noalove medicine

dear friends

this album has been simmering slowly in our minds over the past four years, and now finally we have brought together the best of our musical offerings, our “love medicine”. the album includes a collection of songs inspired by interesting people and places, like “nothing but a song” and “happy song”, inspired by milton nascimento and joao bosco, our hebrew version of a gilberto gil song called “shalom- a paz” (all three our tribute to brazil and its great artists) and a gorgeous new tune by pat metheny that i wrote lyrics to (a poetic sketch of the man and his genius!), featuring his gorgeous playing. thank you pat, our one and only!

we are also honored to have a duet with the wonderful spanish singer-songwriter/poet/philosopher/painter joaquin sabina, whom gil and i admire greatly. the song “you” was written after an inspiring meeting with him at his amazing home in madrid, where he has 30,000 books! he translated my lyrics into spanish, recreating the song in his own inimitable style. gracias joaquin!

the album also includes two additional covers: one is the great classic bangles song “eternal flame”, co-written by (and dedicated to!) our friend billy steinberg. the other is a less known but absolutely lovely song by bobby mcferrin, whom we had the honor of sharing the stage with last year.

“don’t be afraid of anything” is dedicated to my children... ayehli, enea and yum. in “look at the moon” i tried to finally fulfill that famous paul simon lyric i’ve known since my teens: “if you wanna write a song about the moon, if you wanna write a spiritual tune... just do it, write a song about the moon.” :-). “little star” is my first attempt ever to write a song about the holocaust. i have seldom felt as proud of any piece of my own work.

“deep as your eyes” is a song that has been hiding with gil and me for many years, and here, it has finally come into the light...

the last song on the album is our message to all of you, and the torch by which we live our lives: “love your brother, and sister, as you love yourself”.

hope you enjoy :-) xo noa

nothing but a songlyrics and music: noa (achinoam nini)

your eyessay all that your mouth cannot sayand i, i want to flyfly like the birds over the lakein the early dawnwith nothing on my mindnothing but a song

your handssay all that your head will not dareand i, i want to cry,cry out your name into the nighttill the early dawnwith nothing on my lipsnothing but a song

wake up and see me, i’m right here beside youor over the ocean in some foreign landwhere’s there’s sand and there’s sandor i’m high in a tower with cars down below or i’m deep in the snowhere again i’m beside youmy heart seeking out your embracethough i don’t really know you, i see in your facethere is goodness, a child playing ball in the streetdreaming always of dolphins

your smileis all that the world can’t destroyand we, we want to seethough all the painand all the tearsall that has gone wrongwith nothing in our heartsnothing but a song

eternal flamelyrics and music: tom kelly, billy steinbergand susanna hoffs

close your eyesgive me your handdo you feel my heart beating?do you understand?do you feel the same?am i only dreaming?is this burning an eternal flame?

i believe it’s meant to bei watch you when you are sleepingyou belong with medo you feel the same?am i only dreaming?or is this burning an eternal flame?

call my namesun shines through the raina whole life so lonelyand then come and ease the paini don’t want to lose this feeling, oh

call my namesun shines through the raina whole life so lonelyand then come and ease the paini don’t want to lose this feeling, oh

you-tú waltz for joaquin and noaspecial guest: joaquin sabina

lyrics and music: noa (achinoam nini)spanish lyrics: joaquin sabina

you, you are the darkest of nightswhere i will wanderfrom alley to alley to alleyin search of a bottle of light

you, you are a woman who choserunning half nakedfrom alley to alley to alley in search of a knife and a rose

so, where does our story go?is there an apple to bite, shiny and redand if i do, will i falldead at your feet?

so, where does the music flow?is it the river of jordan, holy and cold,will you jump in?are you as bold as you seem

tú, resaca del corazóncontestador que repiterepite y repitellorando su absurda canción.

