"My songs will be sung for another 100 years. Songs by Omar Adam will not be sung in a year"

After a decade of defeating the cancer that almost wiped out his voice ("I was afraid I would not sing") and his wife recovered from a terrorist attack ("They said she had no chance of living"), singer Itzik Kala is no longer moved by the radio that does not cheer ("Galgalatz? I have the people of Israel") ) - and excited to go on a first tour since recovery.

Conversation with a giant

Sagi Ben Nun

17/01/2022

Monday, 17 January 2022, 00:00 Updated: 23:28

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"When I perform with the orchestra I feel 11 years old again."

Easy (Photo: Reuven Castro)

"Say heaven, tell me

, and tell

me why,

my stars are not revealed to me,

and so far he has not appeared?

Why is my fortune betraying me,

why

will

I

be evil

? .

These dramatic words, from the song "Say Heaven" sung by veteran singer Itzik Kala to the words of Shlomo Kishor and a Greek folk tune, sound today somewhat like a gloomy prophecy, which preceded the upheavals that accompanied Kala's life over the past decade: his wife was seriously injured in the attack; He contracted cancer that nearly wiped out his voice and led to five years of terrible struggle, and later also contracted corona.

On another front, by contrast, Galgalatz continued to ignore him completely, despite her much-appreciated appreciation. Not a single song from over 30 albums has made it onto the station's playlist. On the other hand, in the curling genre is easily admired. And now, for the first time since recovering, he's going on a tour these days. In the new series of concerts, called "Yerushalmi", conducted by Sivan Albo Ben Hur, Kala will perform alongside the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod, the piyyut ensemble of the Ben Zvi Institute under the musical direction of Yair Harel, and the cantor and poet Rabbi David Menachem. The concert turns the spotlight on the integration of piyyut traditions of various Jewish communities of Spanish descent, from which a unique style of poetry is created in Jerusalem, which is a significant part of the world of piyyut and prayer. The next performances will take place on January 19 at the Kiryat Motzkin Theater Hall, on January 20 at the Performing Arts Center in Beer Sheva, on January 24 at the Tel Aviv Museum, and on January 25 at the Raanana Music and Arts Center. Tickets for NIS 129 can be purchased here.

"I came from the cantors, the piyyutim and the synagogue, so these performances are closing a circle for me. It is very exciting for me and the people to tears," says Kala, "an orchestra with 35 authentic musicians, non-electric instruments, and a beautiful combination of Russian and Oriental musicians. West to the East and it is so beautiful. Piyyutim excite every person, no matter if it is religious, traditional or secular. What's more, it is a Jerusalem piyyut. "Mercy Amar, peace be upon him. I have never had such a connection, and when I perform with the orchestra I feel 11 years old again. I meet an audience that has not seen me for years. It does me good for the soul."

"I especially enjoy singing 'I'm the Slave' and 'Soul Daddy.' I'm very connected to this song because I did not have a daddy. My dad passed away when I was three. Raised 12 children, and was a widow for 50 years. He who was like a father to me, with whom God connected me, was Rahamim Amar. I never had a feeling of holding Dad's hand. And the song 'Father Soul' excites me every time I sing it I feel this is the first time. "

"I would give up even two legs just so they wouldn't take my vocal cords."

Easy (Photo: Reuven Castro)

She will perform, among other things, alongside four musicians from Morocco who joined the Ashdod Andalusian Orchestra a few years ago, and moved to Israel for this purpose.

"It's a story what's beautiful! I speak Arabic, and they are so excited that I am with them and talking to them in Arabic. At first I did not understand it, and I asked - where are these musicians from? And they told me, they are Muslims who came from Morocco, are here now and play with them, and hear, "It's something very exciting. I feel like I want to perform with them until the morning. Stunning culture. What a country way. How are they disciplined for the winner of Sivan."

As mentioned, this is Easy's first full tour since recovering from cancer, which has sidelined him for about five years. This confrontation began one day, a few years ago, when Kella felt a bump on the left side of her neck.

"To Tommy I thought it would pass with some bullet. But the gland kept growing and growing. After two months I told myself, go do tests. And I want to turn to readers, and tell them that if they have even the smallest thing - they should go for tests right away, and not wait," he says.

"So I came and did tests at Beilinson in the ENT department, they did a biopsy and treatments, and suddenly they tell me - Itzik, listen, you have a tumor like this inside the neck, an inch from the vocal cords. It hurts the most painful place for a person who sings. I would give up even two legs "Only they will not take my vocal cords. Because that is my instrument. That is what I know how to do."

