Ilanit

Ilanit אילנית
Background information
Birth name	Hanna Dresner-Tzakh
Born	(1947-09-17) 17 September 1947 Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine (present-day Israel)
Genres	Pop Israeli music
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1962–present
Labels	NMC Hed Arzi Phonokol

Hanna Dresner-Tzakh (Hebrew: חנה דרזנר; born 17 September 1947), known by her stage name Ilanit ( אילנית, Hebrew pronunciation: [ilaˈnit]), is an Israeli singer. She was one of Israel's most popular singers from the late 1960s to the 1980s, both as a soloist and in the duo Ilan & Ilanit. Ilanit also represented Israel twice in the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1973 with "Ey Sham" (Israel's debut entry in the competition) and in 1977 with "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim". In a career spanning over four decades, Ilanit has recorded and produced over 600 songs and more than 30 albums.

Childhood

Hanna Dresner was born in Tel Aviv after her parents immigrated from Poland. In 1953, at the age of 5, the family moved to Brazil where they joined several South American acts, at which point Dresner adopted the stage name Ilanit. In 1960, when she was 13 years old, Ilanit moved back to Israel. In 1962, Ilanit was discovered in a youth talent contest organized by WIZO and the magazine Ma'ariv Youth.

Music career

Ilan and Ilanit

Shlomo Zach, an Israeli singer whom she later married, formed a trio that was later known as "גידי, צח וחנה" (Gidi, Zach, and Hanna). The trio became a duo, renamed "Ilan & Ilanit". In 1966 the duo's first album was produced, named "Ilan Ilan". Two of their songs, "לכל אדם כוכב" (A star for everyone) and "בואי סניורינה" (Come, Miss) became hits topping the music charts. The duo became a big success during the 60s in Israel and abroad. Their 1970 hit "Veshuv Itchem" ("With You Again" in Hebrew) was covered by Turkish singer Şenay as "Sev Kardeşim" ("Love my brother/sister" in Turkish) in 1971. Şenay became famous with singing this cover.

Emerging as a soloist

In 1968 Ilanit released her first solo song, "כבר אחרי חצות" (kvar acharei chatzot / "It's After Midnight"). The record came with the song, "בוא ונשתגע בחולות" (bo ve-nishtage'ah ba-cholot / "Let's Go Crazy in the Sands") by Ilan & Ilanit. Her first solo performance took place in the 1969 Israeli Song Festival where she sang "שיר בארבעה בתים" (shir b'arbaah batim / "Song in Four Verses"). While Ilanit did not win the competition, the song became very successful.

Peaking in the 1970s

Ilanit was named Israel's top female singer every year from 1971 to 1977, something no other singer has achieved.

In 1973, she first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973 in Luxembourg where she reached the fourth position with the song "Ey Sham" ("Somewhere"). This was also the first-ever participation of Israel in the Song Contest. The song was composed by Nurit Hirsh, who conducted the orchestra in Luxembourg on that occasion.

In 1974, Ilanit represented Israel at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo with the song "Shiru Shir Lashemesh" ("Sing A Song to the Sun"). Ilanit became ninth in the final that was held on 17 November.

A second Eurovision participation by Ilanit was in 1977 in London, with the song "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim" ("Love Is a Song for Two"). With this song, Ilanit finished 11th.

1980s and 1990s

Ilanit performing, 2016

Ilanit attempted to represent Israel in the Eurovision for a third time in 1984. Israel did not participate in the contest that year due to a conflict with its Memorial Day. Rather than waiting a year for the next contest, Ilanit released "Balalaika", the song she was going to compete with. At that time Ilanit was already one of Israel's most popular singers, and "Balalaika" became an instant hit. After "Brazilian Dream" was released in 1996, Ilanit didn't record a new album for 12 years.

21st century

Together with other established Israeli artists, Ilanit took part in a tour through North America in 2005. In 2008, Ilanit released the album "Israelit". She performed at the Hadassah centennial in October 2012. Ilanit also appeared at the opening of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, where she performed the chorus of "Ey Sham". She also announced Israel's jury points at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

See also

• Music of Israel

External links

• Ilanit interview from Ynetnews