Esther Ofarim - Speak Low - אסתר עופרים

[ColdArcana]

I have heard a ton of female singers, but when I stumbled upon Esther I knew right away I had found the best.

[MonsieurDecent]

It is my first time encountering Esther Ofarim. She sings this song with so much youthful passion, expectation, intelligence and urgency that I did not associate with this song before. It is truly beautiful! Thank you for posting.

[levgross]

She singing the song but her body and head movements have nothing to do with the words or what they mean. This song is not a rhumba. I don't know who she is speaking to yet that is the point of the song.

[DocDoorman]

Great job jus t preserve this one... gotta watch it every few months jus t recharge my batteries...please refresh us all about th orig. film venue... live or tape TV??? I know she's still with us and truly respect your continuing interest in our collective enjoyment!!!

[SurrealisticMe]

Nice wig



[MSROSADEOZ]

Maravillosa Esther!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheJosslove]

Göttin!

[KPATEP100]

divine

[sitarnut]

I bet 70 million men asked her to marry? I would- this type of goddess, like Monica Zetterlund is perhaps gone from the planet. Why did we never see Esther? Who kept her under the radar screen?

[Marciksongs]

המוסיקה יפה. יפה אישה! :-)

[Taharah007]

Beautiful face and voice to match..how was she overlooked???? Should have become a huge star!!!!

[BerlinerStadtschloss]

Das ist die Referenzaufnahme schlechthin; niemand hat diesen Titel jemand auch nur annähernd interpretiert.

Ihr einziger "Konkurrent" ist sie selber, denn mit der Live-Aufnahme mit der NDR-Bigband hat sie diese hier noch weit übertroffen.

[LIN11831]

THIS CUTE LITTLE GAL WILL BE 70 ON JUNE 13. SHE BEGAN RECORDING IN THE LATE 50'S. REGARDLESS, WE CAN STILL ENJOY HER TALENT TODAY.

[LIN11831]

WHAT DID I MISS? WHAT DOES JEWISH, OR ANY RELIGION HAVE TO DO WITH GOD GIVEN TALENT? SAMMY DAVIS JR. WAS JEWISH AND WHAT A TALENT-LOL. ANYONE WHO IS CAUCASIAN EARLIEST ANCESTRY GOES BACK TO ONE OF THE 12 HEBREW TRIBES. JUST ENJOY EXCEPTIONAL TALENT WHERE YOU FIND IT.

[LIN11831]

I HAVE CONCLUDED TO MY SATISFACTION THIS IS THE BEST VERSION HERE. THE LITTLE GAL CAN SING, AND SHE NAILS EVERY NOTE. SORRY I NEVER HEARD HER BEFORE. I SEE BY THE POSTS WHY I HADN'T.

[LIN11831]

I HAD NEVER HEARD OF HER THAT I RECALL, BUT SHE HAS A NICE VOICE.

[femmesusan1]

I've never heard of this girl, but I love her voice and she sings this song so beautifully-like it should be done. Thank you for posting it.

[early60srcool]

Wonderful voice! Very Barbra type.

[towonoryba]

@early60srcool ...only Esther is original ,and Barbra come after!

[KABRIS1]

This is a great version of this song. Henry Mancini meets Barbara Streisand?

[joaormedeiros]

this girl is so freaking beatiful

[ahaaaaaaaaah]

funny, a jewgirl singing kurt weil...

[Eyatn]

@ahaaaaaaaaah Why is it funny? Kurt Weill was Jewish as well.

[ahaaaaaaaaah]

@Eyatn REALLY?

[Eyatn]

@ahaaaaaaaaah YES. look it up on wikipedia

[pazzallo1]

@Eyatn So is Barbra Streisand who sang this song ...

[fredex426]

@ahaaaaaaaaah His father was a cantor and he wrote a Kiddush

[DiamondHead5]

@ahaaaaaaaaah You ignorant jackass, Kurt Weill was a German JEW.

[TENTALYZING]

LOVE ALL HER FACIALS BEFORE SHE SINGS...BIT OF NERVOUSNESS, BIT OF CONFIDENCE...PRICELESS :))))

[TENTALYZING]

I GET LOST IN THIS SONG EVERYTIME I WATCH THIS

TAKES ME TO WHERE I WANNA BE :))

[seanmPWH]

Good Secret Agent stuff.

[OMFGTheLlamaHasAGun]

Jesus christ she's so hot, why isn't she more popular?

[iampsalmbody]

...says the heart whisperer.

[AriBuhler]

I Love This Version ... This Song Is Really Thrilling !! =)

[ELECTRICCLOCK]

I want to hear more like this.

[jrbflyme]

freakin amazing. why do i keep discovering these singers so late in their careers? i was repressed I think as a child.

[MARKMURA1]

sexy.. passionated

[tanjusha100]

БРАВО , ЭСТЕР !!!!

[avishagi100]

אסתר היא סטרייסנד הישראלית.

