- Mira Awad
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Mira Awad 
Background information Born June 11, 1975
Rameh, Galilee,[1] IsraelOrigin Tel Aviv, Israel Occupations Singer, Actress & Songwriter Instruments Vocals, Guitar Labels Helicon, Sony Music Mīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ (Arabic: ميرا أنور عوض, transcribed as /Mīrā ’Anwar ʕawaḍ/ - Hebrew: מירה אנואר עווד[2], /Mira Anwar Awad/ Bulgarian: Мира Ануар Ауад, born June 11, 1975) is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.[3]
‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.[4][5] In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to represent Israel at Eurovision, singing the first Israeli Eurovision song with Arabic lyrics.
Contents
Early life
‘Awaḍ was born in Rameh village in Galilee, Israel to an Arab Christian father from the Galilee (Anwar), a physician by profession, and a Bulgarian Christian mother (Снежанка - Snejanka).[6] She studied at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat HaSharon. She participated in improvisational workshops in Israel and the UK sponsored by the BIArts, British Council, and studied at the Body Theatre School after receiving a scholarship from the America-Israel Culture Foundation.
Career
‘Awaḍ became an instant star on Israeli television after appearing in the sit-com Arab Labor.[7] She also appeared in The Bubble, a film by director Eytan Fox. She sang the theme songs for the films Forgiveness (directed by Udi Aloni), and Lemon Tree (directed by Eran Riklis).
In 2002, she collaborated with Achinoam Nini in a version of the Beatles song "We Can Work It Out." She appeared in an album of live performances of Greek singer George Dalaras. In the summer of 2002 she starred as Eliza Doolittle in the Israeli Opera production of My Fair Lady, directed by Micha Levinson, at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.[8] She also participated in the Israeli children's song festival "Festigal", performing the song Take the Journey.[9] In 2005, ‘Awaḍ collaborated with The Idan Raichel Project on the song Azini (Comfort Me) on his second album "Mi'ma'amakim."
In 2006 she appeared as an IDF soldier in the Cameri production of a musical adaptation of Maya Arad's novel in verse "Another Place, a Foreign City".[10]
In 2007 she played a Palestinian lawyer in the Israeli sit-com "Arab Labor."[11]
In 2008 she played a Palestinian refugee in the stage production of "The Return to Haifa."[12]
‘Awaḍ represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, along with Achinoam Nini (Known outside Israel as Noa). ‘Awaḍ was the first Arab-Israeli singer to represent Israel in the contest.[13] The song won a place in the Eurovision final on May 16, and eventually finished in 16th place with 53 points. ‘Awaḍ had previously tried to represent Israel in Eurovision 2005 with the song Zman (Time), but landed 8th place in the national final.
On May 15 Noa and ‘Awaḍ released a collaborative album There Must Be Another Way featuring both duets and solo tracks. ‘Awaḍ's debut solo album Acrobat (بهلوان, Bahlawan) was released in June, featuring songs she wrote and composed, in collaboration with Israeli guitarist Amos Ever-Hadani.
In 2010 she was part of a panel that chose the song to represent Israel in Eurovision 2010 to be sung by Harel Skaat.
‘Awaḍ participated in the fifth season of Rokdim Im Kokhavim, the Israeli version of Dancing with the Stars. Her dancing partner was Dani Yochtman, and they reached the semi-final stage of the competition, coming in 4th place.
She is also starring in the TV drama Noah's Ark, playing Ruthi.[14]Political views
‘Awaḍ identifies herself as Palestinian by nationality[1] and Israeli by citizenship.[15] While she has received criticism from both sides of the Arab-Israeli divide, she has many fans in both camps.[16][17] The debate has exposed the uneasy position of the Arab citizens of Israel.[18]
During the 2009 national elections in Israel, ‘Awaḍ voiced support for the Israeli Communist party, Hadash.[19]
Prior to her participation in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, Palestinian and Arab intellectuals circulated a petition calling on ‘Awaḍ not to take part in it.[20] The petition failed to deter ‘Awaḍ and Noa, who said, as peace advocates, they were surprised such a petition went around. According to the New York Times, "The antiwar movement, they say, seems to have turned into a Hamas apology force."[21] ‘Awaḍ laughed off the suggestion that she might be used as a fig leaf to cover up the Israeli government's actions. "The government didn't choose to send me to Eurovision. Noa and I agreed because of our eight-year collaboration," she said.
On November 19, 2009, ‘Awaḍ and Noa were awarded the Haviva Reik Peace Prize from Givat Haviva, to honor their commitment to peace and dialogue between Israelis and Arabs.[22]
References
- ^ a b Awad Mira Awad on Myspace
- ^ Entries in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest: Noa & Mira Awad (אחינועם ניני ומירה עוואד)
- ^ Tikkun article: Mira Awad: Israeli Arab Singer and Actress
- ^ http://www.syntorama.com/eng/artists/Mira_Awad/
- ^ http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/politics/articles/pol_0100.htm
- ^ Bronner, Ethan (2009-02-25). "Musical Show of Unity Upsets Many in Israel". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=world. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Haaretz article: Talent or traitor?
- ^ ברד ירד בדרום ערד - critique by Merav Yudilovitch on Ynet
- ^ Festigal 2002 official site
- ^ "מקום אחר ועיר זרה" (in Hebrew). עכבר העיר. http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.shows_item_show,411,208,617,.aspx. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ Mira Awad biography
- ^ MacIntyre, Donald (2008-04-14). "Israelis stage daring saga of the abandoned Palestinian raised as a Jew". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelis-stage-daring-saga-of-the-abandoned-palestinian-raised-as-a-jew-808651.html. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ^ http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12891?rss
- ^ Tevat Noah official site
- ^ http://news.id.msn.com/entertainment/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3295838
- ^ http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=93204&a=1353566&lid=puff_1355913&lpos=lasMer
- ^ Ethan Bronner article in New York Times: Musical show of unity upsets many in Israel
- ^ Daily Telegraph article: Israeli Eurovision singers condemned as 'traitors'
- ^ http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3668839,00.html
- ^ Asharq Alawsat: "Intellectuals and artists of the 1948 Arabs Appeal to Mira Awad Not To Represent Israel in Moscow
- ^ Bronner, Ethan (2009-02-25). "Musical Show of Unity Upsets Many in Israel". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=middleeast. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ http://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/Found.php?id=1425598 Aviva-Berlin.de
External links
- Mira Awad on Myspace
- Mira Awad at the Internet Movie Database
Awards and achievements Preceded by
Bo'az
with "The Fire In Your Eyes"Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
(with Noa)
with "There Must Be Another Way"
2009Succeeded by
Harel Ska’at
with "Milim" (translated as "Words")
מילים can be translated also as PromisesCategories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- Israeli female singers
- Israeli musicians
- Israeli pop singers
- Israeli songwriters
- Israeli stage actors
- Israeli Eurovision Song Contest entrants
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2009
- Israeli Arab Christians
- Arab citizens of Israel
- Israeli people of Bulgarian origin
- People from North District (Israel)
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