Achinoam Nini, also known by her professional name Noa, is Israel’s leading international concert and recording artist. Born in Tel Aviv in 1969 Noa lived in New York City from age 2 and attended SAR Academy primary school, and remained there until her return to Israel alone at the age of 17. Her family is originally from Yemen.
Noa’s music is most prominently influenced by the singer-songwriters of the 60s, such as Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand and Leonard Cohen. These musical and lyrical sensibilities, combined with Noa’s Yemenite roots and Gil Dor’s strong background in jazz, classical, country and rock, have created Noa and Gil Dor’s unique sound (From Wikipedia).
She has recently released her latest album called Genes & Jeans (note for my students: both words are pronounced the same way), and this is what Noa had to say about it:
‘This album was born from my wish to seek and revive the Yemenite songs I heard from my grandmother as a child. I listened to endless amazing singers, from Aharon Amram, Zion Golan, Shoshana Damari, Shlomo Dachyani and Miriam Tzafri to Avner Gadasi and Ofra Chaza. The beautiful melodies and wonderful voices touched me deeply and humbled me greatly, though none as much as grandma Rachel’s… she is number one, all 4 feet of her. It was clear to me that a girl born in Israel and raised in New York, where the Yemenite songs faded and were replaced by Joni mitchell and Paul Simon, would have to find her own way to connect to that rich place called Root…’
I have chosen the song Waltz to the road from her latest album to share with you today. If you feel like it, you can also do some reading and listening practice about this superb singer.
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Listening comprehension practice for today’s lesson:
