Erez Halevi, Creator of 'As Nature Made You,' Dies at 71

By וואלה תרבות

Translated & summarized from Walla by baba

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Israeli musician Erez Halevi, known for his 1980s hit "As Nature Made You," died at 71. The song became an anthem for self-acceptance and was embraced by the LGBTQ+ community. Halevi wrote it to counter expectations about his musical style and against imposed identities. His debut album "The Night" was produced by Matti Caspi.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Musician Erez Halevi, known for "As Nature Made You," died at 71.
His song "As Nature Made You" became an anthem for self-acceptance.
The LGBTQ+ community adopted the song as a symbol of acceptance.
Halevi wrote the song to resist imposed identities and expectations.
His 1984 debut album "The Night" was produced by Matti Caspi.

Erez Halevi, Creator of 'As Nature Made You,' Dies at 71 — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Erez Halevi, a distinctive voice in 1980s Israeli pop music, has passed away at the age of 71. Halevi will be primarily remembered for "As Nature Made You" (כך ברא אותך הטבע), a song that evolved into an anthem of self-acceptance and the freedom to be oneself. The song was featured on Halevi's 1984 debut album, "The Night" (הלילה), which he wrote and composed entirely. Matti Caspi produced the album, playing most instruments.

"As Nature Made You," alongside "The Fishermen" (הדייגים) and the title track, was a highlight of the unique album, blending soft pop, melancholic melodies, intimate delivery, and Halevi's high, singular voice. Over time, the song gained new significance, embraced by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbol of acceptance and resistance against imposed identities. Halevi stated the song was a response to expectations that he, as a musician of Yemenite descent, should create Mizrahi music, asserting it was written against any establishment dictating how one should be.

Halevi's career did not follow a typical pop star trajectory. He released further albums, including "Intermediate State" (מצב ביניים) and "The Gate Opens" (השער נפתח), but largely stayed out of the spotlight. His songs "As Nature Made You," "The Fishermen," and "The Night" are considered enduring moments in Israeli music. The song "As Nature Made You" has also been performed by artists such as Dudu Tassa and Ivri Lider.