Kala performs with the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod (Photo: Rafi Daloia)

"I did the treatments at Hadassah, not Beilinson, because of the distances and traffic jams. And I went through a very, very difficult period. I lost 32 kilos during this period. I did not eat for six months, I lived on ice cream. Because when I was there, no food goes down my throat, everything is closed. It lasts for about five years, during which you are constantly weak, want to sleep, do not know what to do with yourself and lose advice. "

"The biggest crisis was in the first period when I could not speak. It did not affect the vocal cords but following the treatments the doctors told me: 'You can not speak, and if you speak it will only be here and there and with severe hoarseness. And it is better not to speak.' I was very, very scared of it. It's the thing that will frustrate me. I did not believe I could talk, and certainly I could not sing. To make five decades. Thank God, here I am back to myself and now I'm on a first tour after five years in which I have not been in this world. We have such doctors and professors who do sacred work. "

"Today when I open my throat I sound exactly the same as before. Do you want to hear an example?", He asks, and marvels at his beautiful singing.

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What is your state of health today?

"Everything is fine, God willing, of course I am under supervision and pills. Just let it continue like this and I can continue to make the people of Israel happy, that is my mission. I have always been a believer and today I believe twice."

The disease was another blow to a light-hearted family, after in 2012 Ziona, Itzik's wife, was seriously injured in the attack.

"My wife was injured with my daughter on the Tunnels Road. She was very badly injured. I was told at first that there was no chance she would live. We went through a very difficult period, 15 days she was unconscious and after that she woke up," he says.

"Take my wife's situation, my situation, and describe to you what I went through in a few years. Someone else would have fallen by the wayside. Do you know how many forces are needed? But I persevered by faith. I thank the Holy One for everything. Just look at the good. ".

"A lovely man, he and I are like brothers."

Shlomi Shabbat (Photo: Official website, IPS spokeswoman)

As someone who is in a risk group, both on your medical background and on the basis of your age, how was your corona period?

"I contracted corona. For two months I did not move from weakness. The hardest part was this weakness, because of which I could not stand on my feet. Nor could I eat much. The weakness really finished me off. But once again I was strong in it, and thank God I went through it. Today. "I am so guarded, I avoid hugging people even though I am a very hot man. And I come to the show and disinfect the microphone for a quarter of an hour! I was very anxious, also because my immune system is weak after what I went through."

"Shlomi is like a brother. I called him after I heard he was infected again, after he had already passed the corona very hard. I could not catch him. I sent him a message. I wish him complete healing. Shlomi and I are years like brothers. He came to me several times. He "A lovely person. When I got sick, he came to visit me several times, and he is an amazing person. Yishai Levy also called me every week. It warmed my heart."

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"Does not feel missed and does not come with complaints to anyone."

Easy (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Kala, one of the greatest and most influential singers in Mediterranean music in the country, was born in May 1953 in Jerusalem to a family of Kurdish descent. At the age of 18 he became the lead singer of the band "Or Chaim" and later went on to a solo career. His first album, "On the Castel Mountains" by name, was released in 1978 and included Kurdish songs. He has since released over 30 more albums, but only a minority have included original songs. Kala was highly regarded, but his career did not rise to the heights of success of Zohar Argov, Haim Moshe and Eyal Golan. His biggest hit is "I am the Slave", written by Uzi Hitman and composed by Yoram Harel Haimov, and among his successful songs are "Looking for the Way" which won a cover version of Shlomi Shabbat, "Mami Mami", "Yishma Hatani", "Halafot HaSana" and "Father Soul."

"True. At the time, 30 years ago, there was the Turkish wave here. I took Turkish tunes, put Hebrew words, and they became huge hits, like 'Mami Mami'. If there is a hit that I know will really catch on I call Greece or Turkey and ask "Permission to perform it. Slowly, over time, I also began to compose. For several years now, most of my songs have been original."

"I was heard in the IDF waves, but not in Galgalatz. Do you know who this is for me Galgalatz? Jewish nation. When I came to the nation's buildings a month ago, and appeared before 2,500 people in a sold out, then that's my wheelbarrow. My path was difficult. I wanted to be heard on the radio and not. But I did everything with ten fingers, God willing. I received the love of the audience at a high level. "

"Proud of his success and love him, but I do not connect so much to his pop music." Omar Adam (Photo: Shai Franco)

And there is still a feeling that you have not received the full respect that comes to you, nor have you been as famous as Zohar Argov, Haim Moshe and Eyal Golan.