[NETIVHALAMED]

What fantastic singing and orchestration. I never have enough of this song and that beautiful singer with a voice from heaven.

Sy Dill

[tamirvip]

טווואאוובבב

[pontello3]

amazing!

[rokwell111]

I really enjoyed the percussion's, the voice, everything had me going. I been trying to find this record. Gotta keep lookin.

[fjuanantonio]

Mesmerizing, love the black and white television era...

[dzoppo11]

Fran Warren accompanies Speak Low nicely!

[cantatrix]

The percussion going on in the accompaniment kind of ruined this for me, it kind of lost the smooth ballad feel I'm used to. Ofarim definatley has a voice, but she didn't really stay in character through the song. Also, I prefer a slightly more operatic voice singing Weill, but I'm biased since I'm used to classical singing rather than pop singing. Y'all should hear the recording of Kurt Weill himself singing this piece, it's pretty cute :P

[priapus56]

I suppose we must excuse your dumb comments because you come from Canada.... Probably too much for you. Best to leave it to those who have hot blood running through their veins...

[cantatrix]

I'm slightly confused as to why my comments deserved your derision. They are just my opinion as someone who has studied music, you are welcome to your own.

[prestush]

@cantatrix I applaud your restraint here. However the dry comments from priapus56 were funny. I am glad that someone of the '56 vintage sees fit to apply the moniker of Priapus to himself. I had never heard this song, and Barbra's version was playing on the TV in the adjacent room on Body Electric, so I sought it here.

[jimquantic]

@cantatrix Well said, I too wish, along with you that disagreement can be had in a civil way, as you say, we are (or should be) all welcome to our own opinion. And especially about music which is all about personal preference. Regards

[priapus56]

@jimquantic  Granted..but I wish the hordes of bores who drag everything down to the level of the commonplace would shut-up.

[jimquantic]

@priapus56 I hear that. The good news, is that about 99 percent are positive and on the money for this fabulous woman. By the way, her singing "the three song" with Tom and Dick Smothers, is soooooo good. To why she was not more commercially popular, say like Streisand, is that one, she was in fact--in Europe and two, she did not chase America that much, and for us here in the US it is important to realize not everyone has to, or even wants to.

[jcisbell]

@jimquantic Well said!

[priapus56]

Don't listen to Billie Holliday's version!!!! You'll be in bed with smelling salts for a week!

[dennykdoe]

@cantatrix All my music was destroyed in H'caine Katrina,but I used to have a recording of this done by Frederica von Stade. It was wonderful--she perfectly followed the liquid, flowing melody with the necessary light touch. She was accompanied by only a piano, as I remember, which was perfect--this should not be overdone.

P.S.: what's Priapus's problem?

[RokiaNY]

Oh, I would have loved to hear that! Love FvS, and your description of her rendition sounds lovely. I can never understand when people start shouting this song. SPEAK LOW TO ME!!!! LOL

[priapus56]

@dennykdoe ...people making stupid comments...

[paulprocopolis]

Lurveleeee ... Yummeeeee!

[TaxiSlim]

Great rendition, but there's only one Lotte Lenya, and she OWNS this song.

[Blackmaildesigns]

I have heard of Lotte Lenya for a long time. So, after your comment I looked her up.

Are you kidding?

She couldn't sing this well if her life depended on it. I'm usually the first to say the music is not a horse race. But you're the one who made a contest when you said Lotte OWNS this song.

Can you point me to a link. I admit, I haven't found "Speak Low" by her yet, but her other songs are very nice - highly stylized, which may be what you like - but no where near this level of singing.

[Blackmaildesigns]

Okay, I found Lotte singing this and - her interpretation is - probably better. She doesn't sing nearly as well, but you can tell she is "singing the song" as opposed to "making a performance".

[TaxiSlim]

Wow, where did you find the Lenya version? I've been searching for that forever. Is there a link you could provide?

[TaxiSlim]

I've only got a CD of Lotte Lenya's version, and I've never been able to find it on YouTube.

Lotte Lenya was an Austrian cabaret singer / actress who was also Kurt Weill's wife, and whose most well-known role was in the 1954 production of Threepenny Opera. She didn't have Esther Ofarim's voice, but on a few selected songs such as Speak Low, the voice isn't nearly so important as the emotion that's conveyed. But of course if you haven't heard Lenya's version, you'd have no way to judge it.

[pgjt2]

been listening to as many versions as I can find on the tube and enjoying them all. The lyrics are magical and the melody just sublime and many many artists just take and make it their own. They all speak to me magnificently keep up the debate it has introduced many new great unknowns to me. I thank you for the posting and everyone for their comments. Love to all.

[papito914]

I've been looking for Sammy davis jr's version in here and no one has it , I heard it once along time ago and it was amazing I wish someone would upload it :(

[yanmich]

very nice indeed!

