Dudu Aharon

Dudu Aharon
Dudu Aharon in 2015
Background information
Birth name	דודו אהרון
Born	(1984-12-23) 23 December 1984 (age 39) Kiryat Ekron, Israel
Origin	Israel
Genres	Pop Hebrew Mizrahi
Occupations	Singer-songwriter Musician Composer
Years active	2007–present
Website	dudu-aharon.co.il

Dudu Aharon (Hebrew: דודו אהרון; born on 23 December 1984) is a singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and reality television star from Israel.

Aharon is considered one of Israel's leading singers in Mizrahi music since the first decade of the 21st century. He is highly regarded both as a singer and for the songs he writes and composes for other artists in the Mediterranean music genre. He released his first album, "First Love" in 2007, quickly gaining popularity and amassing a large fan base.

In 2010, he won the title of Singer of the Year on the Reshet Gimmel radio station and Channel 24, and his song "Tagidu La", which he wrote to a Bulgarian tune, won Song of the Year in the Hebrew Song Chart of the Decade (2010–2019). In 2012, Aharon won the title of Composer of the Year from ACUM.^[1]

Aharon began his musical career in his childhood at the "Hadar Yosef" synagogue in Kiryat Ekron. Aharon himself revealed a video from his bar mitzvah where the singer Eyal Golan brought him on stage to sing and was surprised by his talent.^[2] As is customary in Yemenite tradition, Aharon learned the cantillation of the Torah after school with a melamed.^[3] As he grew older, he became the resident singer at the "Adom 6" club at Kanot Junction and began performing at clubs and events across the country. He participated in the show "The Next King," broadcast on the Breeze Channel of Yes, in the same season as Rafael Mirila and Ninet Tayeb. Aharon placed second in the competition.

During his military service, Aharon served in the Border Guard Band and also performed at the "Adom 6" club. In 2005, Aharon signed a professional work contract with his manager, Eyal Malka, the owner of the venue.^[4] After finishing his military service, Aharon released his first single, "My Unit," which received extensive airplay and became a hit on Mizrahi music radio programs. He followed it up with other singles such as "Feel Like a King" and "First Love," and thanks to their success, his appearances at clubs and events increased. In 2007, he released his first album, "First Love." As part of his effort to reach a large audience, the album was distributed for free at intersections and near IDF bases to soldiers. The album was highly successful, and its songs were warmly received on radio shows.

On 14 July 2009, Aharon released his second album titled "Everything Is From Above," which included the hits "Everything Is From Above," "Feather in the Wind," and "Not the Same." In December, the album achieved gold album status for selling more than 20,000 copies. Aharon received an award for 500,000 mobile downloads of his songs during his performance at the Tel Aviv Culture Hall. This performance was recorded and released on a CD and DVD titled "Dudu Aharon – Everything Is From Above – Live at Tel Aviv Culture Hall."^[5]

In December 2009, he released the song "Lo Mivater" ("Not Giving Up"), which was included in his third album.

In January 2010, Aharon renewed the song "Ahavnu" ("We Loved") as part of the project "Avoda Ivrit," dedicated to the memory of Uzi Hitman. In March of that year, Aharon released the single "Tagidu La" ("Tell Her"), which he wrote to a tune by Bulgarian musician Konstantinos Pantzis. The song reached first place in radio airplay for several weeks and topped various music charts. On 30 May 2010, Aharon released the single "Kesef VeAlkohol" ("Money and Alcohol"), which he wrote to an Armenian melody. On 6 July, he released the single "Milim Pshutot" ("Simple Words"), which he wrote and composed, and it also reached first place in radio airplay. On 5 August 2010, he released the single "Ahava LeLo Gvulot" ("Love Without Limits"), which he wrote himself and composed together with Moshe Peretz, the final single before releasing his third album. Due to the album's success, Aharon was awarded the title of "Singer of the Year" in the Annual Hebrew Song Chart held by Channel 24 and Reshet Gimmel. The song "Tagidu La" won "Song of the Year."

