The Next Jewish Star 2011: We Have a Winner!

Mexican singer Adam Kleinberg was chosen as the winner of the 2011 Hallelujah singing competition Thursday night in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. The team of judges, headed by veteran singer Yehoram Gaon and comprised of well-known Israeli musicians and producers such as Kobi Oshrat, Noam Gilor and DJ Skazi awarded Kleinberg the $8000 prize and the opportunity to record a duet with an Israeli artist. Kleinberg’s runner up is Oliver Ghnassia from Brussels, 19.

“I am so excited to be in Israel, it is a special feeling for me,” said Kleinberg after the contest. “The Hallelujah project was an amazing gift and coming in the first place is a dream come true.”

Hallelujah global Jewish singing contest was formed in 1992 by Eitan Gafni, and ran for three years, but a lack of funds led to its cancellation. In the beginning of 2011, Gafni decided to put his song contest out there again, after a friend of his son’s, who was a teenager at the time of the original contest ,returned home to Israel from an extended stay in Australia and encouraged him to help young Jews in the Diaspora reconnect to Israel through song.

Seven months later, and 30 finalists, ages 16-26, representing Jewish communities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, France, Australia, Argentina, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, England, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, arrived in Israel for a three-week tour of the country, and to work on their songs ahead of the competition.From these contestants ‘The Next Jewish Star’ was crowned, and now is headed for performances in Jewish communities around the globe.

A DVD of the contest is also being put together for distribution in Jewish venues around the world.

Contest plans for next year include holding auditions and semifinals in Jewish communities in Los Angeles, New York, Paris and London.

The Hit List: This Week’s Hottest Entertainment in Israel (Week 35, 2011)

Israel has gone on a Smurf-craze since ‘The Smurfs’ was released, and this week, even when the movie grossed a lot less than the weeks before, it’s still very high above the average grossing for a #1 Israeli movie. It has made more than $600,000, leaving ‘Rise of Planet of the Apes’ as a non-mover at number 2. ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde, is this week’s highest new entry in the blockbusters’ chart.

In music, while there’s no change at the top 5 in the international air-play chart, there’s still a new number 1. The bizarre ‘Pata Pata’ gains 90 spins on the Israeli radio stations this week, and is brought to the top of the chart. In the domestic air-play chart, however, there’re a lot of changes. Last week’s number 1, Idan Yaniv, is kicked out of the top five, while former Israeli idol Idan Amedi is making a new entry at number 1, and there’s another new entry at #3 for the highly successful Mediterranean male vocalist, Moshe Peretz.

In television, we gave you a glimpse of what Israelis are watching on the biggest commercial channels in Israel, and besides the weekly news there’re two shows that are actually the biggest and most talked about at the moment.

The Israeli version of ‘Master Chef’ which airs twice a week and amazingly gets the #1 and #2 spots, and new original comedy ‘Sabrey Maranan,’ that follows the big Jewish family of a newly wedded couple. The comedy’s secret ingredients are its actors, most of them hugely famous in Israel for years, both on TV and in theater: Yehoram Gaon, Sandra Sade, Tuvya Tzafir and Yona Elian.

Music: Airplay Chart – International

1. Milk and Sugar Feat. Miriam Makeba and Jungle Brother – Hi-A Ma (Pata Pata)

2. Bruno Mars – Marry You
3. Sak Noel – Loca People
4. Adele – Set Fire to the Rain
5. Maroon 5 Feat. Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger

Music: Airplay Chart – Domestic (Israeli)

1. Idan Amedi – ‘Elayich’ (‘To You’)

2. Avihu Shabbat – ‘Ei Efshar Itach’ (‘Impossible with You’)
3. Moshe Peretz – ‘Elef Pe’amim’ (‘A Thousand Times’)
4. Yhuda Poliker – ‘Puma Puma’
5. Adir Getz – ‘Boey Nered El Hayam’ (‘Let’s Go Down to the Beach’)

