Most of the band members are experienced musicians on the Israeli music scene. The lead singer and guitarist, Ran Shem-Tov is a versatile producer, who worked with artists such as Yehudit Ravitz, Anat Damon and Dikla and recorded soundtracks. The other players are successful session musicians.
Izabo's music has been described as a "Brilliant, action packed combination of Psychadelic Rock, Disco, Punk and Arabic spices". Featuring high-to-ultra-high vocals, twisting and expressive Arab-flavoured guitar work, powerfully funky basslines, arrogantly catchy keyboards and intense disco beats, Izabo have established themselves as one of Israel's most absorbing live acts.
Izabo's debut LP, The Fun Makers, was released late 2003 to great critical acclaim. The songs Morning Hero and Cook Me became significant radio hits in Israel. In the following months Izabo signed on to Sony BMG, which released their British debut, The Morning Hero EP. The release was accompanied by a concert tour which took Izabo to England, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Izabo collaborated with a large variety of artists, on stage and in the studio, from Ahuva Ozeri to "Israel Award" winning choreographer Ohad Naharin.
Izabo's collaboration with Shotei Hanevuah produced the hit single "Hu", which won the Music 24's "song of the year" award.
Their second LP, Super Light, was released in July 2008. The first single out of the LP is "Slow Disco", released on June 16, 2008.
On March 2010 the band released a music video for their song "On My Way" using Apple Inc.'s iPhones as a creative motif.
In early February it was revealed that Izabo had been chosen by a group of mass communications and music industry experts to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The song, Time, has verses in English and choruses in Hebrew.
Time
Izabo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’re the man in my playground.
What you say, I will obey
Night and day.
Feel free to turn me on,
Feel free to change my song,
I will start and you’ll go on
I say…
Chorus:
Zman-man
Ten li rak siman-man
Ten li et hazman
Lama lokhets alay
Tishan
You don’t know what you talk about
Zman man
Lama lo tishan-shan
Tagid li kama zman
Lama lihiyot shakhor, lavan
Time, time, don’t you be mine,
These lyrics from Izabo's song "Time" are a curious mix of childlike innocence and seductive appeal. The first verse speaks to time as if it is a person - "You're the man in my playground" - and pledges obedience to its commands day and night. This playful tone continues in the next lines, "Feel free to turn me on, feel free to change my song," which could be interpreted as an invitation to experimentation and spontaneity. The chorus adds a level of intrigue as the singer addresses "zman-man" (time-man) and requests that he give her a sign, but also questions his authority and asks why she should sleep. The final line of the chorus, "tishan," translates to "sleep" in Hebrew, which adds another layer of mystique to the song's meaning.
The second verse repeats the "zman-man" chorus but adds a twist, as the singer challenges the ideas being presented to her, claiming that she knows better. This defiance is further expressed in the lines "Lama lihiyot shakhor, lavan" (why should I be black or white), which could be interpreted as a rejection of binaries and societal expectations. The final line of the song, "Time, time, don't you be mine," leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, as the playful tone of the first verse is now replaced with a sense of caution or fear.
Overall, "Time" is a fascinating and enigmatic song that plays with themes of power, control, and identity. The use of Hebrew in the chorus adds to its mystique, and the childlike quality of some of the lyrics only serves to heighten the sense of unease.
Line by Line Meaning
Time, time, don’t let me down,
The singer is relying on time to make things right in their life.
You’re the man in my playground.
Time has control over the singer's life and experiences.
What you say, I will obey
The singer will follow the passage of time and accept what comes with it.
Night and day.
Time never stops and continues even during both night and day.
Feel free to turn me on,
The singer is asking time to use their influence on them to guide them in life.
Feel free to change my song,
The singer is open to change and growth in life that time can bring.
I will start and you’ll go on
The singer will start their journey and time will continue to play a role in their story.
Sing my song.
The singer wants time to accompany them on their journey and influence their decisions.
Zman-man
Time, oh time...
Ten li rak siman-man
Give me just a sign, oh time...
Ten li et hazman
Give me the right time, oh time...
Lama lokhets alay
Why are you playing tricks on me, oh time?
Tishan
Sleep, oh time...
You don’t know what you talk about
The singer doesn't believe time knows everything or has all the answers.
Zman man
Time, oh time...
Lama lo tishan-shan
Why won't you let me sleep, oh time?
Tagid li kama zman
Tell me how much time I have left, oh time...
Lama lihiyot shakhor, lavan
Why can't life be black and white, oh time?
Time, time, don’t you be mine,
The singer doesn't want to be controlled by time and wants to live their life on their own terms.
Contributed by Jeremiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Sorken.1994
@@TheLakeMadness44
I like this song too.
My favorite part from this song is the part where the front man says:
Time, time, could you be mine?
I will feed you songs and wine.
Ill make you lazy, Ill make you late.
Wait! Wait! Wait!
Give me, give me time.
@toddbramlett4819
there are so many hidden gems in Eurovision, I love this song
@bairamakhundov8975
One of the most underrated songs in the Eurovision so far!
@jo-annparsons3696
In my darkest moments, this always makes me smiiiiile! love love love from London UK
@Jewish_Mizrahi_Zionist
It's really unique indeed
@gunay.mammadli
Old but gold...
@youngerdays
somehow I really like this song
@ggoddf5889
i love it its such a guilty pleasure
@egl2416
Comeonnn is SUPER catchy, xx from spain
@siriusblack8786
@@ggoddf5889 guilty pleasure? it’s such a quality sonrg
@therealbricker
Never expected Israel to drop an experimental indie rock song, but then again, it was early 2010s Israel. Always loved this one.