‘She Only Passed Through to See, But Left Us Works That Are an Integral Part of Our Soundtrack’: Farewell to Esther Shamir

Artists, creators and members of the music industry are bidding farewell today, Thursday, to Esther Shamir, one of the most influential and groundbreaking figures in Israeli music, who died at the age of 71. Shamir was one of the pioneers of women’s rock in Israel and, over the years, wrote and composed for some of the country’s biggest artists.

“Everyone is disappearing. I am terribly sad. Esther’s death was expected, and still it hurts terribly,” Gali Atari told ynet in a tribute to her. “I visited her at her home a week ago, and sat with her and her wonderful partner Ofer for an hour and a half. We mostly talked, and we also sang. She asked me to sing ‘Stronger Than the Wind’ at her funeral. Esther was always a quiet and gentle girl to me. There was something impressive and spiritual about her, beyond the professional side and her wonderful writing. I composed several of her songs. She wrote and composed ‘Mid-September’ for me. And the lyrics of ‘Stronger Than the Wind.’

“We were in touch for years. During our conversation I discovered that my albums were named after the songs she wrote for me, such as ‘Mid-September’ and ‘One Step Before the River.’ I was fortunate to work with a wonderful, talented person, full of rare life wisdom. When people like her pass away, I always think of how many more beautiful songs we are losing, but I still have more of her texts and I believe I will use them.”

Yardena Arazi also said goodbye to the legendary singer: “‘What will grow in my country, what will bloom for you, poppies or lilac flowers?’ Esther Shamir’s words were always sharp and pointed. She knew how to distill deep inner truth and her own view of Israeli reality, as well as of the artists for whom she wrote. In the songs I was fortunate to receive from her, I felt that she managed to capture something of me as well in the writing process.

“Our first meeting was in the days of the Nahal Band. She served one cohort after me, and during the Yom Kippur War, as newly released members of the band, we joined the Nahal Band bus and traveled across the Sinai Desert and the Golan to perform for soldiers in the first, very difficult days of the war. We were exposed to difficult and unsettling sights, and in my opinion that influence was reflected in many of Esther’s songs.

“As a singer and creator she was groundbreaking and very significant for so many women in Israeli rock. She deserves a great deal of credit for that. There was nobility and a special charm about Esther. She perhaps only passed through to see, but left us so many works that are an inseparable part of the soundtrack of our lives.”

The musician Yahel Doron, with whom she had recently collaborated, paid tribute on social media: “It is hard for me to explain how deeply she touched my heart. There was something childlike about her, and pure, and at the same time light and free. Sometimes I felt she was much younger than I was. Beyond the great songs she wrote and sang, she was always creating. Even in meetings she would pull out a notebook and sketch beautiful worlds on white paper. Creating something from nothing... I hope that now you are on the other side of fear, and that it is pleasant and good there. Rest in peace.”

Yoav Ginai, chairman of the ACUM board of directors, paid tribute to her: “She was a fascinating, diverse and groundbreaking creator, one of the pioneers of Israeli rock... She left priceless assets that made an indelible mark on Israeli culture. Her contribution to Israeli music and to countless artists with whom she worked is beyond measure.”

Shamir is considered one of the deepest, bravest and most groundbreaking creators in Israeli music. Over the years she worked as a writer, composer and singer known for love songs as well as war and protest songs. In 1982 she released her first solo album, “In the Lowest Place in Tel Aviv,” which is considered a milestone in Israeli women’s rock and established her as one of the period’s leading creators. Over the years she also wrote and composed for other artists, including Gali Atari, Rita, Yehuda Poliker, Harel Skaat and Shlomo Artzi.