Chava Alberstein Releases New Single Ahead of 80th Birthday and Album
Israeli music icon Chava Alberstein has released a new single titled "Gur Shel Liviatan" ahead of her 80th birthday and the upcoming Hanukkah holiday. The track precedes her new children's mini-album, "Tfila Rishona."
Ahead of her milestone 80th birthday, legendary Israeli artist Chava Alberstein has released "Gur Shel Liviatan" (A Whale Cub), a new single from her upcoming children's mini-album. The song's lyrics were written by Rachel Shapira, with composition by Eran Weitz.
The upcoming mini-album, titled "Tfila Rishona" (First Prayer), is set for release ahead of the Hanukkah holiday and Alberstein's landmark birthday. The seven-track collection features compositions by Oved Efrat, Gideon Kapan, Eran Weitz, and Alberstein herself, with lyrics penned by prominent Israeli poets and writers including Jonathan Geffen, Rachel Shapira, Tirtza Atar, Shlomit Assif, and Chana Nir.
Reflecting on her enduring dedication to children's music, Alberstein shared her creative motivation. "I never really analyzed why I record children's songs every few years," she said. "I simply set aside whatever new material I am working on and dive into creating songs for children. It is a genuine need for me. There is a sense of release in it; here I cannot be ironic, cynical, or irritable. It is all about observation and listening with almost no interference."
The veteran singer emphasized her commitment to linguistic clarity. "The only thing I truly insist on is that the Hebrew remains crystal clear and luminous. Not all the children's songs I choose to sing are explicitly about children, but I feel these pieces maintain a profound dialogue with the young listeners tuning in."
The single features vocals by Chava Alberstein alongside Carmi Zissapel, Yonatan Weitz Zissapel, Abigail Weitz Zissapel, Michaela Weitz Zissapel, and Eran Weitz. Musical arrangements include saxophone by Carmi Zissapel, while Eran Weitz handles the guitar work and overall musical production.
