WhatsappThe backstory for the following song is the most powerful revenge against the Nazis by the State of Israel. This was the song performed by Israel at the 1983 Eurovision contest. Everything about it was symbolic, transferring the message that while the Nazis succeeded in annihilating 6 million Jews, they failed in their ultimate goal of destroying the Jewish people. Not only are the Jewish people still alive, we have a proud country of our own. Famous Israeli singer Ofra Haza was chosen to perform an amazing song written for the contest called “Alive”. The song came in second place in the contest.
In 1983 Israel was preparing for the yearly Eurovision contest. Since Germany won the 1982 contest, the 1983 contest was to be hosted by Germany. This was just 38 years since the Holocaust, and 11 years since the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics by Muslim terrorists, financed by the leader of the Palestinian Authority today Mahmoud Abbas. The feelings in Israel at the time very extremely complex.
When Israel understood that the Eurovision contest was to take place on German soil, Israeli musician Ehud Manor decided to write the song “Chai”, or “Alive”, for Israeli singer Ofra Haza to perform. The State of Israel did not exist when the Nazis were in power implementing their heinous crime against our people. But Manor still came up with this amazing way of the ultimate Jewish revenge by the Jewish state – this song!
The song “Alive” expresses the continuity and the strength of the Jewish people. It represented a sort of victory anthem in which the powerful lines of “live, live, live – the people of Israel live,” “good that no more hope is lost” are all intertwined. Manor himself said it was great excitement to see Ofra Haza singing on the stage in Germany, 38 years after the end of World War II, the words “Am Yisrael Chai” – “The Jewish people live”.
Even the design of the clothing of the performers was thought out. Designer Dorin Frankfurt dressed the accompaniment singers in yellow clothes – the color of the Jewish Star of David badge that the Nazis forced all the Jews to wear in the ghettos and concentration camps. Ofra Haza, the main singer, was dressed in white, a color that symbolizes hope and peace.
Lyrics
Listen my brothers, I’m still alive
And both my eyes are still drawn to the light
A lot of thorny grass, but flowers too
And countless years ahead of me I ask and pray
I’m glad the hope is not yet lost
The chant passes on
Like an unending fountain
I ask and pray
I’m glad the hope is not yet lost
Alive, alive, alive, yes, I’m still alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I’m still alive, alive, alive, the Israel people are alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I Will sing and won’t stop (alive, alive)
Spread my hands (alive, alive)
To all my friends across the sea
Will sing and won’t stop (alive, alive)
Spread my hands (alive, alive)
To all my friends across the sea I ask and pray
I’m glad the hope is not yet lost
Alive, alive, alive, yes, I’m still alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I’m still alive, alive, alive, the Israel people are alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I Listen my brothers, I’m still alive
And both my eyes are still drawn to the light
So cheers to all my guests
And to my sons who wish to return I ask (I ask)And I pray (pray)
I’m glad the hope is not yet lost Alive, alive, alive, yes, I’m still alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I’m still alive, alive, alive, the Israel people are alive
This is the song that granddad sang to my dad and today I
Alive, alive, alive
I’m still alive, alive, alive!
