A Ba Ni Bi - Eurovision (Israel)

[VVFlyingVV]

@Plasvi lol in the 80 they don't has 1080HD

[ANATOLIACHTZEIN]

It's a great song and video but could you PLEASE re-upload it at a more HUMAN decibel level, the complete OVER-MODULATION destroys the song and the importance of this FIRST Israeli win at Eurovision. The song has now been done in about 10 different languages, ppl are coming back to your video to watch it and the audio sucks, sorry.

[apudome]

I love this song.

[sophia47100]

i love israel with all mij feeling and mij heart i hope one time in mij live i can go to isreal

[EdBieber]

it's so LOUD/overmodulated... could you please re-post it lower, the volume? It's a nice video but the loud volume destroys the song.

[yldzmkn]

hay senin vidyona ha. şarkı başlasın diye bi saat bekledim. şarkı da şarkı olsa. bokum gibi.

[rollerballrico]

disco disco ,good good :) fizzy boubley

[foookyooo]

i luv jewsszzszsz

[denny5545]

I love so many Eurovision Winners past and present but for some reason, which I cant explain, THIS to me, is the very best of them all....

[matrixamp]

This song is a classic :)

[tigrakos123]

Best Israeli song ever. It was a huge hit that year in Europe.

[The160698]

kala polla like auto htan kai sto big brother otan pextike kai to tragoudisan oi ispanoi

[JossyHadash]

@nmgscp broadcasting rights, israel is in the european broadcasting network accosiation... so is tunesia and marocco i think, but they refuse to participate alongside israel ... so imagine if its middle-eastern song festival lolz... israel would win by default...

[nmgscp]

Why does Israel participate in the Eurovision Song Contest instead of a Middle East Song Contest?

[mauritius69]

@nmgscp

because isreal is westren country, not like all the others

[krakenwave]

this song got to no.1 in the UK but we never understood why Avi and his mates wanted to be polar bears

[saar144]

@krakenwave

Avi?  u probably mean Izhar.

oh, and LOL

[krakenwave]

@saar144

Oops Itzhar (I was prolly thinking of Cousin Avi from "Snatch" - anyway)

we know now (and those of us kids who had to go to cheder back then knew already) that it goes "A ba ni bi a bo a ba"

but to English ears - through the crackle of a cheap transistor radio on a Sunday afternoon Top 40 countdow show - it sounded like " I wanna be a polar bear"

[krakenwave]

@saar144

I guess I was thinking of Avi Cohen who played for Liverpool, the first Israeli footballer in the UK.

[montezoma]

This is an example of how a clown should look like lol

Jewish afro

[omritoker]

@montezoma Jewfro for short.

Although no one really has afros anymore. o.o'

[alibertix]

GRACIAS POR LA CANCIÓN, Y ES QUE HAY MUCHA GENTE QUE CREE QUE ESTO LO SACÓ EL CHAVAL DE LA PECA.

[sofiatzani]

very funny song...

[MissTeenPineapple]

עם זה ניצחנו? איזה היפים חחח... שנות השבעים הרחוקות...

LIKE *-*

go israel!!

[adripoper]

¿¿¿uǝqɐs sǝʌǝɹ ןǝ ǝp oqıɹɔsǝ uǝɹıɯ ɐɐɾɾɐɾɐ

[mymindisclearernow]

l'amour qui fait chanter la vie, you mean torinogianni.

Love from Belgium for your kind thoughts! Long live Israel and the Jewish Nation.

[darrivkin]

the lyrics are "secret language" that kids use, OF COURSE it's nonsensical - it wouldn't be much sense to make a secret language everyone knows! It means "I love you", which most kids won't say outright...

[NekysAcherontios]

i dont think many adults would say that outright either xD

[tjamassey]

Ah yes - I wanna be a polar bear...great lyrics.

[poopercandyXD]

its not i want to be a polar bear -.-

[IsraelJew17]

its cute

[IsraelJew17]

lol

[Shlomster]

I liked it when I was younger, but even accounting for it being 1978, this is a lame song. Sigh. Something in a recognizable language would have been nice, instead of trying to fit in with 'Slum Dog' kind of nonsense lyrics.

[irishxxkelt]

Lighten up, there was no" Slum Dog" back then. It was a nice song. Unlike the sh*** that is now the so-called Eurovision song contest.

[emmy7861]

i have found it

[torinogianni]

they were the winners but the best entry was the one from Belgium (l'amour qui fait changer la vie). any how long live to Israel (W Israele). I pray and hope for peace

[Lampehus]

Just to make it clear: Eurovision is not geographically bound by the borders of Europe but by the area of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union). These borders are : west: "Region 1", east: meridian 40° east of Greenwich and south: parallel 30°. This includes the 5 African countries bordering the Mediterranean. Saudi-Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. However, since most of these countries do not recognise Israel as a state, they do not enter.

[Lampehus]

Fun fact: In 1978, the Jordanese broadcasters showed pictures of flowers in stead of the Israeli entry. And when Israel seemed to be winning they ended the transmission, afterwards they announced that Belgium had won (though it really came 2nd). Lebanon also intended to enter in 2005. When it became clear that they also intended to refuse to transmit the Israeli entry, they were forced to withdraw.

[laugemsue]

I want to be a Polar Bear

I want to be a Polar Bear for poor papa

I want to be a Polar Bear

I want to be a Polar Bear for my mama

[mephistoGR]

LMAO!!!!!

[ALMfinlandia]

Israel ...

[ALMfinlandia]

I Love Isrel and i bless them from all my hard.

