Background
Ariel was born on the Fast of Esther in 1942 and grew up in Kibbutz Mishmarot.
Ariel was born on the Fast of Esther in 1942 and grew up in Kibbutz Mishmarot.
He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as ibn Gabirol, Natan Alterman, South. Y. Agnon and Hayim Nahman Bialik, and American singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan. Ariel"s fame and recognition is largely posthumous.
Ariel served in the Paratroopers Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces and participated as part of hat brigade in the Battle for Jerusalem at the beginning of the Six-Day War.
This inspired him to write the song "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" ("Jerusalem of Iron"). The song was based on Naomi Shemer"s hit song "Jerusalem of Gold", and borrowed its melody (in turn borrowed from the Basque folk song "Pello joxepe").
The "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" mini-album cover showed Ariel in his military uniform thus giving him the nickname "the singing paratrooper". After he had lived in the United States of America for some time, Ariel returned to Israel and decided to create folk rock inspired music
He served in the Yom Kippur War in the Suez Canal and returned to his kibbutz after the war.
Between 1978 and 1988, he released his three first LPs. The first album"s title, Shirey Chag Umoed Venofel, is a parody of the term "Shirey Chag Umoed" which means "Songs for holidays". The album"s title could also mean, in Hebrew, "Songs for the circling, tripping and falling.
Between 1990 and 1997, he released one more European Parliament, one collection album, one live album and three more LPs, the last one being Bernard ve Louise (Bernard and Louise).
Ariel died on July 18, 1999 from the Mediterranean spotted (or "Boutonneuse") fever which is caused by the rickettsia parasite and transmitted by a tick bite. He was buried in the Kibbutz Mishmarot cemetery.
Several tribute albums performed by various Israeli artists performing his songs were released posthumously, among them several live memorial performances, and a track-by-track re-recording of his 1995 album Rishumey Pecham. Among the many artists for whom Meir Ariel wrote are Shalom Hanoch, Arik Einstein, Rita, Sharon Haziz and David Broza.
In 2009, the Israeli postal service issued a stamp in his honor.
Masa Habchirot Shel Meir Ariel (Meir Ariel"s Campaign Tour) 1988
Derech Dim"a Shkufa – Hahofa"a (Through a Clear Tear – The Show) 2003.
lieutenant was a reaction to the over-patriotism of the Israeli public and media of that time.