Geffen was extremely popular among Israeli youth, who were later known as the "Moonlight Children", in the 1990s. Politically, he associates with the Israeli left. His music contains subjects such as love and peace, but also death, suicide, the army, and refusal to serve. He is also controversial because of his decision not to serve in the IDF, though officially, he was dismissed for medical reasons.
Geffen's first appearance was in the film Hamitpahat (1987), for which he wrote and sang the song "Ima". In 1992, he played a part in the teenage television series A Matter of Time. That year, he also wrote a song for the Israeli movie The Beach Boys. Aviv performed in clubs with his band "The Mistakes (Hatauyot)" (the Hebrew name is purposefully misspelled in two places). He made his debut performance with "Cloudy Now" (Achshav Meunan), a song which later became his musical icon, and 12 years later was translated for the Blackfield project. In 1990, he recorded his first song, "Friend" (Chaver), together with the band "Cats in the Piping". In 1991, he released his first album, That's Only The Moonlight (Ze Rak Or Hayareach). All of its songs were written and the music composed by Geffen himself. Achshav Meunan was Geffen's second album, which was released in 1993 and reached Gold in the same year. It was produced by Moshe Levi and Ofer Meiri, who created a typical Geffen sound. Aviv expressed his generation's dissatisfaction with the government. The song "Cloudy Now" was followed by the question that many Israeli teenagers asked with Geffen - "Do you want change?"
Geffen's first appearance was in the film Hamitpahat (1987), for which he wrote and sang the song "Ima". In 1992, he played a part in the teenage television series A Matter of Time. That year, he also wrote a song for the Israeli movie The Beach Boys. Aviv performed in clubs with his band "The Mistakes (Hatauyot)" (the Hebrew name is purposefully misspelled in two places). He made his debut performance with "Cloudy Now" (Achshav Meunan), a song which later became his musical icon, and 12 years later was translated for the Blackfield project. In 1990, he recorded his first song, "Friend" (Chaver), together with the band "Cats in the Piping". In 1991, he released his first album, That's Only The Moonlight (Ze Rak Or Hayareach). All of its songs were written and the music composed by Geffen himself. Achshav Meunan was Geffen's second album, which was released in 1993 and reached Gold in the same year. It was produced by Moshe Levi and Ofer Meiri, who created a typical Geffen sound. Aviv expressed his generation's dissatisfaction with the government. The song "Cloudy Now" was followed by the question that many Israeli teenagers asked with Geffen - "Do you want change?"
A year later, in September 2000, Geffen's 9th album ,"Yoman Masa" ("Journal"), saw release. for the first time produced by Louie Lahav, and in a new label - "Helicon". Geffen collaborated with two notable colleagues - Daniel Salomon (who joined from the "White Nights (Leilot Levanim)" Tour) and Moshe Levi who was involved in the orchestration. Aviv had recorded 11 melodic songs, with a bonus track - a tribute to Bob Dylan - an Israeli cover to "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall (Geshem Kaved Omed Lipol)" (translated by his father). The album produced three notable hits for Geffen: "Wake Up (Uri Ur)", "Scars (Zalakot)" & "Journal (Yoman Masa)" (together with Arik Einstein).
Two years after "Journal" - April 2002 - Geffen released his next album: "Memento Mori", which he dedicated to his grandmother who died a short time before the album's release. The name was taken from the Latin phrase, "Remember The Death" (meaning one should remember he is mortal). Like his previous albums, "Memento Mori" was soft (but still features harder compositions). The album featured two major hits: "Ray of Light (Keren Or)" and "Moving Forward (Holech Kadima)." From this album came the single Sad Song (Shir Atzuv).
It was announced in 2008 that he was recording his first English-language solo album, with Trevor Horn producing. Sessions for the English language album are continuing in Israel with producer Ken Nelson
In 2001, Geffen joined Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree to form a new group, "Blackfield". Blackfield combines the musical efforts of both musicians and they perform their own original composition as well as Aviv's own songs translated into English. From the collaboration between Geffen & Wilson, that started in 2000, came "Hello" - which was the first single from the "Blackfield" project, used as a build-up for a successful tour in Europe, and a successful first album Blackfield, released in 2004. Its followup Blackfield II was released in early 2007, followed by the live DVD Blackfield: Live in NYC later in the year.
After releasing two albums as Blackfield, Geffen announced in November 2007 that he was recording his first English-language studio album. In January 2008 his single 'End of the World' charted at number one in Poland and he performed at Bush Hall in London on the 31st. In June, he announced that recording had begun at Sarm West Studios, with Trevor Horn producing and Steven Wilson and Mike Garson featuring on the album. He released a single (Silence) at the end of 2008 and is touring throughout January 2009, with dates in Krakow, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Amsterdam, Munich, Paris and London.
Over the years, Geffen's musical style has been influenced by rock bands like U2, Radiohead, Nirvana, and artists like John Lennon and Bob Dylan. Geffen's piano and guitar playing is mainly influenced by Radiohead's Thom Yorke and U2's The Edge. Geffen has often cited Bob Dylan and Roger Waters as major influences.