Movies: Box Office Chart

1. The Smurfs ($652,237)

‘The Smurfs’ Israeli Promo: This is how it sounds in Hebrew

2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($235,427)
3. Horrible Bosses ($82,932)
4. Cowboys & Aliens ($70,616)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger ($69,749)

Rating: This Week’s Biggest Shows in Israel (Domestic, Commercial channels)

1. Master Chef – Israel (Wednesday) (740,000 Viewers)
2. Master Chef – Israel (Thursday) (705,000 Viewers)
3. Channel 2 Weekly News (Saturday) (667,000 Viewers)
4. Sabrey Maranan (Saturday) (665,000 Viewers)

5. Sabrey Maranan (Wednesday) (660,000 Viewers)

 

(Music Charts are provided by Media Forest, TV Chart by Keshet-Channel 2, Box Office chart is powered by Box Office Mojo)

Sarai Givaty Covers Bruno Mars

While R&B Sensation Bruno Mars is currently at #1 with his recent hit ‘Marry You,’ Israeli singer-songwriter-model-actress Sarai Givaty releases a cover of his famous hit ‘Grenade,’ in her native country this week.

Earlier this year, when Sarai toured radio stations in Israel in order to promote her 1st single ‘Paris,’ she performed this song live in several studios. The good responses encouraged her to record the song with talented American producer Michael Wandmacher (“Khursor”) who usually writes music for movies and Television (“Piranha,” “The 6th Day”).

Also this week, Sarai is on the cover of “Pnai Plus” (The ‘Entertainment Weekly’ of Israel), revealing that the first time her music talent was discovered was on the set of an Enrique Iglesias music video. “I was shooting this video with Enrique in 2007, and in between shooting I played the piano that was on set,” she told the magazine. “It really got everyone’s attention there and people wanted me to meet some people in the industry in order to go forward as a musician, and I just went on with it. We formed a band and I toured the clubs in LA. Each night we played there were like
400-500 people in the crowd.”

Idan Raichel at the Martin Luther King Memorial Dedication

Israeli world-music sensation, Idan Raichel, will perform at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication. Raichel will join Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Bebe Winans, Jennifer Hudson, Al Green, India Arie and Jamie Foxx.

The Message in the Music Concert of Civil Rights Era Music started yesterday, August 24, and going through August 28 to celebrate the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Idan Raichel gave his first performance yesterday at a private event, and will give a public performance on Sunday, at the Pre Dedication Musical Event. Tickets are still available here.

“The message in the Music Concert will be an evening to enjoy the sounds of yesterday and be inspired for tomorrow. This concert will pay homage to the vital role Motown music played in the civil rights movement,” said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is the first on the National Mall to honor a man of peace, hope, and color, and will be dedicated on August 28 in a West Potomac Park ceremony on the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Israeli Jouralist Noy Alooshe Gets an International Wikipedia Page

Congratulations to Israeli journalist and also YouTube sensation, Noy Alooshe, who launched his international Wikipedia page, since the latest revolution in Libya raises his “Zenga Zenga” song back to the daily talks.

Alooshe was the latest Israeli to make waves in the Arab world, when he turned Muammar al Gaddafi’s speech into a club track and  turned it into a YouTube sensation overnight.

As a result of his success from the video ‘Zenga Zenga’, Alooshe shared that he is also now receiving many commercial offers: “These days are crazy because advertisers are calling me and wanting me to do productions for them,” he says, ” Music companies want to sell the song on iTunes.” Alooshe has also received antisemitic death threats, though he said he is not too concerned since “at the moment they remain on the Internet.”

Apart from Zenga Zenga, his by-  far best known work, he also spoofed Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in front of  Congress to the tune of “We No Speak Americano” as “Bi Bi pro Americano”and is a part of the group ‘Hovevey Zion’ (‘Lovers of Zion’) alongside the successful producer and DJ Dor Dekel.

