מאיר אריאל

Meir Ariel (Hebrew: מאיר אריאל‎; 2 March 1942 – 18 July 1999) was an Israeli singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as ibn Gabirol, Natan Alterman, S. Y. Agnon and Hayim Nahman Bialik, and American singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan. Ariel's fame and recognition grew posthumously. Ariel was born on the Fast of Esther in 1942 and grew up in Kibbutz Mishmarot. The son of Guda and Alexander (Sasha) Ariel (Bashmashnikov), he is the youngest after two daughters. His father was one of the founders of Kibbutz, an educator, and the manager of the school Ariel attended. In his youth, Ariel experimented with writing poetry, and his songs were composed by his friend, Shalom Hanoch, as part of "Hamishmaron", the kibbutz's singing group. Hanan Yovel also took part in the creative process. Since childhood, Meir Ariel was a friend of Shalom Hanoch, who also lived there and became one of Israel's most popular rock artists. Ariel served in the Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF and participated as part of that brigade in the Battle for Jerusalem at the beginning of the Six-Day War. This inspired him to write the song "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" ("Jerusalem of Iron"). The song was based on Naomi Shemer's hit song "Jerusalem of Gold", and borrowed its melody (in turn borrowed from the Basque folk song "Pello Joxepe"). It was his reaction to what he saw as the hyper-patriotism of the Israeli public and media of that time. The "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" mini-album cover showed Ariel in his military uniform thus giving him the nickname "the singing paratrooper". In 1966, Meir Ariel married Tirza Hagadish from Kibbutz Kfar Szold. Despite the fame, Ariel decided that he was not interested in pursuing a career as a singer-paratrooper, as he distanced himself from the gimmicks involved. In June 1968, he travelled with his wife and daughter Shiraz to Detroit in the United States as a representative for the United Kibbutz Movement. He was greatly influenced by American music, especially Bob Dylan, and the messages conveyed in his songs. Ariel began writing songs inspired by Dylan. Wanting a break from Kibbutz life, Ariel moved to the United States, working as a Shaliach to the labour Zionist Habonim Youth Movement. The family stayed in Detroit for about two years and eventually returned to Israel. During their time in Detroit, their son Shachar was born. After living in the United States for some time, Ariel returned to Israel and decided to create folk rock-inspired music. He fought in the Yom Kippur War in the Suez Canal and returned to Mishmarót after the war. Between 1978 and 1988, he released his first three LPs. The first album's title, Shirey Chag Umoed Venofel, is a play on words of the term "Shirèy Chag uMoèd" which means "holiday songs". The album's title could also mean, in Hebrew, "songs for circling, tripping, and falling". Upon his return to Israel, Ariel tried to blend in Tel Aviv as a cinema and music figure, but without much success. During the Yom Kippur War, Ariel served in Sinai as part of the 416th Paratroopers Brigade, 247th Division. After the ceasefire, his unit captured the city of Suez. During his extended reserve service following the ceasefire, he wrote the song "A quiet night passed over our forces in Suez", expressing his perspective on the reality and events experienced on the front. After the war, he returned to Kibbutz Mishmarot and to his family. In 1976, his son Ehud was born. He continued to create his art, and in 1978, he released his first album, "Holiday and Festival Songs and Falls," which includes, among others, the songs "Shir Ke'ev," "Tikva," "Erol," "Terminal Luminette," "Mazkeret LaMa'onenim", and "Dr. Hithakhamut". In the years 1983–1985, he served as the secretary of Kibbutz Mishmarot. His second album, "...VeGalui Einayim", was released in 1984. It includes, among others, his famous songs "Laila Shaket Avar Al Kochothaneu BeSuez", written after the Yom Kippur War, "Sdot Goldberg" (according to some interpretations, the song is a response to Leah Goldberg's "At Telchi B'Sadeh"), "Mahleket Musar Heskel", and "Shir Tat Muda Zmani". In late 1985, shortly after completing his role as the kibbutz secretary, Ariel's family decided to leave Kibbutz Mishmarot. Initially, they requested a two-year leave, and by the end of 1987, they announced their permanent departure from the kibbutz. The family moved to Tel Aviv and settled in an apartment on 70 Hertzel Street. In 1987, he released a book of poems that included songs from his first two albums, songs he wrote for various artists, and songs that were intended for his next album. In October 1987, during the Sukkot holiday, Meir Ariel embarked on a concert tour in the United States called "Meir Ariel's Election Journey." For this tour, he was accompanied by the band "Karizma" - Yehuda Eder (guitars, vocals, and voices), Miki Shaviv (guitars, bass, vocals, and voices), Ra' Mocheach (drums), and Yoav Kutner (conga drums and vocals). The tour lasted a week, during which the band performed across the country, from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat. The tour was documented and released as a film directed by Ido Sela. In April 1988, he released his third album, "Yerukot" (the adjective "green" in feminine plural; on the album sleeve, the name "Yellow Blue" was printed in English). During the recording period, his father died, and Meir Ariel chose to dedicate the album to his memory, particularly with the song "Neshel HaNachash," which became the biggest hit from this album. Other well-known songs from this album include "Midrash Yonati," a protest song against the injustice caused by contemporary Judaism in the Land of Israel, "Eich Lif'amim Ani", and "Peluga BeKav". In 1990, he released an extended play called "We Passed Pharaoh," from which the title track achieved particular success. In 1991, he independently published a poetry book titled "The Snake Bit." The book included several of his songs as well as three short prose pieces. In August 1991, on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary, the couple celebrated their silver wedding. The ceremony included a second wedding canopy, and Ariel wrote a new vow, which the couple signed. A week later, the couple was arrested after police found drugs in their home, including cocaine. Tirtza claimed that the cocaine was received as a gift. Ariel stated that he has been using hashish for over 25 years (as he wrote in his song "Narkoman Tzibur": "I myself am addicted to a piece of hashish"), but has never needed hard drugs. The trial took place about six months later. The couple admitted to growing and possessing cannabis, hashish, and cocaine. Ariel was sentenced to six months of community service, two years of probation, and a fine of 3,000 NIS, while Tirtza received two years of probation and a fine of 1,500 NIS. Ariel conducted his community service at the Central Library for the Blind, recording books. In September 1993, his fourth album, "Zir'ei Kayitz" (Summer Seeds), produced by Shalom Hanoch, was released. The album's successful songs included "Zir'ei Kayitz," "Lo Titfoss Oti", and "Kotzim Aleph". In March 1993, he presented the solo performance "Yesh Torem" as part of the "Theatroneto" festival. The performance ran twice during the festival and included songs and connecting segments written by Ariel, forming the basis for the album "Rishumei Pecham" (Coal Sketches). "Rishumei Pecham," his fifth full album, was released in June 1995. It was a unique concept album with songs that Ariel referred to as more "difficult" to listen to. Among other tracks, the album included the songs "Shamati She'at Nimtzet", "Bas Babalon", and "Chayat HaBarzel", in which he critically addressed technological progress on one hand and moral decline on the other, inspired by the vision of Daniel about the Iron Animal. In May 1996, during a performance