David Broza – La Mujer Que Yo Quiero (2023)
On January 27, 2023, David Broza unveiled his latest work, “La Mujer Que Yo Quiero.” This album is the Spanish version of “Ha’isha She’iti,” which he released four decades ago. “Ha’isha She’iti” is the most successful album in Israel’s record industry. It was a tribute to popular Spanish music during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Broza’s new album, “La Mujer Que Yo Quiero,” returns to the Spanish roots. The songs are performed in flawless Spanish, just as they were originally composed.
Although Broza is a significant songwriter, he is also a virtuoso guitarist. Accordingly, Broza delivers an exquisite album, where songwriting and musicality are equal partners. Broza’s engaging, exceptionally expressive vocals are accompanied by his guitar, which mixes skillfully flamenco and other techniques.
Forty years ago, “Ha’isha She’iti”‘s tracks were translated into Hebrew with great fluency by the eminent Israeli poet Jonathan Geffen. The translations were so well executed that few people remember the songs’ Spanish origin. In recent years, Broza has performed the songs live, combining Spanish with Hebrew lyrics. This led to the idea of creating a 40th anniversary version of the album, entirely in Spanish.
In October 2022, Broza traveled to Madrid, where he recorded the album in one take, over the course of a single day. The preparation for the album took more than a month. Broza rehearsed extensively, perfecting his voice in the Spanish language. The album comprises nine songs. “Rumba,” the only song from “Ha’isha She’iti” originally sung in Hebrew, was replaced by “La Más Bella Niña” on “La Mujer Que Yo Quiero.” “La Más Bella Niña” is a poem from 16th-century Spain, written by Luis de Góngora, with musician Paco Ibañez’s melody. It was the first song Jonathan Geffen translated into Hebrew and the song that inspired this project over 40 years ago.
The concept of “La Mujer Que Yo Quiero” was to produce raw versions of the songs, with only vocal and guitar. The transformation was profound. During the recording, Broza sang a straight set over eight hours, with hardly any breaks. “Only after the session was over did I realize that I had immersed myself into the songs with my whole body and soul. It was so intense, it took me several days to unwind,” says Broza. The result is a stark and pure performance of the songs from Ha’isha She’iti, now sung in Spanish.
David Broza is a celebrated Israeli singer-songwriter, known for his exceptional guitar performances and humanitarian efforts. He blends songs in Hebrew, Spanish, and English, drawing inspiration from Spanish flamenco, American folk, rock music, and poetry. Social justice and peace advocacy are integral to Broza’s work, as his 1977 hit song “Yihye Tov” is still an Israeli peace anthem. Broza has released over 40 albums, many of which are multi-platinum. His global travels have contributed to his international sound and commitment to human connection, storytelling, and equality. Broza’s charismatic, lively, and passionate energy is contagious and has a profound effect on his audience.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.