[bouverieboy]

It's difficult to watch this without thinking how Streisand-like she is; but with a better voice, and far better looking. I guess she just didn't have that forceful personality Streisand had to make it as a big star. Shame - she is seriously talented.

[priapus56]

She shouldn't have bothered...this is a million miles better...FAB!

[priapus56]

So THAT'S where Babs Streisand got the idea from??

[busadan01]

que belleza...

[blewis9505]

Absolutely beautiful. One of my all time favorites. She does this exquisitely. Thank you. Thank you!

[gelseygirl]

Nice!

[luticia]

Die Firsur ist geil ! Kommt gut zu Ihrer Augenform

[CounterZeitgeist]

She melts my heart. so lovely

[ElizaMogha]

please please please do not remove this video. im trying to find this Esther's version on an mp3, this is my top favourite version of this amazing song!!!

huge thanks for uploading in the first place!

[margosacco]

Does she record? Where can I buy her CD's. This gal is absolutely great. She sings it the way Kurt Weill wrote it. Great band too. "Speak Low" is my favorite sorry-- brings back memories when Peter Martins played it for me at Bemmelman's Bar at the Carlyle in NYC. Thank you, Esther.

[Eyatn]

Sure. See Amazon or at the site mentioned on the main page here.

[margosacco]

Thank you Eyatn. I ordered the CD from Amazon and can't wait to get it because Esther sings "That Old Devil Moon" , another favorite.

[usseryroad]

@margosacco she is israeli and about 70 yrs old now

[gerardoxs]

She looks and sounds like Streisand haha I like it.

[SteveNaeve]

Absolutely superb!

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this, Etayn! I'd never seen video; Esther was a very underrated singer and this song (a big favourite) is delivered to perfection. The musical arrangement is great also.

Sublime!

[fannycraddock99]

Esther does an excellent job on this classic. Thanks.

[ElizaMogha]

beautiful strong voice and i love the way she moves rhythmically to the drum

[YEAROFRAT2008]

Beautiful.Better than Ofra Haza, at least in this song

[siulavien]

I feel wherever I go that tomorrow is near,

tomorrow is here and always too soon

Time is so old and love so brief

Love is pure gold and time a thief

We're late, darling, we're late

The curtain descends, ev'rything ends too soon, too soon

I wait, darling, I wait

Will you speak low to me, speak love to me and soon

[siulavien]

Speak low when you speak, love

Our summer day withers away too soon, too soon

Speak low when you speak, love

Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,

we're swept apart, too soon

Speak low, darling, speak low

Love is a spark, lost in the dark too soon, too soon

[avilano1]

muy bella version , mi saludo desde argentina.

[pboscophoto]

Try to find the rendition by Sammy Davis Jr. No one else comes close -- trust me.

[merseybee]

she is fantastic, I forgot all about her I wonder what shes doing now. She had great style

[Eyatn]

see here: esther-ofarim . de

[cujazztrpt]

One of the best rendition of this tune!

[crs251]

Wow. Love the beautiful haunting sound

[Eyatn]

Esther is unique for herself, thank you.

[p22adraig]

Esther has a wonderful voicse

[historicrecord]

More like Shirley Bassey !

[blkrose55]

wow, I've never heard her before. Love her voice. Sounds like Barbra Streisand. Lovely

[Ofarimlover]

Huge fan of Esther....love finding her ON VIDEO...was soldier in the 60s in Germany...fell in love with her music!!!

[citicenkern]

...yeah...but at least they shared the same wrig those days...

[THEATR1CALUSHERY]

VERY PASSIONATE!!!

[Patolinus22]

q dona elegante!!!

[swissdolphin]

in my ears and eyes the best version of Kurt Weill'song Toda Raba Esther Bravo

Esther sings it in one of her rare concerts still today and quite differently more the way Ella used to sing Jazz and Blues .-)))

[Pacabelle]

Lovely. Somehow I think Barbra Streisand's version arranged by David Forster is better.

[swissdolphin]

Barbara Streisand can't sing she mumbles and is beeing Overrated!!

[CodyKunLvsGackt]

people don't get over-rated for 40+ years. Barbra is TALENTED. ESTHER IS TALENTED! oy.

[swissdolphin]

oh yeah if a lady is a smart businesswoman she manages to be overrated for decades, Madonna for instant .-))

[CodyKunLvsGackt]

Let's just agree to disagree -.-

[gmlch]

i beg to differ. madonna is talented, but not necessarily as a singer per se. not merely staying at the top of the game but leading it takes immense amounts of creativity. but i do of course see your general point, it's painfully valid, and there are hundreds and hundreds of examples to illustrate it, unfortunately.

[WILTALK]

Barbara Streisand while good ; always sounds like Barara. Ester has the versatility to also sound like many different singers as well as herself. There is no comparison. I used to really like B.S. but now she is boring and the only thing B.S. puts out now is BS

[whitebaba]

Well said. I could not agree with you more!!! I love the way Esther sings this -- so beautiful. She's magic.

[jamierourketen]

lol.