Liel Kolet ( he, ליאל קולט;) is an Israeli singer-songwriter and a peace advocate.
Biography
Liel Kolet is an international singer, songwriter and a peace advocate. Born on 11 July 1989 to Jewish Israeli parents on
Kibbutz
A kibbutz ( he, קִבּוּץ / , lit. "gathering, clustering"; plural: kibbutzim / ) is an intentional community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. The first kibbutz, established in 1909, was Degania. Today, farming h ...
Kinneret, she was raised in an idyllic environment and lived a very simple life.
At age 11, Liel won a talent contest in Israel called Bravo, performing a song originally sung by Israeli singer
Ofra Haza
Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza ( he, בת-שבע עפרה חזה; 19 November 1957 – 23 February 2000), known as Ofra Haza (), was an Israeli singer, songwriter, actress, and Grammy Award-nominated recording artist commonly known in the Western world as ...
called "Leorech Hayam". After winning the national contest she represented Israel in the European talent contest Bravo Bravissimo, where she also won. Among the many people touched by her performance was Liel's soon-to-be manager. He soon signed her and helped develop Liel's career.
At the age 13 she recorded her first studio album, ''Daughter of the Kinneret.'' It included songs such as "Prayer", "Eyfo Ata Achi" (Where Are You Now My Brother), a song dedicated to families whose lost sons to Israel's wars, and "Don't Be a Hero", a duet with Sasi Buganim. It also included her first English song: "Find it in Me".
When Liel was 14 she performed at the 80th birthday celebration of president
Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres (; he, שמעון פרס ; born Szymon Perski; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the ninth president of ...
. She invited President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
to join her on stage and sing
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
's "
Imagine
Imagine may refer to:
* Imagination
Music Albums
* ''Imagine'' (Armin van Buuren album), 2008
* ''Imagine'' (Eva Cassidy album), 2002
* ''Imagine'' (Janice Vidal album), 2012
* ''Imagine'' (John Lennon album), 1971
** ''Imagine: John Lennon' ...
" with a choir of 40 Jewish and 40 Muslim children. This performance made a worldwide impact as the video has been shown on major TV shows and channels all over the globe. This was Liel's first step into the International music scene, making her a "highly sought after personality" for royal events, peace concerts and charity events throughout the world.
A year later Liel began to work with German producer Jack White who produced her first international record called ''Simply Me''. Kolet promoted the album by performing on some of the biggest TV shows in Germany such as; ''Verstehen Sie Spass?'', ''Ein Herz für Kinder'' and many more. Later on, she received the German Radio Award for her work to promote peace and support children in need around the world.
At a 2006 aid concert for tsunami victims in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
, Liel performed "
Imagine
Imagine may refer to:
* Imagination
Music Albums
* ''Imagine'' (Armin van Buuren album), 2008
* ''Imagine'' (Eva Cassidy album), 2002
* ''Imagine'' (Janice Vidal album), 2012
* ''Imagine'' (John Lennon album), 1971
** ''Imagine: John Lennon' ...
" again, but this time with the
Scorpions
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...
' lead singer
Klaus Meine
Klaus Meine (born 25 May 1948) is a German singer and songwriter, best known as the longtime frontman of the hard rock band Scorpions. Meine and guitarist Rudolf Schenker are the only two members of the group to appear on every Scorpions album, ...
who joined her for an impromptu duet. The two clicked immediately, and shortly after, Meine invited her to perform with him. Together they recorded five duets, including a special version of "
Send Me an Angel", which became a big hit and ended up on her album, a special version of
David D'or
David D'Or ( he, דוד ד'אור; born David Nehaisi on October 2, 1965) is an Israeli singer, composer, and songwriter. A countertenor with a vocal range of more than four octaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" a ...
's song, "Tishmor al HaOlam Yeled" ("Keep the World Child"), and a new song which Meine wrote for Liel, "Bigger Than Life". Together, they also performed one of the most well-known Israeli songs, written by one of the best-known poets and songwriters of Israel,
Naomi Shemer
Naomi Shemer ( he, נעמי שמר; July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was a leading Israeli musician and songwriter, hailed as the "first lady of Israeli song and poetry." Her song " Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"), written in 1967 ...
: "
Jerusalem of Gold".
