Desert Wind (album)
Encyclopedia
Desert Wind was the 1989 album of Ofra Haza
, who was already one the most popular singers in Israel
. However, she was unknown in the rest of the world. It was the song "Im Nin'Alu
" and the following album Shaday that brought her to the attention of Europe and the United States. Desert Wind was therefore more oriented toward the international market.
The main language of the album is in English, however Ofra also sings in Arabic, Hebrew, and the ancient language of Aramaic. The album has a very oriental feeling, since it contains ancient Yemen
ite songs. The sound is a mainstream form of dance music with elements of synth pop and, on track 8, an influence of house music
. The album ends with "Kaddish
," a Jewish prayer that, as Haza writes, is meant to hold all the world's sorrows on the wings of an angel. The song has a short English-language introduction. However, the main part of the prayer is in Aramaic.
Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
, who was already one the most popular singers in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. However, she was unknown in the rest of the world. It was the song "Im Nin'Alu
Im Nin'Alu
"Im Nin'alu" is a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that has been set to music and sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and others...
" and the following album Shaday that brought her to the attention of Europe and the United States. Desert Wind was therefore more oriented toward the international market.
The main language of the album is in English, however Ofra also sings in Arabic, Hebrew, and the ancient language of Aramaic. The album has a very oriental feeling, since it contains ancient Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
ite songs. The sound is a mainstream form of dance music with elements of synth pop and, on track 8, an influence of house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
. The album ends with "Kaddish
Kaddish
Kaddish is a prayer found in the Jewish prayer service. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the liturgy different versions of the Kaddish are used functionally as separators between sections of the service...
," a Jewish prayer that, as Haza writes, is meant to hold all the world's sorrows on the wings of an angel. The song has a short English-language introduction. However, the main part of the prayer is in Aramaic.
Track listing
- "Wish Me Luck" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:10
- "Ya Ba Ye" (Aloni, Haza) - 5:06
- "Middle East" (Aloni, Haza, Mardin) - 4:37
- "I Want to Fly" (Aloni, Amram, Haza) - 4:26
- "Slave Dream" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:46
- "Taw Shi" (Aloni, Dolby, Haza) - 3:28
- "Mm'mma (My Brothers Are There)" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:23
- "In Ta" (Aloni, Haza) - 5:50
- "Fatamorgana (Mirage)" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:59
- "Da'asa" (Aloni, Haza) - 2:41
- "KaddishKaddishKaddish is a prayer found in the Jewish prayer service. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the liturgy different versions of the Kaddish are used functionally as separators between sections of the service...
" (Aloni, Haza) - 4:34
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 | 156 |
Personnel
- Ofra HazaOfra HazaOfra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
- lead vocals - Fonzi ThorntonFonzi ThorntonFonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
- backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
track 3 - Lani Groves - backing vocals track 3
- Lisa FischerLisa FischerLisa Fischer is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register, Fischer has been recognized as one of...
- backing vocals track 3 - Mark Stevens - backing vocals track 3
- Rachele Cappelli - backing vocals track 3
- Kadya (Shoshana) Haza - vocals track 9
- Joe MardinJoe MardinJoe Mardin is a music producer, arranger and engineer from New York City. He is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is the son of producer Arif Mardin...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programming, vocoderVocoderA vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
, conductor strings, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals - Omar Faruk Tekbilek - baglama, oud (ut)
- Gene Orloff - concertmasterConcertmasterThe concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
- Iki Levy - drums and percussion programming, cymbalCymbalCymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
, loops, goblet drum (darbuka solo), - Yaron Bachar - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Andy PaleyAndy PaleyAndy Paley is a noted record producer and musician who has been active since the late 1960s. His work includes stints as a producer for such noted musicians as Madonna, the Ramones, Jonathan Richman, Debbie Harry, Brian Wilson and Jerry Lee Lewis....
- additional guitars - Paul Pesco - guitar
- Adi Dgani - keyboards
- Dario Malki - keyboards
- Rodrigo Manuel - percussion
- Larry Treadwell - guitar
- Thomas DolbyThomas DolbyThomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
- keyboards, drum programming, backing vocals - Nyle Stynner - windsynth
- Joshua Fried - keyboards, drums, programming, musical shoe tree
- Dario Malki - keyboards
Production
- Arif MardinArif MardinArif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
- record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
tracks 1 to 3, 7, 8, musical arranger - Bezalel Aloni - producer tracks 4, 5, 10, 11, musical arranger
- Joe MardinJoe MardinJoe Mardin is a music producer, arranger and engineer from New York City. He is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is the son of producer Arif Mardin...
- producer tracks 1 to 3, 6, 8, musical arranger - Ofra HazaOfra HazaOfra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
- producer tracks 4, 5, 10, 11, musical arranger - Thomas DolbyThomas DolbyThomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
- producer tracks 5, 6, musical arranger - Joshua Fried - musical arranger, additional production
- Scott Canto - sound engineer
- Chris Trevitt - sound engineer
- Metal Dan Wood - sound engineer
- Dave Lebowitz - sound engineer
- Glenn Zimet - sound engineer
- Joe Mardin - sound engineer
- Rich July - sound engineer
- Michael O'Reilly - sound engineer
- Rod Hui - sound engineer
- Peter Robins - sound engineer
- Ziv Sidi - sound engineer
- Brian Malouf - sound engineer
- John Jackson - sound engineer
- Toby Wright - sound engineer
- Ted Jensen - audio masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Recorded at Green Street Recording, NYC, "Z" Sound Studios, NYC and Can Am Studios, Tarzana, CA. Vocals and strings on track 1 recorded at SoundTrack and Clinton Studios, NYC. Mixed at Green Street Studio, NYC. Mastered at Sterling Sound, NYC.