Amichai’s Top 50/29. אותך OTCHA/YOU

“You
An echo responding from the fogs
Will you remember the winds of fall
That caressed you?
I remember you night and day
You. “

My first drag performance included no wig or makeup and was a love song directed at God. Sort of.

It’s 1977, I’m 8, and Ilana Avital, 17 years old, just performed this amazing song at Israel’s Eurovision song selection competition, live on TV. She didn’t win but the song became a modest hit and she won my vote.
Otcha- YOU, In masculine – is an old school heater love yearning song. Big romantic lyrics and violins. She wants him. In my animated version, performed the next day during recess in the back of the classroom of our fourth grade, I went all out – explaining to my classmates that this is a love song to God. I think I meant it. In my 8 year old mind, singing love to God, who was always a male in our prayers, made sense. Was I also already singing and hiding in plain sight the love song to the man I wanted to be mine? For the love I could not express verbally, closeted even at that young age?
I remember that performance well. And have loved that song over the years.
Whoever wins tonights’ Eurovision, whatever, have fun y’all.

– Amichai

Amichai’s Top 50: Soundtrack of my life. 4/20-6-8 2019/Passover-Shavuot 5779

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