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February 10: Ivri Lider and Israel’s Pop Scene
Israeli singer Ivri Lider, a member of The Young Professionals duo and one of the best-selling musicians in the country, was born on the Givat Haim kibbutz on this date in 1974. The Young Professionals combine electronic sounds, percussion, and guitars to create alternative pop music; you can hear a sample below. In 2002, with two solo studio albums to his credit, Lider came out as gay in an interview in Ma’ariv, noting that “On a personal level, I felt complete and happy with my life and who I am, and I didn’t see any reason to not talk about ... my boyfriend, about my life. On a less personal level, I felt it’s kind of my obligation. When you’re an artist and you’re doing well and you’re successful, you get a lot of love and appreciation and energy and good things from people, and I think you need to give it back.” Lider has written scores for dance and film, and has sold over 200,000 copies of six albums. To see him sing “Bo” (“Let’s), which he sang for the film Yossi and Jagger, look further below.
When I’m performing, I love to see a gay couple, next to a straight couple, next to a religious couple — all experiencing the same energy.” —Ivri Lider