On 11 August 2010, Aharon released his third album, "Milim Pshutot" ("Simple Words"), which included the singles "Lo Mivater," "Tagidu La," "Kesef VeAlkohol," "Milim Pshutot," "Ahava LeLo Gvulot," and "Bachur Ragesh" ("Sensitive Guy"). On that date, Aharon performed for the first time at Caesarea Amphitheater and received a five-time Platinum award for over 200,000 mobile downloads of the album's singles.^[6] After a year, the album achieved double platinum status for selling over 80,000 copies. Following two consecutive days of performances, a DVD titled "Dudu Aharon at Caesarea" was released, documenting the performance. Additionally, Aharon collaborated with singer Zehava Ben, performing two duets with her titled "HaLev Yodea" ("The Heart Knows") and "Pa'am BaChayim" ("Once in a Lifetime").

On 21 November 2010, Aharon released the single "Lo Yafridu Beynenu" ("They Won't Separate Us") from his fourth album.

On 23 December 2010, Aharon performed for the first time at Menora Mivtachim Arena on his 26th birthday.

On 11 January 2011, he released the second single from his fourth album, "At Ishti" ("You're My Wife"), a quiet ballad written and composed by Yaakov Lamai and Tal Segev. In March, he released the third single from his fourth album, "Beautiful," which he performed at the Miss Israel pageant that year. On 21 April 2011, Aharon released the fourth single from his fourth album, "Ima Yekara" ("Dear Mother"), which he wrote and composed.

On 25 May 2011, he released an upbeat single from his fourth album, "Kama Osher" ("So Much Happiness"), which he wrote and composed himself.

On 8 December 2011, his fourth album, Ein Kmo Ahava ("There’s No Love Like This"), was released, featuring hits such as "Romantic or Sympathetic," "Ima Yekara," "Ein Kmo Ahava," "Bo'i Nedaber" ("Come, Let's Talk"), and "Beini LeBeinach" ("Between You and Me"). Within a few months, the album achieved platinum album status.^[7]

In 2011, Aharon was awarded the ACUM prize for Composer of the Year.^[1]

On 25 June 2012, he launched his fifth album, Gibor ("Hero"), which included 15 songs, such as the singles "Hine Hi Nichneset" ("Here She Comes") and "Al Tisgri Li TaDelet" ("Don't Close the Door on Me"). Aharon wrote and composed most of the songs on the album.^[8]

That same year, Aharon and his personal manager, Eyal Malka, opened the "Sense" event hall, which was built on the former location of the "Adom 6" club—where Aharon had launched his career.^[9]

During 2012, Aharon appeared as himself in the second episode of the Israeli television series "Married with Kids." Later that year, he joined the judging panel for the third season of the reality TV show "Eyal Golan Koreh Lach" ("Eyal Golan Is Calling You").

On 11 September 2013, his sixth album, Yamim Tovim ("Good Days"), was released, featuring hits such as "HaLev" ("The Heart"), "Kamoch Lo Emtza" ("I Won't Find Another Like You"), "Im Rak Tachzori" ("If Only You'd Return"), "Bayom SheNipagesh" ("The Day We'll Meet"), and the title track "Yamim Tovim." That same year, Aharon was awarded the ACUM prize for Composer of the Year.^[1]

On 7 June 2015, his seventh album, Terminal 3, was released, featuring hit songs like the title track, which became a major hit, along with "Natati Lach Lalechet" ("I Let You Go"), "Mashehu Kore Po" ("Something's Happening Here"), "Oberet Muli" ("Passing By Me"), "Paris or Aroma," and "La'uf Itach" ("Fly With You").