tú, banquete del colibrípeonza que va dando vueltasy vueltas y vueltaspor un olivar sefardí

yo, huérfano y desertortataranieto de abraham crepuscularbufón del mesvecino de lavapiés

no, fui tu príncipe azuly envejecí en un desvánpeter sin pan, robin sin hoodsilbando un canto viudo

you, you make me feel like a foollets run togetherfrom alley to alley to alley like children escaping the rule

tú, la favorita de un reycon su maleta que ruedaque rueda, que rueda por un aeroporto sin ley

yo, mendigo de estaciónbastardo del rey davidyerno del cid, macho sin fedon juan rendido a tus pies

so, gently you raise your bowi see your eyes full of firerobin, no hoodbad turns to goodgood’s an unfaithful lover

eternity and beauty (for pat)special guest: pat metheny

lyrics: noamusic: pat metheny

eyes as blue as the windand everything insidewaiting to begin

where is the childthat used to dream of a train over the plains and the skywhere the sparrows fly at dawnalong the lines of a cloud

in eyes as deep as the rainthere’s no way to explain ithow you make me feelwhen i’m near you

eternity and beautyfrom a distant placejoin hands and take a bow

mere wordslyrics and music: bobby mcferrin

all these songs of love’s first flightthey don’t sing ours just rightso i stayed up half the nightto write a song of love for you

there are the wordsthat say these thingsi don’t know one that bringsall the joy that i could sing in a song of love for you

this is crazy, i’m so hazyand not so sure of myselfall the love i feel in my heart for youa mere song couldn’t handleguess i’ll abandon this projectwho am i foolin’?i’m no poetjust thought if you didn’t know yetthat i need your love to see me through

yes, i’m a failurei couldn’t see my way through to the endi know we’re not through, my friendthere’s so much still left for us to docause’ there’s no one quite like youno, there’s no one quite like you

happy songlyrics and music: noa (achinoam nini)

i want to write a happy songforget for a moment all that is wrongconcentrate on all that’s rightlike the stars that sparkle in the nightlike your eyes when they are ready for my loving

i wiggle my toes in the warm, warm sandi hold the sunlight in my handi tickle my daughter and watch her laughwe skip together down the pathand all of god’s creation comes alive for us

tudutudutudu, there is a plan but we don’t know ittudutudutudu, there is a way, or maybe twotudutudutudu, and i will sing a happy song for youeven when my heart is breaking into twodutudutudulalalalalala, there is a love and it is growinglalalalalala, there is a lot that we can dotudutudutudu ,and i will sing a happy song for youeven when my heart is breaking into twodutudutudu

i wish that i could close my eyesand wake up where the sun will risethe sun that paints the edge of nightin red and purple shades of lightreminding me that somewhere there’s a dream coming

true!dutudutudu, there is a plan but we don’t know ittudutudutudu, there is a way, or maybe twotudutudutudu, and i will sing a happy song for youeven when my heart is breaking into twodutudutudulalalalalala, there is a love and it is growinglalalalalala, there is a lot that we can dotudutudutudu, and i will sing a happy song for youeven when my heart is breaking into twodutudutudu

shalom (a paz)lyrics and music: joao donato and gilberto gilhebrew lyrics: noa (achinoam nini) and gil dor

peacecrept into the chambers of my heartand filled my soulpeacelike a storm from a distant placethat suddenly sweeps me awayand i am no longer bound in chains

peacethousands in the city squaresuddenly, shots in the airyears and the flame has not dimmedbut my heart longs for moreand will not rest until it comes...peace

and here you are, and here i ama moment of hopethe cannons blastthe children singand here… a tear

at the endmy feet will take me far awayto the dock at the end of the horizonand the sunset will thrill my eyeslike the waves crying for the shorelike the heart asking: when?

שלוםהתגנב לחדרי ליבי

התמלאה נשמתישלום

כמו סופה ממקום אחר שסוחפת אותי פתאום

ואינני כבולה יותר

שלוםרבבות בכיכר העיר

ירייה באוויר פתאום כבר שנים לא כבה הנר

אך ליבי מבקש יותרלא ישקוט עד יבוא...

