Desert Wind (album)

Desert Wind
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 16, 1989
Recorded1988–1989
Genre
Length49:15
LanguageHebrew, Arabic, English
LabelSire/Warner Bros. Records (U.S.)
25976
Teldec/WEA Records (international)
Warner Pioneer Records (Japan)
Hed Arzi (Israel)
ProducerArif Mardin
Joe Mardin
Ofra Haza
Thomas Dolby
Bezalel Aloni
Ofra Haza chronology
Shaday
(1988)
Desert Wind
(1989)
Kirya
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Orlando Sentinel[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

Desert Wind is an album by the Israeli singer Ofra Haza, released in 1989.[6][7] Popular in Israel, Haza was unknown in the rest of the world until the previous year, when the song "Im Nin'Alu" and the album Shaday were released. Desert Wind was therefore more oriented toward the international market.

The main language of the album is English, however Haza also sings in Arabic, Hebrew, and the ancient language of Aramaic. The album includes traditional folk Yemenite songs.[8] The sound is a mainstream form of dance music with elements of synthpop and, on track 8, an influence of house music. The album ends with "Kaddish," a Jewish prayer that, as Haza writes, is meant to hold all the world's sorrows on the wings of an angel. The song has a short English introduction; the main part of the prayer is in Aramaic.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "Desert Wind (Middle East) - Ofra Haza | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ Heim, Chris. "Ofra HazaDesert Wind (Sire) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)In some ways,..." chicagotribune.com.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 200.
  4. ^ Gettelman, Parry (2 February 1990). "Ofra Haza". Orlando Sentinel.
  5. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 313.
  6. ^ "Ofra Haza | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "RIDING THE DESERT WIND // Israeli singer brings the sound of another world to U.S. on tour". Tampa Bay Times.
  8. ^ Willman, Chris (21 Jan 1990). "OFRA HAZA 'Desert Wind' Sire". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 77.