When was the last time you laughed at someone?
"You, a minute ago. I laugh and be funny every day. Laughter is an integral part of my character. The most accurate definition is that I am a happy and optimistic person, so I am attracted to optimistic areas and positive energies and run away from where they are not. I was not always like that, it's kind of "Compensation for my miserable childhood. I think humor is like a boomerang. If you have no timing and you do not know how to control the dose, in a minute you become compulsive and pathetic. You learn these limits, and there are those who are born with it."
When was the last time you visited your home country?
"About 8 months ago I went to Bucharest with my partner. I go to Romania about once a year and a half or so. My childhood friends and friends from my first band, 'Red and Black', live there, and I meet them. After I left Romania they fled to West Germany inside "Speakers, and that's how they crossed the border into freedom. After 1989, everyone returned to Romania, and they are now living well and continuing to play music. Our drummer, for example, is a producer and a huge star in Romania."
When was the last time you thought about your childhood?
"I think about her a lot. Until the age of 14 I was a miserable child because I was very disappointed in my parents and they made me feel disappointed. Like any Jew in exile, they wanted to be proud of me and I did not give them any reason. I was an only child, and the worst student. At school, I was thrown out of at least 12 schools, and in one of them the principal told my father, 'You are seen here more than your son.'
"I really wanted to be a footballer, but the reason I became a pianist - after piano teachers did everything to make me hate playing it - was that at the age of 12 I saw a band playing and all the most beautiful women were around the pianist. I am a romantic, and thanks to these women I am a musician today. "It's better than him and I wanted everyone to know that."
When was the last time you were not understood?
"When I came to Israel in 1975, at the age of 29, for a year they did not understand me because of the language. I was handsome and tall, but no one looked at me, because I conquer only with the language. I went to learn Hebrew, and that's the most important thing I did. It was my dream, and in my sense I succeeded. Today I am a sabra, the only sabra born in Romania. I am listed on hundreds of adaptations in ACUM, with songs like 'The Flower in the Gardens' and 'Lonely'.
I was a conductor in the Air Force Orchestra with the rank of Lt. Col. and received awards for the music for the films 'Stolen Daddy', 'Tipat Mazal' and 'Kiss in the MP'.
I most enjoyed writing music for movies, it's fun to give meaning to a picture with the help of music. "
When was the last time you were afraid of death?
"In 2015 I was attacked by a carnivorous bacterium, and I was anesthetized and respirated at Ichilov Hospital. I really saw death. I was scared, but I did not lose hope and maintained optimism and humor. It is said that the carnivorous bacterium is found under everyone's skin and one day it wakes up Patients, I speak only quietly, so that he does not wake up ...
"What made me feel good were the people who came to visit. I was surrounded by warmth and love from my staff and friends. More than 150 people visited me when I was hospitalized, and the fact that people love me and I care about them - made me the best in the world."
When was the last time you thought about your age?
"I do not think about age and do not behave or behave according to age. Even my partner's foundation does not keep pace with me. It is a combination of genetics and philosophy, because as soon as I left the hospital I made a vow that there would be no negative energies in my space. Except after my parents or people "I'm never sad and I make sure to enjoy life. I get up in the morning and have fun, I'm fine and I'm healthy."
When was the last time you showed up?
"Yesterday I performed with Dudu Fischer, and it was a dream come true. I take advantage of my relative advantage, that I also do stand-up and play the piano, and in this performance I feel really catharsis to accompany the cultural anchor Dudu Fischer, who is also my friend.
"In Corona I started doing private shows, because I am a chameleon and I get along in any situation. I performed in courtyards of houses, balconies, suites and villas. I did not feel the corona and I was not afraid of it. I made all the mistakes a person can make, because I need to be loved. "I can not refuse, so I was not very saved. Now I am wearing a mask and be careful, and I am also vaccinated and very much believe in medicine."
When was the last time something was written about you that was wrong?
"There was a critic who intended to hurt me, but I actually really enjoyed what he said. He criticized the weekly program I participate in, 'Galit and Yoav,' Keshet 12, and wrote that 'it's time to ask for compensation from the novels.' "Not good, but I'm usually quite pampered with reviews. I don't always read, nor do I read talkbacks. I stopped reading everything when I left the hospital and someone wrote about me 'who needs you alive'."
When was the last time you watched the Eurovision Song Contest?
"I participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, and we also won 'Hora' with Avi Toledano and 'Chai' with Ofra Haza, but I admit that in recent years I have not been an avid spectator of this competition. I saw Neta Barzilai and I think all our representatives did a lot of respect for the country. In recent years there was no one who did not deserve to perform there. So this format probably works. "
When was the last time you thought of your name?