שלום

והנה אתהוהנה אני

רגע של תקווהשאון התותחים

ילדים שריםוהנה... דמעה

בסוףיישאוני הרחק רגלי

לרציף שבקצה הנוףושקיעה תרגש עיני

כמו גלים הבוכים לחוףכמו הלב השואל מתי?

don’t be afraidlyrics: noa (achinoam nini)music: noa (achinoam nini) and gil dor

my son, this sun may not always shine on youmy boy, this joy may not always be your lotmy girl, this world may not always call your namethe sea you see, may drown all your dreams

but you, raise your chindon’t you let those demons in don’t be afraid of anything

my child, complied in every book you’ll readbeauty, wisdom and secrets untold

my friend, no end to the questions you may askbut who hears youwhen you dare break the mold?

then you, raise your chin.don’t you let those demons indon’t be afraid of anythingdon’t be afraid of anything

remember the light from whence you cameremember, and go back againremember the light from whence you cameremember! and go back againdon’t be afraid of anything!

my son, this sun may not always shine on youbreath deep, don’t keep your fist forever clenched

don’t be afraid of anything

look at the moonlyrics: noa (achinoam nini), music: noa (achinoam nini) and gil dor

look at the moon my love, the way it glimmers in the nightwe are not the first nor the last basking in her lightdo you think she sees how your eyes when they look certain then surprisedcould make the coldest iceberg melt

look at the moon my love, the way she whispers to a starwe are not the first nor the last to adore her from afardo you think the moon understands the simple beauty of your handswhen they are longing to be held

do you think she knows the language of our prayers?do you think she knows, or even cares?do you think she hears our names? in her eyes we’re all the samefrom her cradle way abovethe moon sees only love

look at the moon my dear, at all the stories she can tellwe are not the first nor the last to fall under her spelldo you think she hears my heart, breaking the loneliness apartwishing my mouth could be as bold

do you think she knows the language of our prayers?do you think she knows, or even cares?do you think she hears our names? in her eyes we’re all the samefrom her cradle way abovethe moon sees only love

look at the moon, she knowsthat every moment something growswe are not the first nor the last, to trust her with our woesi know the moon would riseif she could only see your eyesif she could understand the power they have over every song i sing

little starlyrics and music: noa (achinoam nini)

twinkle, twinkle, little starhow i wonder whyyou are down here...what are you doingon my father’s coat?why are you spoilingmy mother’s dress?no, i don’t want to guessi’d rather close my eyeslike a diamond in the sky

twinkle, twinkle, little starhow i wonder whyyou are so dim?what are you doingwith a big black name?sewn with a needleand a thread of shame?maybe this is just agrown-up’ game?i’d rather close my eyeslike a diamond in the sky

ooh, who am i today?ooh, who was i before?twinkle, twinkle, i will singfor tomorrow always bringsopportunities to begin again

twinkle, twinkle, little starhow i wonder whyyou are right herehear my heart beatwhere you lie

thunder is rollingin a clear blue skyno i don’t want to cry!i’d rather close my eyes,like a diamond in the sky

ooh, who am i today?ooh, who was i before?twinkle, twinkle, i will singfor tomorrow always bringsopportunities to begin, again

she’ll be coming roundthe mountain when she comesshe’ll be carrying six white horses tooone white horse for every millionnext she’s coming round for meand you!

twinkle, twinkle, silent nightall is calm but nothing’s bright down herewoe, when a mother and her childfear for their lives as they run and hidei’m trembling insideplease let me close my eyes,and sleep in heavenly peace

deep as your eyes lyric and music: noa (achinoam nini) and gil dor

there’s a time of dayi get melancholysomething i can’t explainwhen i watch the skyturning red and holypromising morning rain

i feel a cold wind in my heartand just before i start to crya love as deep as your eyesdeep as your eyes

there’s a time of dayit’s a changing hourall my defences fallthen i close myselflike a gentle flowernobody hears my call

where can i find a friend, a voicewho can erase the tears, the lieswith a love as deep as your eyesdeep as your eyes

love without questions or fear now and here hear me hear me...

