Rita (Israeli singer)

Rita
Background information
Birth name	Rita Yahan Farouz
Born	(1962-03-24) March 24, 1962
Origin	Tehran, Iran
Genres	Rock, soul, pop, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer, Actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Hed Arzi, Helicon, Kna'an

Rita Yahan-Farouz Kleinstein (Persian : ریتا جهان‌فروز ) ; (English: Jahanforuz; Hebrew: ריטה יהאן-פרוז‎;, Known simply as Rita, b. March 24, 1962) is an Israeli pop singer and actress, notable for being one of Israel's most famous female singers. After becoming a professional singer and performer in the 1980s, she has appeared in numerous concerts, many being packed with fans, including members of government.

In 2011, she also became popular in Iran as an underground singing sensation after the release of various pop records which she sings in her native Persian language. Iran has tried to block Western-style pop music and filters the Internet. In 2012, her album "All My Joys," also sung in Persian, was popular in both Israel and Iran, going gold in Israel after three weeks. She has since been referred to as a cultural ambassador between Israeli and Iranian citizens, and states she hopes to "puncture the wall of tension" between their countries.

Early life

Rita Jehan-Forouz was born in Tehran, Iran in 1962. Her family emigrated to Israel in 1970 and lived in a suburb outside of Tel Aviv. She began singing professionally as a band member while in the Israeli Army during the 1980s, and rose to stardom quickly.

Musical and acting career

Rita during concert at Jerusalem

1980s

Rita began her career in 1980 as part of a musical troupe in the Israeli Army. In 1982, she attended the "Beit Zvi" school of acting. Her first exposure to the general public in Israel was at the 1986 Pre-Eurovision Song Contest (known as the Kdam-Eurovision), which decided who would represent Israel in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Rita did not win, but her song,"Shvil habricha", along with her provocative performance, garnered much interest. That same year, Rita starred in an adaptation of My Fair Lady and released her self-titled debut album, Rita, which went triple platinum, selling over 120,000 copies. In 1987, she released the English language album Breaking Those Walls under the name of Rita Farouz. That album contained a couple of English versions of her Hebrew songs from the first album as well as original material. Despite going gold (20 000 copies) in Israel, that album was not an international success.

In 1988, Rita released her second album, Yemei Ha'Tom (The Days of Innocence), which was produced by her then husband, Rami Kleinstein, and which included a song by noted Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin. In 1988 and 1989 she was chosen as Singer of the Year by Israel's national radio station.

1990s

In 1990, Rita finally got her chance to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Shara Barkhovot (Singing in the Streets), but only achieved 18th place. After a brief hiatus, Rita returned in 1994 with her third album, Ahava Gedola (Big Love), which was also successful and led to a three-year tour around the country. Tahanot Bazman (Stations in Time) was released in 1996, consisting mainly of previously unreleased material.

In 1995, Rita voiced Pocahontas in the Hebrew dub of the animated film Pocahontas. She also sang singing parts in the film.

In 1998, Rita was invited to sing the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah (The Hope) as part of Israel's jubilee celebration Paamonei ha'yovel (The Jubilee Bells). There was a minor uproar concerning the amount of money she would be paid, which seemed exorbitant to some, but she was finally convinced to perform following a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She reportedly donated her fee to charity.

In 1999, Rita released Tiftah Halon (Open a Window) which was also a great success, followed by Hamtzan (oxygen) in 2003 which was less successful. In 2004, Rita played the role of Roxie Hart in an adaptation of Chicago for the Beit Lessin Theater.

2000s

In 2006, Rita put on a new show called One (in English) which ran for a month at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center. Directed by Hanoch Rozen, it was a lavish affair including lasers, flamethrowers, 3-D images, smoke machines and forty dancers, acrobats, and actors. Over 100,000 tickets were sold.

After five years during which she didn't release any new albums, Rita released her 7th album, "Remazim" (Clues).

2010s

In 2010 she performed in a special concert at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, in the presence of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Israeli president Shimon Peres. She sang her musical version to Bialik's poem Hachanasini tachat Knafeh and an aria in Italian. She released her new Persian single, "Shane", on June 22, 2011.

Deciding to create a song in her childhood language of Persian, which she speaks fluently, she introduced the single, "Shaneh." The song is based on traditional Persian folk music, but modernized with a more pop and techno dance beat. Iranians of all ages have responded "overwhelmingly," including sending her positive emails and writing on her Facebook page.

Most Westernized popular music, including hers, is banned in Iran, which filters the Internet, however fans have nonetheless been downloading or buying bootleg copies of her latest albums. While Iranians living in other countries have "flooded" her recording studio with messages of admiration, especially after the release of her 2012 album, "All My Joys," also in Persian, likewise popular among Israelis which caused it to go "gold" in Israel within three weeks of its release.

She has been considered one of Israel's most famous female singers, effectively becoming a "cultural ambassador" between Israel and Iranian citizens. However, despite her popularity in Iran, their government declares her music merely a "plot" to win over the "hearts and minds" of Iranians, and part of Israel's "soft war" against Iran. Others in Iran have expressed "particular displeasure" at her for sending celebration messages to Iranians for Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

Rita is part of an international female musical group called "Divinas" along with Irish singer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha and Yulia Townsend.

On March 5, 2013 she performed at the U.N. General Assembly and sang in Persian, English and Hebrew.

In 2013, a documentary about her album in Persian was directed by Ayal Goldberg. It was shown at the Lincoln Center in New York City during the New York Jewish Film Festival in 2014. In Australia, it shown in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth during the AICE Israeli Film Festival in August 2014.

Personal life

Rita was married to the popular singer, composer, and keyboardist Rami Kleinstein, with whom she has two daughters - Meshi and Noam. The couple performed together in 2001. On September 3, 2007, however, it was announced that Rita and Rami were separating.

Discography

Year	Album	Translation	Israel Certificate
1986	Rita		4x Platinum
1987	Breaking Those Walls		Gold
1988	Yamey Ha-Tom	The Days of Innocence	5x Gold
1994	Ahava Gdola	A Great Love	4x Platinum
1996	Tahanot BaZman	Stages in Time	2x Platinum
1999	Tiftah Halon	Open a Window	2x Platinum
2000	Time for Peace		Gold
2001	Rita & Rami On Stage		5x Gold
2003	Hamtsan	Oxygen	Gold
2007	One Live		Gold
2008	Remazim	Clues	Platinum
2012	Ha'Smachot Shelly	My Joys	Gold
2015	Rita Osef	Rita: The Collection

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Gili & Galit with Derekh Hamelekh	Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990	Succeeded by Duo Datz with Kan

See also

Persian Jews

References

• Friedman, Motti. "Rita." The Department for Jewish Zionist Education web site, retrieved August 19, 2006.
• Griver, Simon. "The Ingathering of the Exiles." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site, retrieved March 25, 2005.
• Hartog, Kelly. "Diva Sings Out About Her Tour, Fans". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, January 4, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2005.
• Pri, Tal. "Behind the Curtains of 'Chicago'" (in Hebrew). nrg Maariv, retrieved March 25, 2005.

External links

• Official website
• Official YouTube page - live performances
• Persian-Israeli singer Rita performs Hayedeh's "Gol-e Sangam"
• Rita at the Internet Movie Database