Habib Galbi: An Israeli Hit Sung in Arabic

A-WA

2015

About This Entry

The Israeli band A-WA—sisters Tair, Liron, and Tagel Haim—rose to global fame with “Habib Galbi” (“Love of My Heart”), sung in a Yemenite Jewish dialect of Arabic. Mixing traditional melodies with electronic beats, the 2015 hit redefined Mizrahi music, celebrating Arabic language and Yemenite identity in Israeli pop. The vibrant music video, featuring the sisters in pink hijabs, became a sensation across Israel and the Arab world, highlighting the power of music to reconnect shared cultural roots once divided by politics and history.

Credits

A-WA, "Habib Galbi" (2016). Produced and arranged by Tomer Yosef.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think the Haim sisters choose to wear these particular items of clothing for the music video?

  2. Do you think there are any political statements being made by the decision to perform music this way in Israel? What might they be?

  3. What role does gender play in these artistic decisions and their public interpretation?

Engage with this Source

The Israeli band A-WA—sisters Tair, Liron, and Tagel Haim—rose to global fame with “Habib Galbi” (“Love of My Heart”), sung in a Yemenite Jewish dialect of Arabic. Mixing traditional melodies with electronic beats, the 2015 hit redefined Mizrahi music, celebrating Arabic language and Yemenite identity in Israeli pop. The vibrant music video, featuring the sisters in pink hijabs, became a sensation across Israel and the Arab world, highlighting the power of music to reconnect shared cultural roots once divided by politics and history.

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