Hanan Ben Ari

Hanan Ben Ari
Ben-Ari at Menora Mivtachim Arena in 2021.
Ben-Ari at Menora Mivtachim Arena in 2021.
Background information
Born (1988-04-08) April 8, 1988 (age 36)
Karnei Shomron, Israel
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, keyboard
Years active2014–present
LabelsNMC Music, D-Music
Formerly ofHaKolot
SpouseHadassah Ben-Ari (m. 2008, divorced August 2024)
Websitehananbenari.com

Hanan Ben Ari (Hebrew: חנן בן ארי, born 8 April 1988) is an Israeli singer, songwriter, and composer. His debut album, Izun (Balance), released 21 February 2016, was certified gold in Israel with 15,000 copies sold in three months[1] and received heavy radio play on Galgalatz.[2][3][4] He has been noted as one of relatively few religious artists, including Ishay Ribo and Nathan Goshen, who have found success in the secular Israeli mainstream.[5]

Early life

[edit]

Ben Ari grew up in Karnei Shomron, the fifth of six siblings; his father works in the financial sector of Bat Yam, while his mother works in special education.[3][4] He is the nephew of former MK and Otzma Yehudit co-founder Michael Ben-Ari.[2][6][7] Hanan sang in choirs from the age of six, learned keyboard from age 12, and began composing music at age 13.[4] His father sang Iraqi, Egyptian, and Syrian music when he was growing up, and he was first exposed to hip hop around age 15.[4] One of his older brothers, Neria, later left Haredi Judaism.[4]

After graduating high school at 17 via matriculation, Ben-Ari attended a hesder yeshiva in Mitzpe Ramon.[3][4] He also spent time in Gush Katif's Neve Dekalim and witnessed the Israeli disengagement from Gaza, which later inspired his single "Mother".[7] Ben-Ari served in the IDF's Netzah Yehuda Battalion for a year and eight months.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Beginnings and Izun (2014–2016)

[edit]

Prior to a full-time music career, Ben-Ari taught at an alternative high school in Petah Tikva, wrote and edited the religious youth magazine Olam Ketan with his wife, and sang in a Jewish wedding band, Hakolot.[4][3][8][9] In 2013, he collaborated with musicians Yaakov Asraf and Nir Rubin on an educational stage musical called Mitbagrim ("Growing Up"), which ran for over 100 performances.[10][2][3] A performance of Hakolot's song "Vatikh Miriam", composed by Ben Ari, won third place in a national Israeli dance music contest in 2014.[11]

Ben-Ari's debut single, Mimecha Ad Elay ("From You to Myself"), was announced by his uncle in November 2014. The song, whose lyrics reference Song of Songs and other Jewish scripture, was added to the Galgalatz daily playlist,[2][3] where it reached fourth place in the station's weekly ranking and 34th in the station's year-end ranking.[12] Several of his subsequent singles were also placed in heavy rotation on Galgalatz,[4] as well as receiving over a million views each on YouTube.[4] Another single, Hachaim Shelanu Tutim (Our Lives are Strawberries), reached No. 1 on Media Forest's weekly chart[12] and was parodied on the Israeli TV sketch show Eretz Nehederet.[13]

Ben-Ari's debut album, Izun (Balance), was crowdfunded via the website Headstart, where it raised over ₪100,000.[7][14] The album was produced by Eyal Mazig.[7] One of the album's tracks, Achim (Brothers), was a duet with Ivri Lider.[4] The album was released on 21 February 2016 via NMC Music, receiving positive reviews and being certified gold in Israel with 15,000 copies sold in three months.[1]

The following month, Ben-Ari played dates in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Herzliya.[4] During the summer, he toured nationally in Israel and performed at Festival HaTamar alongside Shlomi Shaban, Peter Roth, Maor Cohen, Margol, Riki Gal, and Guy & Yahel.[15][16]

Lo Levad (2016–present)

[edit]

Ahead of the release of his second album, Ben Ari released the singles: "Not Alone", "Thanks to you", "On my bed" featuring Moshe Peretz, and "Wikipedia [he]", the lyrics of which he wrote with Keren Peles.[17] The song "Wikipedia" reached the second place in the annual parade of Galglatz for the Hebrew year 5777[18] and the third place in the annual parade of the Network 3 in the same year.[citation needed]

To coincide with Yom Ha'Atzmaut in 2016, Ben-Ari released the song Nigun HaNeshamot (Melody of the Souls). He had originally written the song during the 2006 Lebanon War, and later revisited it during the conflict in Bint Jbeil.[16][6]

He then won ACUM song of the year award in 2017.[19] In December he released the single "What do you want from me", and in March 2018 he released the song "Good News". In April, he released his second album, "Not Alone [he]".

