פה - אייל, דודו, משה, ליאור, קובי. אמרתי לעצמי, וואלה, איתי, שאם אני רוצה להצליח עכשיו כזמר מזרחי יגידו הוא דומה לישי או לנתי או לאייל. ואז שמעתי את 'בית הבובות' והתחלתי להיפתח למוזיקה. פתאום התחלתי לשיר את כנסיית השכל, סינרגיה. פתאום שרתי את 'אהבת נעוריי', ולמדתי גיטרה. פתאום אמרתי לעצמי: בוא'נה, יש לי צלילים אחרים בגרון".

איפה אתה רואה את עצמך בעוד עשר שנים?

"אני מאמין שיהיו לי שלושה ילדים ו-20 אלבומים, ואולי אעשה גם משהו מעבר לים".

אומרים שאתה מתחזק, מתקרב לדת. זה נכון?

"I don't get stronger, but I strongly believe in superstition. I think that a person should constantly strengthen his faith. Along the way, morals and values ​​will come. Today I am definitely closer to religion. It saved me a lot in life. Listen, if I had gone to the cinema and seen the movie of myself - I would not have left this film. You know, the director Avi Nesher is an amazing man. I sat with him one day at dinner, and he said to me: 'I want to make a film about you.' I adore this enormous man. They arranged a meeting between us and I was ashamed to come . But I want there to be such a mighty document about me. Not because I'm some kind of superman. I've had a lot of tears in my life. I've been through a lot of things. But I think it can strengthen a lot of people. And by the way, my good friend Amdorski said an amazing sentence: 'Be the storyteller in the story of your life. Don't be the main actor in the story of your life."

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