Lior Narkis Celebrates 50th Birthday With Career Retrospective
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Israeli singer Lior Narkis is celebrating his 50th birthday, reflecting on a career that began with Turkish music and evolved into Mediterranean hits. Key moments include his 2000 duet with Shlomi Shabat, representing Israel at Eurovision in 2003, and his efforts to host weddings for soldiers during the Swords of Iron War. Narkis has also spoken about overcoming depression and his surprising path to his current relationship.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- Lior Narkis is celebrating his 50th birthday, marking over 30 years in the music industry.
- His career began with Turkish music before shifting to Mediterranean hits.
- A duet with Shlomi Shabat in 2000 significantly boosted his career.
- Narkis represented Israel at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest.
- He organized weddings for soldiers during the Swords of Iron War.
- Narkis has publicly discussed overcoming depression.
- He once performed at the wedding of his current partner to her previous husband.
Israeli singer Lior Narkis is celebrating his 50th birthday on Sunday, marking a career spanning over three decades. Known for hits like "Erev Tov" and "Lechol Echad Yesh," Narkis's journey began in Holon, where he was born to David and Hannah. He started singing at 16 and released his first album at 18.
Initially, Narkis explored Turkish music, releasing his first album "Tefilat Chai" in 1994 with Turkish melodies. After his second album, he shifted to lighter Mediterranean music. During his military service in the Air Force, he drove transport vehicles before joining an entertainment unit. There, with childhood friend Tamir Tzur, he established the first Mizrahi (Eastern) entertainment troupe in the IDF. Tzur later became a well-known music producer, continuing to collaborate with Narkis.
A significant turning point in his career was the 2000 duet "Lechol Echad Yesh" with Shlomi Shabat. The song became a massive hit, chosen as Song of the Year by Reshet Gimel, and propelled Narkis to international performances. The album featuring the song sold approximately 100,000 copies.
Narkis also represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with the song "Milim Le'ahava," written by Yossi Gispan and composed by Yoni Ro'a. Although he finished 19th in Riga, Latvia, the song remains one of his signature tunes.
Beyond music, Narkis ventured into acting, appearing as himself in the 2014 series "Zaguri Empire" and performing its theme song. During the Swords of Iron War, Narkis and his then-wife Sapir organized weddings at their home in Savion for soldiers whose ceremonies were postponed due to the conflict. They partnered with Beit Chabad Savion to offer free weddings for soldiers and released a mini-album, "Mechatenim et Ha'Lochamim," featuring collaborations with artists like Omer Adam, Odetta, and Osher Cohen.
Narkis has also spoken about personal struggles, including a period of depression following his divorce from Sapir, during which he found it difficult to get out of bed. He sought professional help to cope. In a surprising turn, Narkis once performed at the wedding of his current partner, Miri Fridlan, to her previous husband about 12 years ago. He later reconnected with Fridlan via Facebook, and they eventually became a couple. His mother initially opposed his music career, even offering to buy him an apartment if he abandoned singing, but Narkis pursued his dream, which has evidently paid off over his thirty-year career.