On 4 June 2015, the song "Terminal 3" was named the most-played song of 2015 by ACUM.^[10] The song "Ve’im Hayinu Yachad" ("And If We Were Together") from the album reached the third place in the weekly chart of Media Forest.^[11]

On 14 April 2016, it was first reported that Aharon would release a song for the annual Pride Parade and would perform at the event.^[12] The song, titled "Katzefet Im Tut" ("Whipped Cream with Strawberries"), was officially released on 15 May 2016.^[13]

On 27 June 2016, Aharon released the song "Sam Taba'at Aleha" ("Put a Ring on Her Finger") as a single from his upcoming eighth album. The music video for the song featured clips from his proposal to his partner, Shir Rosenblum.^[14]

On 13 September 2016, he released the single "Yarok VeD'vash" ("Green and Honey"), a quiet ballad, as a single from his eighth album. The music video featured Aharon and his partner, Shir Rosenblum.^[15]

On 14 December 2016, Aharon released the song "Mazal Moznaim" ("Libra") as the fourth single from his eighth album.^[16] The single reached 28th place in the annual chart of Reshet Gimel for the year 5777.

On 30 January 2017, he officially released the song "HaShir Shelach" ("Your Song"), which speaks about his breakup with his fiancée, Shir Rosenblum.^[17] Aharon performed the song for the first time in front of his fans two days earlier at a concert held at the "Reading 3" event hall in Tel Aviv Port.^[18]

On 2 April 2017, Aharon released a successful duet with Lior Narkis titled "Hagiga BeYisrael" ("Celebration in Israel"), and three months later, the two performed together at Caesarea Amphitheater and later in Beersheba. On 27 August, he released the song "Kol HaBanot" ("All the Girls"), which he co-wrote and composed with Dolev Ram and Penn Hazut. On 7 October, he released the song "HaKol Biglal HaGa'agu'a" ("Everything Because of the Longing"), and on 16 December, he released two singles, "Choshev Aleha" ("Thinking About Her") and "Rak Ahava Medaberet" ("Only Love Speaks"), ahead of his winter concert tour and before the release of his eighth album scheduled for March.

On 23 December, Aharon celebrated his 33rd birthday during a concert at Reading 3, where he hosted artists such as Moshe Peretz, Lior Narkis, and Itay Levy, each performing a duet with him on stage.

In May 2019, Aharon released his eighth album, HaSimcha Shelanu ("Our Joy"). The album contains 20 songs, including hits like "Sam Taba'at Aleha," "Yarok VeD'vash," "HaSimcha Shelanu" (featuring Itay Levy), "24 Shaot" (featuring Osher Cohen), "HaLev Shelach BeMamtina" (featuring Ofek HaMalach), "Mazal Moznaim," and "HaShir Shelach."

In January 2020, Aharon released the first song from his upcoming album, "Mabul" ("Flood"), with lyrics by Noam Horev, music by Alon Peretz, and production by Tamir Zur.

On 27 June 2023, Aharon released the single "Laga'at BaShamayim" ("Touch the Sky"), which reached sixth place in the Hebrew chart of Media Forest. On 29 October, he released the single "Yesh Od Olam" ("There’s Another World"), dedicated to the wives of fallen soldiers from the Operation Iron Swords, which reached fifth place in the weekly chart of Media Forest.

On 17 March 2024, Aharon released the album Kochav Gadol ("Big Star"), which was originally planned for release in early October 2023.^[19]

In addition to his own songs, Aharon has collaborated with various singers and other artists on their tracks. Among these collaborations, he wrote the hits "Ben Shel Melech" ("Son of a King") and "Yaldati" ("My Girl") for Kobi Peretz, the songs "Metuka" ("Sweet") and "Neshama" ("Soul") for Lior Narkis, and worked with Moshe Peretz on the hit song "Kmo HaSheket" ("Like the Silence"). He also wrote and composed the song "Holech Ad HaSof" ("Going All the Way") for Shar-El, penned the song "Le'ehov Otach" ("To Love You") for Elico, and performed a duet titled "Pa'am BeChayim" ("Once in a Lifetime") with singer Zehava Ben, which he wrote and composed himself. Aharon also composed several songs for Regev Hod, including "HaTov SheBa'Olam" ("The Best in the World"), "Bo'i Elai" ("Come to Me"), and "HaYofi Shelach" ("Your Beauty"). He participated in the "Lev HaMedina" ("Heart of the Nation") project, during which a group of singers from the Mizrahi genre performed the song "Lev HaMedina."