The Hit List: This Week’s Hottest Entertainment in Israel (Week 34, 2011)

Here’s another weekly report of the biggest songs, movies and TV Shows in Israel: In Movies, ‘The Smurfs’ continues to rule at the box office this weekend as well (Israelis LOVE The Smurfs!) as grossing almost $2.5 million in its 2 weeks running, which is a lot for the Israeli market. ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ makes a nice entry into #2, pushing the most successfull comedy of the year, ‘Bridesmaids,’ out of the top 5.

In Music there’s a new entry straight into #1 on the domestic chart, Idan Yaniv, the new prince of Mediterranean music, with his self-titled song, pushes Adir Getz down one slot to number 2. On the International music scene there’s no change at the top, aside from Adele’s new single, ‘Set Fire to the Rain,’ which has peaked at number one in Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands and is now going up to number 2 in Israel, aiming to get to the top spot next week. Also, ‘The Voice’s judges, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera, are making their way to the top 5 this week with ‘Move Like Jagger.’

Finally, we received the top 5 TV shows on cable, and it’s no surprise that ‘House’ is in the lead after a few members of its cast paid a visit to the Holy Land earlier this year, but it is a surprise to see 2 Showtime dramas in the top 5.

Music: Airplay Chart – International

1. Bruno Mars – Marry You
2. Adele – Set Fire to the Rain

3. Milk and Sugar Feat. Miriam Makeba and Jungle Brother – Hi-A Ma (Pata Pata)
4. Sak Noel – Loca People
5. Maroon 5 Feat. Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger

Music: Airplay Chart – Domestic (Israeli)

1. Idan Yaniv – Mi Im Lo Idan Yaniv (Who If Not Idan Yaniv)

2. Adir Getz – Boey Nered El Hayam (Let’s Go Down to the Beach)
3. Subliminal Feat. Liran Aviv – Me..Ohav (In…Love)
4. Yehuda Poliker – Puma Puma
5. Avihu Shabbat – E Efshar Itach (Impossible with You)

Movies: Box Office Chart

1. The Smurfs ($860,794)

2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($262,827)
3. Captain America: The First Avenger ($145,709)
4. Horrible Bosses ($124,366)
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part Two)($111,029)

Television: Biggest TV Shows (Cable)

1. House MD (Fox)

2. CSI (CBS)
3. The Big C (Showtime)
4. Mad Men (AMC)
5. The Borgias (Showtime)

(Music Charts are provided by Media Forest, TV Chart by Hot Cable TV Entertainment, Box Office chart is powered by Box Office Mojo)

The Hit List: This Week’s Hottest Entertainment in Israel (Week 33, 2011)

NEW AT ABBANIBI.COM: The hits of Israel. Weekly report of the biggest songs, Movies and TV Shows in Israel. What is currently a hit in the holy land?

Music: Airplay Chart – International

1. Bruno Mars – Marry You
2. Sak Noel – Loca People
3. Milk and Sugar Feat. Miriam Makeba and Jungle Brother – Hi-A Ma (Pata Pata)
4. Adele – Set Fire to the Rain
5. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

Music: Airplay Chart – Domestic (Israeli)

1. Adir Getz – Boey Nered El Hayam (Let’s Go Down to the Beach)
2. Yehuda Poliker – Puma Puma
3. Avihu Shabat – Ei Efshar Itach (Can’t do Without You)
4. Subliminal Feat. Liran Aviv – Me…Ohav (In Love)
5. Smadar Akrai – Lo Hitkavanti (I didn’t Mean to)

Movies: Box Office Chart

1. The Smurfs ($935,406)
2. Captain America: The First Avanger ($251,527)
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 ($152,069)
4. Horrible Bosses ($148,363)
5. Bridesmades ($113,037)

Television: Weekly Ratings (coming soon…)

(Music Charts are provided by Media Forest, Box Office chart is powered by Box Office Mojo)

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Remixed In New Video

By Yanir Dekel

Over the past few years, Israeli journalist Noy Alooshe has become well known for turning heavy current affairs issues into ringtones. So it’s no surprise that he’s transformed a recent interview of Benjamin Netanyahu into a major club hit that has been exploding in Israel and now, again, is making headlines internationally.