With Maccabi Tel Aviv's victory in the 2018–19 Israeli Premier League, Ben Ari performed the championship song "Yellow rises [he]", as a renewal of the song sung by Ethnix in the 1995–96 Liga Leumit.

In February 2019, he released the single "Aluf ha'olam [he]", composed by Ben Ari in collaboration with Nathan Goshen.[20] In May 2019, he released a single called "Generation [he]", which deals with the intergenerational gap on issues such as faith and preserving tradition. The song provoked mixed reactions in the religious sector and beyond.[21]

In February 2020, he released the music video "If you want [he]". The song came in second place in the annual Hebrew hymn parade of Galgalatz and Ynet and in the mako parade for the Hebrew year of 5780.[22] In these parades he was also chosen as man of the year, along with winning the title of "Singer of the Year" by Tel Aviv Radio [Wikidata].[23] In April, Ben-Ari released the single Ga’aguim Lebnei Adam (Longing for People), inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. and was written together with Rabbi Lior Engelman.[24] He also joined with Kav Lachayim, a child disability and rare illness organization, and with fellow Israeli artists Akiva, Ariel Zilber, Berry Sakharof, Amir Benayoun, and Lior Elmaliah for a rendition of the Sephardic liturgical poem "Refa Tziri".[24] In November, Ben-Ari released the music video "Amen for the children [he]", which went straight to the first place in the Media Forest weekly chart.[citation needed] The song reached the ninth place in the annual parade of Galgalatz in the Hebrew year 5781. For the video, Ben-Ari had posted to Facebook asking fans to send in clips of parents bonding with their children.[25]

In May 2021 he released the single "Dreaming like Yosef [he]" which he wrote together with his brother Neria.[26] The following month he performed on 4 consecutive days at the Caesarea Maritima theater.[27]

Because of the Coronavirus outbreak of 2019, no Akum Award [he] was awarded in 2020. In 2021, Ben Ari retroactively won the Akum Award for "Artist of the Year" and most played song of 2020 for "If You Want".[28]

On September 6, 2021, Ben-Ari won "Singer of the Year" in the annual Kan Gimel [he] song parade.[citation needed] On December 6, 2021, Ben Ari released a music video for his single "Makom [he]".[29]

On March 28, 2022, he was supposed to release the rhythmic song "Ela Bi" but since the shooting attack in Hadera took place the day before, he chose to postpone its release and instead released the song "Besof ze halachan [he]".[30][31] About nine months later, on December 12, 2022, he released the song "Ela Bi".[32] The music video for "Ela Bi" was controversial among religious audiences, as it showed men and women dancing together.[33] In June, the musical "Champion of the World" premiered at the Orna Porat Children's Theater, which included Ben-Ari's songs.[34] That same month, he released the music video single "Hanania [he]" (from a live performance) that talks about his grandfather, after whom he is named.[35][36][37] On July 14, he performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Maccabiah Games in the presence of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and United States President Joe Biden.[38] On September 9, 2022 he released a live album titled Live 2022 [he].

In April 2023, The New York Times listed Ben-Ari as part of a wave of religious singers gaining mainstream popularity in Israel, alongside Ishay Ribo, Nathan Goshen, Akiva Turgeman, and Narkis Reuven-Nagar.[5] The following month, it was announced that Ben-Ari would lead an advertising campaign for El Al Airlines.[39]

Artistry

[edit]

Ben-Ari's music draws from rock, soul, R&B, gospel, hip hop, and Arabic and Mizrahi music.[3][4][14] His sound has drawn comparison to Alicia Keys, while Ben-Ari himself has cited Irish musician Hozier as an influence and expressed admiration for Israeli singer Karolina.[3][4]

Personal life

[edit]

Ben-Ari is married to Hadassah, an editor, content producer, and poet who co-wrote a song with him. The couple met when Hanan was 20 and on leave from the army, through a mutual friend, and married shortly after.[3][4][9] They initially lived in Bnei Brak, near Ponevezh Yeshiva,[9] then lived in Ramat Gan and Or Yehuda,[3][4][9] before settling in Pardes Hanna-Karkur as of 2020.[8][9][40] They have seven children.[41] Ben-Ari's paternal uncle is Michael Ben-Ari,[42] former member of Knesset who has been disqualified from re-running for election due to incitement to racism.[43]

Hanan and his wife announced on the eve of Tu Be'Av (18 August 2024) that they were separating and getting divorced.[44]

Politics

[edit]