Additionally, Aharon composed the song "Tachzori Kvar HaBayta" ("Come Home Already") for Eyal Golan's album Helek MeChayai ("Part of My Life"). In 2012, the two recorded a duet titled "Memakeret" ("Addictive"). In 2015, Aharon collaborated with singer Mike Sharif on a duet titled "HaKol Kore BeTel Aviv" ("Everything Happens in Tel Aviv"), which was included in Aharon's album Terminal 3. The song achieved significant success.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2011, the reality show Chai Be-LA LA Land premiered, in which Aharon appeared alongside Zehava Ben, Eti Levi, Alon De Loco, Avihu Shabat, and Julieta. In the show, the artists competed against one another in Los Angeles for an international recording contract with the Geffen Records label, which was promised to the winner. Throughout the show, Aharon received praise for his singing voice and for writing and composing his own songs. Additionally, the show highlighted Aharon's talent for mimicking other singers from the Mizrahi music genre.^[20]

In 2012, Aharon served as a judge on the reality show Eyal Golan Kore Lach ("Eyal Golan is Calling You"), which aired on Channel 24.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2013, the second season of the show The Bachelor premiered, where Aharon searched for his future wife from among 15 women competing for his affection. He eventually chose Neta Danino, and the two dated for several months before breaking up.^[21] Aharon faced criticism for his participation in the show, with claims that his motivations were financial rather than a genuine desire to find long-term love. Neta Danino, the show's winner, also alleged that Aharon had been in contact with his ex-girlfriend, Idan Zur, during filming. Aharon denied these allegations.^[22] In 2015, Aharon appeared in an episode of the TV show Knockout.^{[citation needed]}

In 2021, Aharon participated in the VIP season of MKR The Winning Kitchen alongside his wife, Natalie, and they finished in second place.^{[citation needed]}

Aharon grew up in Kiryat Ekron, and after gaining fame, he moved to the nearby city of Rehovot.^{[citation needed]}

Aharon was in a relationship for over nine years, after which he entered several other relationships. In June 2015, it was reported that he had moved to Givatayim with his partner, Shir Rosenblum.^[23]

In January 2016, it was reported that Aharon had ended his professional contract with his manager, Eyal Malka.^[24] The breakup gained widespread media attention when Aharon's mother appeared live on the Levanon radio show "Arab Mediterranean Evening," where she publicly criticised Aharon's partner, accusing her of distancing him from his parents.^[25] The incident was widely covered in the media, including a televised ritual of exorcism at Aharon's parents' home, along with interviews with people close to the family.^[26] Additionally, Aharon canceled a scheduled performance at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv Port and became involved in legal proceedings against Malka.^[27] Aharon did not give interviews during this period but later issued a statement saying that he had reconciled with his parents and criticized the media for their extensive coverage of the matter.^[28] On 30 April 2016, Aharon announced his engagement to Shir Rosenblum on his Facebook page.^[29] In January 2017, the couple broke up.^[30]

In 2018, Aharon married Natalie Levy, and in January 2019, their first daughter was born. In 2022, their second daughter was born. The family lives in Herzliya.^[31]

Aharon is a fan of the football team Beitar Jerusalem.^{[citation needed]}

• Music of Israel

• https://web.archive.org/web/20101207021029/http://charts.co.il/article.asp?id=1532
• https://web.archive.org/web/20110913230408/http://www.charts.co.il/nflash.asp?id=1045
• http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3780200,00.html