In 2006 Liel released her first international album- "Unison" which has a blend of pop-classical songs and a touch of ethnic flavor. Sung in both English and Spanish, it was also released in Mexico where she appeared on some of the biggest TV shows such as The Telethon as well as on various radio shows and even the news. Liel sold over 40,000 copies in Mexico City.
After gaining recognition in Europe, Liel was approached by leading producer
Ralph Siegel
Ralph Siegel (born 30 September 1945) is a German record producer and songwriter. Siegel is one of the most notable figures at the Eurovision Song Contest, in which he has participated with 24 songs so far, among them the 1982 winner song Ein bi ...
who asked her to represent Switzerland in the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
, as part of an international group called
Six4one
six4one was a six-piece supergroup formed in November 2005 for the sole purpose of representing Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The group was made up of six people who were chosen at a casting session that took place November ...
, a group formed of different singers from different nationalities who came together to support the message of peace and unity.
In 2007 Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert (; he, אֶהוּד אוֹלְמֶרְט, ; born 30 September 1945) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009 and before that as a cabinet minister from 1988 to 1992 and ...
nominated Liel as Official Ambassador for Northern Israel. She has also serves as official ambassador for The Peres Center for Peace, the Sheba Medical Center, the Children's Hospital, the Seeds of Peace and Children of Peace.
In 2008, Liel performed at the 10th anniversary of the Peres Center for Peace. Leading the musical part of the evening, her most memorable moment was when she sang a duet with
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli (; born 22 September 1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting fro ...
called "Ray of Hope" which was written by Shimon Peres and composed by Kolet.
In 2009, Liel released her second album, "Be Free," of pop-classical songs and strong ballads, containing some of her own writing. The album featured collaborations some of the biggest names in the music industry. She recorded a duet called "For the Love of God" with
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman.
LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul".
She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
. She also performed a live version of "What a Wonderful World with legendary Jazz musician
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...
. She released "Be Free" in Israel, Europe and Mexico.
On 9 October 2012 Liel took part in an historic international event honoring the
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dal ...
. Performing before the world media at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, Liel sang for the Dalai Lama and appeared alongside
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band (also known by the initials DMB) is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. The band's founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer and bac ...
,
Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...
,
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby (born August 14, 1941) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964. They got ...
and other international stars.
In 2013 Liel received The Eagle of Peace award, for her humanitarian work and promotion of peace through her music. At the same event she performed in a unique collaboration with Iranian singer Ebi. They performed "I Can Hear Christmas." The song was produced by the Grammy Award Winner producer Humberto Gatica. She also had her first PBS special aired in the United States, called ‘My Journey to Peace.’ The special was broadcast throughout the United States, bringing Liel's story into the homes of the American People, sharing her continuous mission to use her voice to promote peace. Following the PBS special, Liel toured the Eastern United States.
Discography
*''Kineret Child'', An Israeli Album (2003)
*''Too Young to Love'', single (25 October 2004)
*''Jerusalem'', single (2004)
*''Jerusalem – With Klaus Meine and
Matthias Jabs
Matthias Jabs (born 25 October 1955) is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist in the hard rock band Scorpions. He has played on all but the first five Scorpions studio albums starting with ''Lovedrive ...
(Scorpions)'', single (2004)
*''I'd Rather be Alone with You'', single (9 May 2005)
*''High Energy'', single (22 August 2005)
*''See On Me'' (רואים עליי In Hebrew)
*''Hava Nagila'', Single
*''Simply Me'', album (October 2005)
*''Send Me an Angel – With Klaus Meine (Scorpions)'', Single
*''Lost in You'', Single
*''Bigger Than Life – With Klaus Meine (Scorpions)'', Single
*''Unison'', Album.
*''If We All Give A Little'' – With Six4One
*''Elohim Sheli (also known as "Ratziti Sheteda", or "I wanted you to know", or "My God")'', Single
*''Be Free '', album
*''Save Yourself'', album
*''I Can Hear Christmas – with
Ebi
Ebrahim Hamedi ( fa, اِبراهیم حامدی, also Romanized as "Ebrāhim Hāmedi"; born 1949), better known by his stage name Ebi (Persian: ), is an Iranian pop singer who first started his career in Tehran, gaining fame as part of a ban ...
'', Single (2013)
Profile
dailymotion.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
Awards
* German Radio Award 2005
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolet, Liel
1989 births
Living people
21st-century Israeli women singers
Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Switzerland
Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2006
21st-century Israeli actresses