Behind the Sounds

The album Shaday is the record that transformed Ofra Haza into an international superstar. The path to success was far from simple: Ofra initially recorded a pop album in England titled Temptation Eyes, but feeling the material did not suit her voice, she decided to shelve it in favor of an ethnic-electronic direction. The turning point came when the duo Eric B. & Rakim sampled her voice from Im Nin’alu, sparking massive global curiosity. Simultaneously, Ofra and Izhar Ashdot recorded a new version of the song, which conquered the charts and became a mega-hit. The album, which combined production by Izhar Ashdot and Wally Brill, featured Ofra on the cover in a look reminiscent of the “Afghan Girl” from National Geographic. It became one of the most successful Israeli albums of all time, with sales exceeding 1.5 million copies and a historic entry into the American Billboard charts.

Critical Acclaim

“Haza’s powerful, enigmatic vocals ride over the sort of cranked up electro beat that one might associate with Madonna… And this is a hugely enjoyable LP.” (Karen Faux, Music Week – 06.08.1988)