Sometimes a song comes along that you just fall in love with. You know it won’t win because of the field that year. Nevertheless, it becomes an instant classic. And it’s all the poignant when the performer is taken before their time.
In 1983, we were in (West) Germany after their first win. The runner-up to Germany (Israel) was there as a writer of that song the following year. Would he take it one step further – to coin a phrase – or would ignominy hit him once again? Well, his song was performed be today’s birthday girl עפרה חזה/Ofra Haza (née בת שבע עפרה חזה-אשכנזי/Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza-Ashkenazi). She had the performance completely bang on. Excellent vocal, a great dance routine as only the Israelis know how. And nice bright costumes. Any other year… It just so happened that a blue-eyed blinds representing Luxembourg just did things better. The rest is history. Sadly, Ofra was taken from us in 2000. But her legacy will stay with us.
Ofra would have been 62 today.