Discography
[edit] Solo albums
* 1992 - "Ze Rak Or Hayareach" ("It's Only The Moonlight")
* 1993 - "Ahshav Meunan" ("It's Cloudy Now")
* 1994 - "Aviv Geffen III"
* 1995 - "Shumakom" ("Nowhere")
* 1996 - "HaMihtav" ("The Letter")
* 1997 - "Hayareach Malee" ("Full Moon")
* 1998 - "Halulim" ("Hollows")
* 1999 - "Leyloth Levanim" ("White Nights")
* 2000 - "Yoman Masah" ("Travelogue")
* 2002 - "Memento Mori"
* 2006 - "Im Hazman" ("With The Time")
* 2006 - "Rak Shirey Ahava" ("Love Songs Only")
[edit] Solo singles never released on album
* 1991 - "Haver" ("Friend")
* 1999 - "Rock and Roll"
* 2000 - "Kmo BaShir" ("Like in The Song")
* 2001 - "Geshem Kaved Omed Lipol" (Hebrew version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall")
[edit] With Blackfield
* 2004 - Blackfield
* 2007 - Blackfield II
[edit] Work for other artists
* 1993 - Keren Hachth, album "Keren Hachth"
* 1999 - Rockfour, album "Rockfour Live"
* 2001 - Porcupine Tree, album "In Absentia"
* 2002 - Daniel Salomon, album "Daniel Salomon", (also producer)
* 2003 - Shachar Even-Tzur, album "Eyrumim" ("Naked"), (also producer)
* 2005 - Daniel Salomon, album "Rabot HaDrachim", ("There's Many Ways")
* 2006 - Ninette Tayeb, album "Yehefa" ("Barefoot"), (also producer)
Berlín
Aviv Geffen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
The lyrics to Aviv Geffen's song Berlin explore the themes of loss, longing, and nostalgia. The singer recounts a night spent with someone special, reminiscing about their shared dreams and experiences. However, they are ultimately separated by distance and circumstance, with the object of the singer's affection moving away to escape the city where they first met. The lyrics draw parallels between the person and the city of Berlin, which is described as "cold," "broken," "torn," and "crazy." The singer seems to have difficulty letting go of their past, as evidenced by their return to a familiar coffee bar and their reluctance to reach out to the person they miss.
The song's imagery is rich with symbolism and emotion. The reference to Berlin conjures up feelings of loneliness, isolation, and a longing for connection. The coffee bar, with its association to warmth and comfort, is contrasted with the wintry coldness of the singer's memories. The repetition of the phrase "like Berlin" emphasizes the singer's sense of identification with the city's struggles and scars.
Overall, the lyrics to Berlin paint a poignant picture of love and loss, evoking the bittersweet memories that linger long after a relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
I stayed up all night
I passed an entire night without any sleep.
Watching you smile
I spent the night admiring your smile.
We were lost in dreams.
We were deeply entranced and lost in our dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
She expressed her intention to leave her current location.
To escape from the city
She wanted to flee or avoid being in the city.
Me and my band just came from the south
My musical group and I recently arrived from the southern part of the area.
And we drove such a long way
We traveled a great distance to get here.
But when I looked in your eyes
When I saw your eyes, everything became worth the travel.
It was worth every mile.
The journey was all worth it.
She was cold just like Berlin
She displayed a cold emotion similar to that of the Berlin city.
She was broken like Berlin
She was emotionally broken like the city of Berlin after the war.
She was torn just like Berlin
She experienced significant emotional upheavals like the city of Berlin.
She was crazy like Berlin
She possessed some extent of madness similar to that of the city of Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
This old and neglected coffee place.
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
This place still triggers my memories of the freezing and harsh winters.
We remembered those places
We have distinct memories of such places.
that still gave us a shelter to love
Places where we found comfort and solace in each other's love.
I stood in your doorway tonight
I was near your entrance this night.
But I was too scared to call you
I was too frightened to reach out to you.
So I just walked away on my own
I decided to walk away unaided.
withered like the night.
I felt abandoned and downcast like the night.
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rothutbiene
Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
bunnyhead71
i am DEFINITELY late to the party here. I have been a fan of Porcupine Tree and the many many side projects that Steven Wilson has been involved in over the past 25 years. One of those being Blackfield. Someone like Wilson would not just work with anyone. Thanks to him I have become a huge fan of Geffen's work. This man is just absolutely brilliant . Wilson has also led me to the work of Ninet Tayeb someone else i'd never had heard of if it were not for him. This is the kind of music I love to introduce people to. Staggeringly brilliant stuff. If fans of his have any suggestions of other things such as this they think I should check out, please let me know. I am a 43 year old music junkie that NEVER stops listening and learning. With a personal music collection of over 5700 lp's, I cover most genres.
Klaas Vos
I hear this song for the first time.😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq5BQrjzxCA Great album of a Dutch band. Imo the same sort music. And Disreflect - My Dear.
timetraveler900
I don't think people realise just how extraordinary and incredible this song is.
Jason Musshorn
Unreal! Easily the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. Just amazing.
rothutbiene
Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
PMO
Mesmerising! And his voice in English is beautiful. Long live the King of Israeli music past and present!
lilykuh
i live in berlin and i just realised. this song is very beautiful!
Kaitlyn Hill
Berlin is beautiful, a little sad, and hopeful...and so is this song. :) Thanks for sharing
Yallon Banoun
Wow! What a great song!
Andrea Campisano
no words. all i can say is "thank you"