When a famous, admired person (a celebrity) dies, people feel sadness coupled with envy. Sadness - because when he/she dies it is as if a little part of us dies too. Envy, due to the fact that the famous person is going to be remembered and cherished through his works ( books, songs, paintings etc..) for many generations to come.
Elvis Presley comes immediateky to mind in this category. He was a phenomenon. His songs are unforgettable! His voice and performance - unique!
His israeli 'counterpart' , Zvika Pick, left us last august at the age of 72. Pick was not only an iconic pop/rock singer but also a prolific composer. The song 'Diva' composed by Pick (lyrics Yoav Ginai) won first prize at the Eurovision Song Context in 1998. He also composed songs for other more or less well-known singers and festival contesters.
Pick and his first wife Mirit Shem Or, a talented lyrics writer, have produced together some real music pearls such as Mary Lou, Mala Mala, Beyn haetzbaot, Elef Neshikot etc.. He composed the music, she wrote the lyrics. Very fruitful collaboration, which luckily, didn't end with their divorce in 1995.
It's interesting to note that their three adult children are also a success: son a doctor, two daughters that have performed together as the charming " Pick sisters" singers. (on a sidenote - one of the daughters is married to the american film producer Quentin Tarantino; the other to a 5 star hotel owner).
Zvika Pick - * web photo
I agree. When an "idol" dies... his/her fans feel a sense of loss as well. And some will never be forgotten, like Elvis Presley.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very accomplished family .
He was still young when he passed.
He got a stroke while on the plane, slowly recovered; he was probably trying too soon to return to full work, and that killed him. May his soul rest in peace!
DeleteWe do miss such people.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we do Christine! Almost all his songs were Hits. His performance on the stage was colorful, and his songs - a delight to the ears!
DeleteWe always watched Eurovision Song Contest and particularly loved Diva. But all the concentration was on the singers, not the composer.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace, Adon Pick.
I'm not sure, but I think he was conducting the accompanying orchestra at the contest!
DeleteAnyway , his death was a big blow to the world of israeli music. Even The Polish people regretted him (he was of polish descent).
Very interesting. It's great they continued to write together after divorcing.
ReplyDeleteTheir professional collaboration brought them a lot of success and money, so why stop it , especially when you have three kids who could profit of that money.
DeleteYes always sad when we lose someone famous, however their movies or music does live on. Janice
ReplyDeleteRight. The huge talent displayed in their works left for the public to enjoy, lives on - and that's the beauty of it.
DeleteHow wonderful to have lived a life and be loved like that!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed wonderful! His music made him famous, admired, loved, and even rich.
DeleteI enjoyed learning of Pick, a musician I had not heard of. I will look for more of his music.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you did, Mary. His songs, will you decide to look for them, will delight you.
DeleteAnother musician to learn about and find music from, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my post on him. Hopefully you'll enjoy his music, should you wish to look for it.
DeleteIt is sad when well known people who do such good for others in many ways, whether they be a charity worker, composer, singer or whatever die. They all usually have family left behind, their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteYes, sad indeed. I always feel sadness upon the final departure of people who have greatly contributed culturally and otherwise to the benefit of mankind.
DeleteThanks so much for the post. And to find out about his life and his children is so interesting, especially to see how they have reached others through his music, etc. He will be missed. Such a wonderful remembrance post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elle, for your very kind words. He's already missed, and not only by his surviving families (he was remarried , and had two more children). His many songs accompany our lives daily, making life more agreable.
DeleteFrom Helen in Bend Oregon ~~ I enjoyed reading about this talented performer! Thankfully his light still shines thru the music he left behind.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence of your comment ("thankfully, his light shines thru the music he left behind") - one couldn't have said it better. Thanks, Helen.
Deleteof course, while I knew of Elvis Presley, Duta, I was not familiar with Zvika Pick, so thank you for sharing about his talents.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Beatrice. Both Elvis and Zvika are among my eternal musical idols.
DeleteDearest Duta,
ReplyDeleteThat is sad and he was my age... But here in the USA I've never heard from him. That is even sadder.
Back in The Netherlands we all adored Esther Ofarim as well as her husband Abi.
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks Mariette, for mentioning Esther and Abi Ofarim. Oh, God - what an adorable, highly talented couple of singers!! He's not with us anymore (RIP), and she's in her eighties,
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DeleteThey are frozen in time, aren't they -- never to get older, their songs firmly set in our hearts and minds. This is a lovely post -- and his life sounds very interesting, particularly with the next generation following in musical careers. I can see why he would be a loss. Thanks for the video, too!
ReplyDeleteThere are photos of him with grey hair and wrinkles, but I wished to leave a nice-looking impression of him. He deserves to be remembered fresh and young like his songs.
DeleteBonito homenaje póstumo el que le haces a este compositor, del que nunca había oído hablar.
ReplyDeleteY ya que citas que unas de sus canciones ganó en Eurovisión, te quiero recordar que a ustedes siempre le fue ese festival, ganado en varias ocasiones; festival que tiene según mi humilde opinión mucho de política; pero a pesar de ello es muy atractiva su puesta en escena.
Un abrazo, amiga.
Correct. Israel has won several times, precisely four times . The winning songs: A-Ba-Ni-Bi (1978), Halleluya ( (1979), Diva (1998), Toy(2018).
DeleteIt is interesting to read about your famous icons. Elvis Presley certainly left a legacy in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteElvis Presley, an american, was world wide famous. Zvika Pick had some european fame, but was mainly famous in Israel.
DeleteIt's sad when a favorite singer dies. But when one dies of a drug overdose it's hard to look at them anything other than a drug addict.
ReplyDeleteI suppose there is some link between creativity and addiction. Hence the great number of addicted artists.
DeleteIt was known that Elvis Presley was addicted to drugs. Yet, he remains in our awareness, the greatest musical legend of the 20th century.
I've always been an Elvis fan, from when I was a kid...and that is a long time ago. A few weeks ago I watched the brilliant "Elvis" movie, starring Austin Butler as Elvis, that was made by the equally brilliant Aussie film-maker, Baz Luhrmann. I loved the movie. One of the amazing things about the movie is Luhrmann made it here, just a few kilometres down the mountain road from where I live in South East Queensland. It was made on the Gold Coast, Qld, Australia. Highly recommended viewing.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about the movie "ELVIS", and I trust your opinion of it as 'brilliant'. Thanks for the recommendation, Lee.
DeleteWell while Elvis was known to me, alas I have not heard of Zvika Pick, so many thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
There's always a first time. You're welcome, Jan. Thanks for reading the post.
DeleteFunnily enough, I have never felt envy at a famous person, no matter what the person was famous for. I sometimes feel a little sad when learning of the death of a musician, actor/actress, author, politician or other "celebrity", mainly because - as you say - they have been part of our lives. But deep sadness I can only feel about people I have known personally, and who have been close to me, such as the three friends and my Dad who died last year.
ReplyDeleteI should have written , perhaps, 'slight' envy.
DeleteOf course, it's not the same kind of sadness we feel when we lose a close person (family or friends). Not 'deep' sadness, but still sadness.
That B&W photo of Pick is very cute. Elvis' counterpart in India is Kishore Kumar. Actor, producer director, writer, singer and music director. - par excellence.
ReplyDeleteI think so too, about the B&W photo. Thanks for introducing me to Kishore Kumar. I'll google the name to learn more about him.
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