She met Abi Ofarim, a guitarist and dancer, in 1959 and subsequently married him. With her husband and without him she began to sing Hebrew and international folk songs.
In 1960 Esther got a small role in the film Exodus. In 1961 Esther won the Song Festival in Tel Aviv, where she sang "Saeni imcha bemachol" and "Neama". Two years later, Esther made the 2nd place at the Eurovision Song Contest with "T'en vas pas", representing Switzerland.
From then on, her duo with her then husband Abi Ofarim began take off. In 1966 they had their first hit in Germany with "Noch einen Tanz". Their greatest success in Germany was "Morning of my Life" in 1967, which was written by the Bee Gees. In 1968 the Ofarims had their international breakthrough with "Cinderella Rockefella", which hit the top of the charts in a number of countries including the UK. They played many live concerts in New York and London, and in 1969 they toured around the world.
As result of problems in both business, and personal relations, they divorced in 1970 [1] (in German).
Esther started her solo career with several albums and concerts. In 1984 she played in Joshua Sobol's piece "Ghetto", produced by Peter Zadek in Berlin (Germany). There she sang some songs, including "Frühling" and "Unter deinen weissen Sternen". The play was extremely successful, which was attributed in part to Esther's strong presence.
Since 1998, Esther Ofarim has been performing several concerts each year, especially in Israel and Germany. This includes annual concerts in the Hamburger Kammerspiele.
Ofarim's songs were prominently featured in the 2004 Israeli film, Walk on Water.
Shecharchoret
Esther Ofarim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tsach haya uri.
U milahat shemesh kayitz
Ba li shechori.
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
Shecharchoret yikre'uni
Kol yordei hayam
Im od pa'am yikre'uni
Shu elech itam.
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
Libi kulo shelach.
Shecharchoret yikre'eni
Ben le'av molech.
Im od pa'am yikre'eni
Acharav elech.
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
Libi kulo shelach.
The song "Shecharchoret" by Esther Ofarim is a beautiful love song that exhibits the depth of love and commitment that the singer feels for their beloved. The song begins with the singer describing how their beloved has called them by the name "Shecharchoret" which means "blackened" in Hebrew. The singer portrays their love as intense and encompassing, even likening their heart to the moon. They describe how their lover's eyes sparkle with fire, and how their whole being is lost in their beloved.
Despite their lover's darkness, the singer continues to be drawn to them, describing how their eyes sear into their soul. The singer invites their lover to come with them, promising to stay with them always, no matter what. Finally, the song ends with the singer calling for their beloved once again, this time knowing that their love will ultimately lead them to their destiny.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a beautiful portrayal of the depth and intensity of true love, even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. Esther Ofarim's powerful vocals convey the emotion of the lyrics brilliantly, making the song a true masterpiece.
Line by Line Meaning
Shecharchoret yikre'uni
I am called 'shecharchoret'
Tsach haya uri.
I used to shine as a bright and clear light.
U milahat shemesh kayitz
And the sun's work in summer,
Ba li shechori.
Brings upon me darkness.
Shecharchoret
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
I flutter beautifully
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
In your eyes a fire is ignited
Libi kulo shelach.
My entire heart belongs to you.
Shecharchoret yikre'uni
I am called 'shecharchoret'
Kol yordei hayam
All those who go down to the sea,
Im od pa'am yikre'uni
If they call me again,
Shu elech itam.
I will go with them.
Shecharchoret
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
I flutter beautifully
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
In your eyes a fire is ignited
Libi kulo shelach.
My entire heart belongs to you.
Shecharchoret yikre'eni
I am called 'shecharchoret'
Ben le'av molech.
The son of the heart's king.
Im od pa'am yikre'eni
If he calls me again,
Acharav elech.
I will go after him.
Shecharchoret
Shecharchoret
Yafyafit kol-kach
I flutter beautifully
Be'eynayich esh bo'eret
In your eyes a fire is ignited
Libi kulo shelach.
My entire heart belongs to you.
Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@UrbachMikael
lyrics:
---
Shecharchoret yikre'uni
tzach haya ori
umilahat shemesh kayitz
va'ani shechori
Chorus:
Shecharchoret
yafyafit kol kach
be'einayich esh bo'eret
libi kulo shelach
Shecharchoret yikre'uni
kol yordei hayam
im od pa'am yikre'uni
shuv elech itam
Shecharchoret yikre'eni
ben le'av molech
im od pa'am yikre'uni
acharav elech
translation:
---
The dark girl, they call me
my skin was pure white
from the fire of the summer sun
I am dark
Chorus:
Dark girl
so very beautiful
in your eyes - a burning fire
my heart is all yours
The dark girl, they call me
all those who go down to the sea
if again they call me
I will go with them again
The dark girl, they call me
son to the ruling king
if he calls me again
I will follow him
---
@OrlyYahalom
Thank you for uploading this marvel.
Schecharchoret (שחרחורת) does mean dark skinned, darked haired and darked eyed. (This is the female form, the male form is שחרחר.) It comes from black שחור, and in a certain way it means "blackish". To erase any doubts, this term has no negative connotations.
The origin of the song is actually in Ladino, and it's called Morenica or Morenika. I don't know the
Hebrew lyrics:
שחרחורת יקראוני צח היה עורי
ומלהט שמש קיץ בא לי שחורי
שחרחורת יפיפית כל כך
בעינייך אש בוערת ליבי כולו שלך
שחרחורת יקראוני כל יורדי הים
אם עוד פעם יקראוני שוב אלך איתם
שחרחורת יקראני בן לאב מוֹלך
אם עוד פעם יקראני אחריו אלך
Quick translation (not poetic as the original):
They call me Morenica
My skin was fair
and from the summer sun's heat
my blackness came.
Morenica, so beautiful
A fire is burning in your eyes,
my heart is all yours.
All the sailors call me Morenica
If they call me again, I shall go with them
A son of a reigning father calls me Morenica
If he calls me again, I shall go with him
@evelineberridge5245
Je ne me lasse jamais d'écouter les chansons en Hébreu d'ester Ofarim. L'intonation de sa voix est merveilleuse. Ce sont d'anciens chants. Mes préférés.
@jenisvalgomesdeoliveira8615
Tudo que é bom assemelha se ao ouro joias que guardamos no coração
@suriyaza9395
לאסתר עופרים יש את הקול הכי יפה בישראל ובכל העולם. אין זמרת בכל העולם שתשווה לשירה המאלפת והמיוחדת של אסתר. קול אלוהי שרק לאסתר יש , לא היה ולא תהיה זמרת ברמת שירה ובצלילי שירתה עם קול וסילסולים שמטריפים כל
@aliasesableable
עופרה
@x.p.4396
This song is a modern adaptation (in Hebrew) of a Sephardic ballad from the early medieval century . "Morena me llaman" (They call me the Black Beauty) Sephardic (the language is called: LADINO) was used in medieval Spain, later also in Greece, Turkey and Portugal (after the expulsion by Queen Isabella of Spain in the 15th century, the so-called Alhambra Edict) spoken today in Latin America. The Sephardic version as an example here: Morena me llaman. Música Sefardí. Emilio Villalba & Sephardica
Texts are almost the same in both songs - only the melody is different. At the beginning of the modern adaptation you can still hear the original melody hinted at before the melody slides into the new composition.
@belleepoque2544
Wow. Thanks!
@SUomiist
Schecharchoret is a piece of music more sophisticated and rich than the original Morenika (That is the original name) https://youtu.be/4aKMxd7Zk0s, Besides Ladino is a dead language with 51K speakers, and shares the same context as Yiddish of being a bastard language to the enemies of the Jewish people (Germany and Spain)
Hebrew is the language of the Jewish people, not need to use oppressors' languages anymore.
@gwenapercussion3218
Ladino is not neccessarily dead. Art is not dead, it has this magnificent capacity of living on as long as these songs are sung. Which they should. Why not? Yiddish is a normal language, and a beautiful one. And music is music. L'chaim!
@behroozhakimian9868
Sounds like a voice from the Heavens!!
Esther Ofarim is amazing!!
@evareginalaurenttino1575
Esther Ofarim é uma judia oriental. Amo a voz dela e a ousso desde a década de 1970 ❤