Alooshe’s rise to fame as a jack of all trades started back in 2006 when he formed “Hovevey Zion” with his high school friend, DJ and Producer Dor Dekel and released a song called “I Want Girls” (“Rotze Banot”), which later became one of the biggest hits of 2007. The duo worked together for a few more years, producing and remixing songs for other Israeli artists, as well as releasing original material of their own.

Earlier this year, Alooshe gained brief international notoriety when he turned one of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s speeches into a song entitled “Zenga Zenga”, which became a hit in the Arab world, especially in Syria – an enemy of Israel – where people didn’t care that the song was made by an Israeli.

A few weeks ago, as thousands of Israelis started demonstrating against the rising cost of living and the growing gap between rich and poor, Hovevey Zion released the ‘demonstration title track’ called ‘Revolution’ (‘Mahapecha’). Now that the demonstrations have become a very significant issue in Israeli society, Alooshe is mixing excerpts from an interview with Netanyahu with images of the demonstrators. In the interview, Netanyahu claimed that unlike its neighboring countries, Israel would not see large scale demonstrations against the government.

“This remix is an attempt to give voice to the idea of the demonstrations,” Alooshe tells AbbaNibi exclusively. “I was just waiting to get something ‘good’ out of Netanyahu. The original interview, with Dana Weiss [major national news reporter], surfaced about a week ago, and I knew I’d do something with it, I just waited for the protest itself and the voices from the street, to create a kind of dialogue between Netanyahu and the protestors.”

Actress Noa Tishby Releases a New Single in Israel

By Yanir Dekel

You have probably seen Noa Tishby before as guest-star in a lot of American hit TV shows, like “NCIS,” “Nip / Tuck,” “Charmed” and many more. She also played one of Matthew McConaughey’s ex-girlfriends in the 2009 blockbuster “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” Tishby is also responsible for adapting the Israeli TV series “In Treatment” and producing the American show on HBO. Now she’s going back to her roots and starring in a new TV series in Israel.

“2.3 a Week” is a new drama which premiered on Sunday July 24 on Channel 10 in Israel, where Noa plays a famous singer, who’s married and has an affair with a bachelor soundman, played by Ori Pfeffer (who recently finished filming “The Iceman” in Hollywood, where he plays opposite James Franco and Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro). Parallel to that story, the new TV drama tells another 3 stories, all revolving around love, relationships and couplehood.

For the show, Noa has recorded a song that was released earlier this week in Israel, entitled “It Doesn’t Feel the Same” (“Ze Lo Margish Oto Davar”), produced by Johnny Goldstein, half of the new international duo, TYP.

This is not the first time Tishby released music. In 1996 she released an album under the name “Nona”, which was all in English and included a cover of Elvis Costello’s “Alison”. “Swim” was the second single off of this album, for which there was a music video produced – and here it is.

Perez Hilton Goes Disco!

By Yanir Dekel

A WHILE AGO WE TOLD YOU about the hot new video from ‘The Young Professionals’.Now internationally famous gossip blogger Perez Hilton makes sure the whole world will hear about it too.

“Check out the super rad D.I.S.C.O.,” he wrote on his blog. “Kanye is gonna love this! And the music video is so fucking cool! Love! Love! Love!!!!”

‘The Young Professionals’ is an international pop-club project by two Israeli musicians: famous solo singer Ivri Lider, whose hits have been constantly playing on Israeli radio for over a decade, and up & coming music producer Johnny Goldstein, who has been considered by music critics in Israel as a wonder child.