Is there a feeling of missing out?

"No, I do not feel missed. You do not imagine how many comments and shares there are on Facebook for my songs. The power I received from the creator of this world is this amazing audience. I do not come with complaints to anyone."

A senior figure in the world of curling music told me about you like this: "Just as there is Zion Golan for the Yemenis, there is Itzik Klaa for the Kurds. He is Frank Sinatra for the Kurds. You can take from Kurds everything just not Itzik Klaa."

"Listen, I'm proud to be a member of this community. This is the most special community there is. Because I learned the Makama language from my childhood I also sing Greek like Greek, and do not know I am Israeli. And if I sing Turkish, then I sing Turkish with a Turkish accent and do not believe I am Israeli "And if I sing Arabic, I sing original Arabic and they do not believe I am a Jew."

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As someone who comes from rooted oriental music, what do you think of the commercial Mediterranean pop of the present era?

"I know the young children love it very much but there is no soul in it. It is very important to know, the authentic music is the music that comes from the piyyut, from the synagogue."

"True, Omar Adam grew up on my lap. I have been connected for 40 years to his family, his father and his grandfather. They are with me and I am with them. Omar started with oriental music, and I raised him in Caesarea and the Sultan's Pool. So he sings plain, oriental to everything. I Proud of his success but I do not connect so much to his pop music.You can hear a song or two of his.As a listener who has studied root music, and knows what music is with soul, it is hard for him to hear Omar Adam for a long time.I can hear Omar songs but not Take a long time. Take songs like this and take songs like 'I am the slave' or 'Looking for' or 'Praise of Jerusalem' by Avihu Medina - these are songs that will never be performed, and will be sung in 100 years. The songs of Omar Adam and Eden Hasson for another year- Two years from now they will not play. And they will be healthy, I love them. It's a big difference. Why? Because a song that has a lot of soul remains etched in the man's soul. 2,500 people sing the song roaring. Same thing with 'Soul Daddy' and 'Seeker' - they will be sung in 100 years. Their pop music is beautiful but temporary. "

"I will tell you , I had to in this thing come out entitled. The fact is that I received a fine of NIS 80,000, in those years. And I'm after that, God willing. I've already forgotten about it, you just mentioned me. In the end, everything closes, and everything is fine with me, thank God. "

In another year and a half you will be 70. What other dreams do you have left?

"I fulfilled quite a few dreams, for example I performed quite a bit abroad. About 15 years ago I performed in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and you know who was my warm-up singer? Moshe Peretz. I really like him. He's also half Kurdish like me, many do not know it. A lovely guy. I dream of performing abroad again with the Andalusian Orchestra. And another dream of mine is that the establishment will establish some conservatory where young people can learn the language of the Makama. There are such talented, young singers, but they do not learn the Makama language from Eastern, Arabic and Greek music. "They did not learn it - all their songs sound the same. And I also dream that God will give complete healing to the whole house of Israel."

It is said of you "his career did not fool him, he remained sane all the way, with his feet on the ground."

"It has to do with where I came from. I was Itzik Kala and I will always remain Itzik Kala. I have never been blinded or blinded. And I think it has to do with childhood. As a child I slept without food. I had torn clothes and torn shoes. I was an orphan. By the way, whoever helped me in this life Dr. Joseph Burg, who bought me the mandolin. My teacher asked him to buy an orphaned child. Thanks to him I play. When I met Burg after 40 years, one day, near Heichal Shlomo, he was an old man coming in days. I made a vow that as soon as I saw him I would kiss his hand. I see the man, he says to him, 'Dr. Burg, hello.' He says to me (mimicking his speech) 'Hello, hello.' I ask him, 'Can I kiss your hand?' No, no, no, why? '. I started crying with excitement. He asked:' Why are you crying? '. A very, very talented orphan,And should I buy him a mandolin? ' Dr. Burg says to me in surprise: 'Is that you ?!'. He remembered. I told him: 'It's me'. He hugged me, and I started crying like a little boy from excitement. Thanks to him I am a musician and a musician. "We did not have money for food. I came from a difficult place. So in answer to your question, I came from there. It is not a shame. Some people are ashamed but I am not ashamed of where I came from."

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Tags

• Itzik Kalla

• The Andalusian Orchestra

• Omer Adam

• cancer

• Galgalatz

• Eden Hasson