Ben-Ari has been vocal about his view that the Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip should be reestablished. In a video posted on TikTok on October 25, 2023, he can be seen singing to soldiers and proclaiming: "Returning to Gush Katif, Playing beach volleyball, Establishing Nova Beach on the Gaza coast, The nation of Israel lives!". [45][46][47]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title English

translation

Details
Izun Balance
Lo Levad Not Alone
  • Released: May 17, 2018
  • Label: D-Music

Live albums

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Title English translation Album
2014 Mimecha Ad Elay From You to Myself Izun
2015 Izun Balance
Ima Im Hayiti Mother
2016 Hachaim Shelanu Tutim Our Lives are Strawberries
Lama Lanu Lirdof Why Do We Chase?
Lo Levad Not Alone Lo Levad
2017 Toda She'at Thank You for Being
Vikipedia Wikipedia
Sod HaMazlot Secret of the Signs Non-album single
Ma Atah Rotzeh Mimeni What Do You Want From Me? Lo Levad
2018 Bshorot Tovot Good News
Laila Tov Shon Good Night Shon Non-album single
2019 Aluf HaOlam World Champion
Dor Generation
Shemesh Sun
2020 Im Tirtzi If You Want
Ga’aguim Lebnei Adam Longing for People
Shaburei Lev Broken Hearted
2021 Amen Al HaYeladim Amen to the Children
Cholem Kmo Yosef Dreaming Like Joseph
Makom Place
2022 B'Sof Zeh HaLachan In the End, It's the Melody
Hananiah Hananiah
Ela Bi But In Me
2023 Atelef Iver Blind Bat

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Director
2016 "Nigun HaNeshama" Yaakov Asraf
"Lo Levad" Yael Taub
2017 "Todah She'at Yaakov Asraf & Sulam Yaakov
"Wikipedia" Tomer Gerbi & Yaniv Schmelzer
"Sod HaMazlot" Hanan Ben-Ari
"Ma Atah Rotzeh Mimeni" Or Barnea
2018 "Laila Tov Shon" Yaakov Asraf & Hanan Ben-Ari
2019 "Aluf HaOlam" Eitan Cohen & Alon Seifert
2020 "Im Tirtzi" Yaakov Asraf
"Ga'aguim Lebnei Adam" Nadav Tzupi
"Shaburei Lev" Yaakov Asraf
"Amen Al HaYeladim" Eitan Cohen
2021 "Cholem Kmo Yosef" Eitan Cohen & Alon Seifert
"Makom" Hai Afik
2022 "Hananiah" Yaakov Asraf
"Ela Bi" Eitan Cohen, Tomer Biran, Alon Seifert