"I think there's something special about my name. It has an artistic sound. I also found out that I'm the only man in the world called Nancy. I checked everywhere and there are no more Nancy in the world. It's a name like Shoshana, there's no man with that name. , But when I got to Israel until they got used to it I would absorb a lot of laughter, cynicism and ridicule about my name, until I already thought of replacing it. At the end I added a second name, and my full name is Nancy Silvio Brandes. "There they were expecting conductor Nancy Brands, and when they saw me they were very disappointed. On the eve of the event the stupid host announced 'Winner Nancy Sylvia Brands'. She still thought I was a woman."
When was the last time you were asked for a selfie?
"All the time. I'm surrounded by love on the street, and it's a dream come true from the time I came to Israel. It excites me every day and is not obvious. Every time someone turns to me, and it happens 30 times a day, I return love. People do not understand that they deserve warmth and a hug, "Only thanks to them are we artists alive. This should not be underestimated. I am on stage three times a week and receive satisfaction, adrenaline and catharsis from the audience. There is no more effective treatment for anti-aging than the love of the audience."
When was the last time you met your children and grandchildren?
"I am a grandfather who has a lot to improve, because I only get excited about the children as soon as there is communication, I admit. I meet Lior (42), the eldest daughter and queen of my life, who is ultra-Orthodox, together with her three grandchildren once or twice a month. By the way, get a scoop: In about a month I will be a great grandfather because my eldest grandson, the religious one, is married and is about to become a father in February.
"I meet my daughter Rona (34), who is a perfect replica of me with a sense of humor, sharpness and musicality, together with her daughter, granddaughter July, once a week. July is six months old, and she is a lovely girl. I have two other young children: Jonathan ( "And her mother (16). They live half and half with me and their mother, and they are lovely children and my best friends. When there is no Corona we travel a lot in the world."
When was the last time you said "I love you"?
"This morning, my friend Keren. She is an amazing woman, 47 years old, a mother of two lovely children and works in the Tel Aviv municipality. She stands behind me with lots of joy and love, and I feel I have a friend for life. I was married twice, I have four amazing children, and I was not "Changing or fixing anything in my past. When you see that you have such children and grandchildren, it's all worth it."
When was the last time you were offered a tempting offer?
"I and my ex-wife were offered to take part in the 'Race for a Million', but I know what my limitations are and we refused. The only reality I would dare to take is 'Big Brother VIP', even though there is no VIP there anymore. It's Nancy Brands. A lot of people think I'm just a plank joker and I would like them to really know me, but if I go in there with unworthy people it could hurt me that it would take me a long time to fix. I would also like to be a judge on music shows. Is to be a presenter for a serious company, with an advertisement in prime time that reflects my character. "
When was the last time you thought about earning a living?
"Fortunately, I'm constantly busy with projects, but I do think we live in a country where older people do not like it. At 50, people already say 'peace be upon him.' There are almost no comedians at 70, so I get up in the morning and thank God I'm an exceptional case I'm not really rich, and I do go to bed worried and check the current twice a week, because if God forbid I do not work for half a year, that would be a problem.
So, by the way, when I was hospitalized I did get into financial trouble.
"I have the privilege of being wanted and performing a lot, and my dream is to lower the average age in the audience. I am a star of senior citizens, but I feel I am much more successful in front of young people, for example 50-45 years old, than in front of seniors."
When was the last time you apologized?
"I think asking for forgiveness is a show of strength, not weakness. When you ask for forgiveness you show that you are a strong person, and I have no problem asking for forgiveness. It happens with my children, because as a father you make mistakes, and also with my divorcees, with whom I am in touch. Very good, but sometimes I do not give them the attention they deserve. "
When was the last time you prayed?
"Every morning I say 'I confess' and take hands. I respect religion very much, especially since my eldest daughter has repented. I'm sure there's someone upstairs guarding me, because I had stations in life that without supervision I would not have survived. The career, for example, is "A wheel, and the angel guarding me does not let my wheel go down. Every time I worry about my career, suddenly something comes from above and I get a fix."
When for the first time?
When did you first see Israel?
"In 1975. I arrived in Israel at 10.10, and the plane landed at 10 in the morning. I came with the clear intention that this would be just a stopover and I would move on, because I was already a well-known music producer and had a friend waiting for me in Canada, but something happened that sounded patriotic "In Israel at first glance. I met amazing weather here and it seemed to me that everything was painted in gold. I said to myself 'you are not moving from here'".
Nancy Brands / 75 years old, musician and comedian. A resident of Tel Aviv, in a relationship. Divorced twice, father of Lior (42) and Rona (34) from his first marriage, Jonathan (18) and her mother (16) from his second marriage, and grandfather of four. Actor, composer, comedian, arranger and music producer. Will perform with Dudu Fischer On January 21 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, on February 2 at the Rehovot Hall of Culture, and on February 3 at the Or Akiva Hall of Culture.
shirshirziv@gmail.com
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us