i feel a cold wind in my heartand just before i start to crya love as deep as your eyesyour love isdeep as your eyes

love love lovelyrics and music: noa (achinoam nini) and gil dor

there are words of wisdomin every sacred bookyou can see them shiningeverywhere you lookreminding us that we are not alonethat we share this worldas our only home

you can say it in a million waysit will still remain the samefor together, it is so much betteri’ll be there when you call my name

love love lovelove your brother as you love yourselfdon’t let anybody say you’re wrongsing your songand together we will changethe way we see eachother

love love love love your sister as you love yourselfand if people tell you you’re naïvejust believethere’s a spirit that’s connecting us abovethe spirit of love!

no matter your religionor the color of your facewe are linked togetherin one sacred human race

love love love…

arranged and produced by gil dor,except 4, produced by gil dor and pat metheny

co-produced and recorded by shai even / additional recording by gai joffeadditional recording of joaquin sabina vocals by juan gonzalez

mixed by gai joffe / mastered by ben bernfeld and gai joffe on harmonia mundi penguin

noa (achinoam nini): vocals, additional percussion (12)gil dor: acoustic, electric and classical guitar, programming and electric bass (12)

special guests; pat metheny: guitar (4) / joaquin sabina: vocals (3)

gadi seri: percussion / daniel dor: drums / gil zohar: piano, keyboards and flute (8,9,11,12)david feldman: piano (1) / adam ben ezra: contrabass (1,2,4,5,6,7) / avri borochov: contrabass (3,8,9)

the solis string quartet; vincenzo di donna, gerardo morrone, antonio di francia and luigi di mayo: strings (8-11)chen shenhar: violin (2,3,7) / nitzan kanetti: violin (2,3,7) / amit landau: viola (3) / gili radyan: viola (2,7)

abigail arad: cello (2,7) / maya belzitzman: cello (3) / yoni dror: flute and clarinet (3)meirav kadishevsky: oboe (3) / alon reuven: french horn (3) / itamar borochov: trumpet (12)

studio doron edut: graphic design / michel braunstein: photographysharon rainis: model adviser, photographer’s assistant, mermaid

johannes felten: underwater “making of” stills and video david pilosof: above the water “making of” video

doron cohen: lighting, above the water “making of” stills / shelly leon: make-up

special thanks to all of the above and to yael and itai talfor graciously hosting us in their lovely swimming pool for the album photo session.

shlomit amir communication & pr e-mail: shlomit@shlomitamir.com

more management, ofer pesenzon 31 ha-barzel st. tel aviv, 69710, israel tel: +972-3-6444027 e-mail: morem@netvision.net.il

special thanks to our headstart supporters!~ daniel benaim ~ batia ofer ~ kenza, diego, india, athena sadoun ~ kenneth and natasha rogoff ~

~ vito cinque; sara esteban miguel ~ dan adler ~ domingo valido de la nuez ~ yoni, tracy & omari greenbaum ~~ nobuyasu fukuhara ~ daniel miguel ~ doron lefler ~ borel frederic ~ etienne henrion ~ walter wartenweiler ~

~ zeghmati liliane ~ michael n. dietz and harrisse s. coffee ~ cindy vanbellinghen ~ masala florence ~~ marcel weil ~ murielle basiez ~ cathie zografou ~ maarten haalboom ~ waignier christophe ~ celine dupont ~

~ gad ibgui ~ mario giglia ~ benny & clo ben-dor - de ville ~ leontine caen ~ cristina heeren ~ adam fell ~~ jeff kaye ~ barbara demaire ~ marco alici ~ muli and sharon yakar ~ hagay shemesh ~ yigal galli ~

~ ziv and kobi cohen-chai ~ daniel lehmann ~ daniel sides ~ paula belinky pitashny ~ razi livnat ~and all the other wonderful friends, fans and family who gave us their support!

we would like to thank our dear families for their love and support,all the wonderful musicians and technicians who gave of their great talent to this project,

ofer pesenzon, pat metheny, joaquin sabina and jimena coronado, anat shachar, oran bar oz, moti dichne,emilia galindo, mariangela ajello, michal heinberg, michel and danielle braunstein, dan gang, orit pesenzon,

debi and jaime barzellai, david yoshpe, pompeo, cruz, emmanuel and all our great fans everywhere!

noalove medicine