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Leiper, Netanel (2 June 2016). "החיים תותים: חנן בן ארי זכה באלבום זהב על "איזון"". Kippah (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Yashar, Ari (25 November 2014). "Ex-MK's Nephew Astounds with Debut Single". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ofer, Ben (15 June 2015). "רוק בבית הכנסת: המתנחל לשעבר שהפך ליקיר המיינסטרים הישראלי". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Ziv, Nevo (16 February 2016). "ישתדרג שמו" [His Name Will Be Upgraded]. Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Kingsley, Patrick (15 April 2023). "Religious Pop Star Singing of 'God and Faith' Wins Over Secular Israel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b Kempinski, Yoni (5 August 2016). "When the 'Melody of the Souls' came down from Heaven". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d Kempinski, Yoni (19 August 2015). "Listen: Gush Katif Ballad Paves Way to Debut Album". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b Zaid, Liron (21 June 2020). ""חנן בן ארי: "לא חשבתי שאני אהיה זמר בכלל". N12 (in Hebrew). Keshet Media Group. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e Goldfinger, Rivki (17 December 2015). "עניין אישי והפעם עם הדסה בן ארי". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. ^ Marilos, Itamar (22 December 2013). "מתבגרים בחן". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  11. ^ "תוצאות מצעד הריקודים הארצי לשנת 2014". מחול ישראלי (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  12. ^ a b Staff (10 September 2015). "המצעד הישראלי השנתי של גלגלצ לשנת תשע"ה - הרשימה המלאה". Walla! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  13. ^ Ben Ari, Hanan (1 June 2016). "סינדרום תותים- חנן בן ארי". YouTube.
  14. ^ a b Kempinski, Yoni (25 January 2016). "Rising religious star stuns in pre-album single". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  15. ^ Friedman, Ami (3 July 2016). "צפו: אלי פיניש קורע את המפורסמים על הבמה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b Staff (30 May 2016). "Religious star shines in debut album's last single". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  17. ^ Staff (28 May 2017). "חנן בן ארי - ויקיפדיה". Mako (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  18. ^ "המצעד הישראלי השנתי של גלגלצ ו-וואלה!". Walla! (in Hebrew). 19 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  19. ^ Ben Nun, Shegaya (31 May 2018). ""שומר על פשטות": הרגע שבו חוה אלברשטיין ריגשה את אהוד בנאי". Walla! (in Hebrew).
  20. ^ Leeper, Netanel (17 February 2019). "חנן בן ארי בסינגל חדש: "אלוף העולם"". Kikar HaShabbat (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  21. ^ Sabato, Uziel (29 May 2019). "חנן בן ארי מעצבן". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  22. ^ "העם אמר את דברו: "שלמים" של עידן חביב הוא שיר השנה". Ynet (in Hebrew). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  23. ^ "כבוד למגזר: חנן בן ארי נבחר כאיש השנה של גלגלצ". srugim.co.il (in Hebrew). 17 September 2020.
  24. ^ a b Joffre, Tzvi (1 April 2020). "Israeli singers find meaning in coronavirus outbreak". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  25. ^ Staff (24 March 2021). "You could be in Israeli star Hanan Ben-Ari's new music video". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  26. ^ "חנן בן ארי – חולם כמו יוסף". Kan (in Hebrew). 11 May 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  27. ^ Tzokerman, Elenor (25 June 2021). "חנן בן ארי מציג: איך לכבוש את המדינה בגיל 33 ועם 6 ילדים". N12 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  28. ^ Boker, Ron (20 July 2021). "פרסי אקו"ם: חנן בן ארי "מחבר השנה" עם השיר המושמע ביותר; מפעל חיים למירית שם אור ואתי אנקרי". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  29. ^ Ben Ari, Hanan (6 December 2021). "חנן בן ארי - מקום". YouTube. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  30. ^ Feiglin, Ariel (28 March 2022). "חנן בן ארי בשיר חדש ונוגה - בסוף זה הלחן". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  31. ^ Ben Ari, Hanan (28 March 2022). "Facebook Post - Single release". Facebook (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  32. ^ Feiglin, Ariel (12 December 2022). "אחרי שנדחה בגלל הפיגוע בחדרה: חנן בן ארי משחרר את 'אלא בי'". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  33. ^ Shir, Smadar (20 January 2023). "Israeli woman on a quest to promote sex education in ultra-Orthodox sector". Ynet. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  34. ^ Menuchin, Nadav (22 June 2022). "שמש לעולם: המחזמר משיריו של חנן בן ארי פשוט למדי, אבל גם מרגש מאוד". Walla! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  35. ^ Ben Ari, Hanan (26 June 2022). "חנן בן ארי - חנניה". YouTube.
  36. ^ "השיר של חנן בן ארי על סבא חנניה סוף סוף נחשף: "הלוואי אהיה כמותו"". kipa.co.il (in Hebrew). 26 June 2022.
  37. ^ ""הלוואי אהיה כמותו": חנן בן ארי מוציא שיר חדש שמוקדש לסבא חנניה". Walla! (in Hebrew). 26 June 2022.
  38. ^ Homsany, Marcela; Tabac, Alden; Roitman, Ariella (14 July 2022). "Lights-out opening of 21st Maccabiah". Ynet. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  39. ^ Suissa, Eran (31 May 2023). "חנן בן ארי קוטף קמפיין חדש והוא לא לבד". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  40. ^ Ziga, Bar (31 October 2020). "מזל טוב: חנן בן ארי אבא לשישה". Ynet (in Hebrew).
  41. ^ "החיים שלו תותים: חנן בן ארי אבא לשבעה | ישראל היום". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). 31 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  42. ^ Goldfinger, Rivki (27 November 2021). "עניין אישי והפעם עם מיכאל בן ארי". Arutz 7. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  43. ^ 21 Knesset Election appeal Ofer Cassif and Michael Ben-Ari, א"ב 1806/19, א"ב 1866/19, ע"ב 1867/19, ע"ב 1876/19" (Supreme Court of Israel 17 Match 2019).
  44. ^ https://www.jfeed.com/music/sigyfr
  45. ^ ivgiz (25 October 2023). "Hanan Ben-Ari: Returning to Gush Katif, establishing Nova Beach on Gaza". ivgiz on tiktok: Hanan Ben-Ari: Returning to Gush Katif, establishing Nova Beach on Gaza. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  46. ^ Krever, Mick; Karadsheh, Jomana; Kaufman, Ami; Salman, Abeer (17 January 2024). "Israel's far-right wants to move Palestinians out of Gaza. Its ideas are gaining attention". CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  47. ^ Rousseau, Daphne (26 October 2023). "Some Israelis dream of return to Gaza settlements as IDF readies to go back in". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
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