[Crossed]

@ALMfinlandia you got hard? lol at that

[gefen2751999]

@ALMfinlandia Thanks a lot I'm from Israel!

[Josedehesa]

@ALMfinlandia Is heart...

[KShana27]

@ALMfinlandia if u love there so much..........SPELL ISRAEL CORRECTLY

[charoula7338]

israel is the only country who has the right to be in eurovision contest,after what happen't in world war 2.

[charoula7338]

from the state's in middle-east -israel is the only country who has the right to be in eurovision contest,after what happen't in world war 2.

[montezoma]

yeah i agree with you, they came from poland and russia, thats their homeland. not like other middle easterners

[BamenYaros]

1/2 of Israeli Jews like these ones came from the Middle East, (Mainly Morroco, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, and Iran)

[Romeovienna]

+jews??? You could tell me before I explain you what is the Ebu, that you are a fu*** racist. Oh I see at your profil, you are arabic. *lol* no other question...

[maoreactor]

heck, we'll just call it CIVILIZED WORLD + arabs ... lol? not.

[Vantaso]

+the jews dont forget

[Vantaso]

why is israel on eurovision ???

[Romeovienna]

Why not?

[Vantaso]

because israel ist not in europe?

[Romeovienna]

No, But a part of the EBU and Eurovision is not a european contest it is a Music Contest of the EBU Organisation. Thats the Reason why Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey are in the contest too. Google "EBU" if you wanna find out more.

[Vantaso]

Russia Georgia and turkey are in europe...

So everybody can join this EBU ? Wtf?

[kiprisli]

morocco once participated in the contest. lebanon was also going to attend it but later withdrew because they were afraid of israel voting for them. besides cyprus is not also geographically in europe. and israel is part of the UEFA...

[Liviagray]

Part of Russia belong to West Europe and part to Asia. The same is with Turkey and Georgia. Azerbaijan is not in Europe at all, but in Asia and they participate to Eurovision. So is Israel and I don't understand why people always ask why Israel perform on Eurovison and never asked about Turkey, Morocco or Albania. If most of you didn't know Eurovision history go to wikipedia and read it.

[Romeovienna]

Thank you kiprisli and Liviagray that you try to explain it to Vantaso, but it dosen't help. I understand now that Vantaso is a arabic muslim who only wanna make antisemitic comments on youtube (as you n see on his profile).

[queenmusicfreak86]

The borders of Europe are in the Urals in Russia, the Caucasian line and the bosphorus strait in Istanbul. That makes Russia partially a european country, Turkey partially a European country, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia partially European countries. Albania OF COURSE is a european country. But Israel still remains an Asian - MiddleEastern country. Not at all European by Geography, but it participates in Eurovision and in all european sports events like it is!

[queenmusicfreak86]

Of course, if morocco still participated in Eurovision that would be also strange and would also make people ask about it. But morocco only participated once, a long time ago. It is strange my friends from Israel, don't say it isn't! but i like this song and Dana's one from 1998. So if Israel makes good music never mind that its not a european country after all!

[JossyHadash]

marocco only performs if israel is not performing... because they dont want to be on stage together with israel. they still have the TV rights but they never broadcast israel's song. Israel and Marocco are in simply for the reason that they have bought the TV rights.

[candygir7]

I was 7 years old when I sang this song, I learned it by heart after listening to it 4 or 5 times. Beautiful song.

[Annyshel]

endhry muchisimas gracias, jajaja y pensar que está aqui mismo traducida,

mil gracias, y está linda la letra

[hachibeach151]

A ba ni bi obo heve, a ba ni ni obo heve obo tabah...

hb151. "Oy vey!"

[Annyshel]

Esta musica me gusta muchisimo y aparte el ritmo es muy alegre.

Por favor alguien que lo traduzca en Ingles o español

mil gracias

[shr444]

WOHO ISRAEL!go go israel!

[MadOnLiving]

12 points from Ireland - Israle has had some wonderful songs in the Eurovision - This one, then Milk and Honey the next year in 1979, then Ofra Haza in 1983. Israeli music is great. Also the only femal orchestra conductor to win the Eurovision. I think there has only been 5 female conductors - so well done Israel. 12 points from Ireland

[wownouser]

The orchestra conductor is Nurit Hirsh, she composed the song and she is a very well known composer in Israel and composed many wonderful songs.

[eyalx16]

pure גdisco

[cristianharvey]

חחחחחחח חזק !!!!

[gart97]

Israeli music rocks!!!

[notToast]

a ba ni bi doesn't mean anything. but try to remove all the b's:

a ba ni bi = ani = I

obo heve= ohev = love

obo tabah = otah = you

[morassi43]

Did you see ladies from the Spanish duet Baccara???:)...wow...what a great time of Eurovision 70s!..I like this song very much from the first time I heard it!!!( I was 16 that year:)

love you Israel!

[Kendalls]

I always wonder why Israel is in EUROvision...

[Neville20006]

Coz Israel is a member of the EBU the European Broadcasting Union

[Gaidichka]

Why is Israel a member of the *European* Broadcasting Union? Or Turkey or Azerbaijan, for that matter?

[Neville20006]

Good qustion. The EBU has 75 members "in and around Europe" includibng Lubya, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Perhaps they just don't want to take part! Azerbaijan is also a member! things you learn on Youtube. Best wishes Neville

[sharonstonts]

yes you are right.

i heard that lebanon isnt in the competition because israel is. how sad is that? music should bring ppl together.

[inicc]

lebanon chose to not be in it...they put pictures of flowers up everytime the israeli singer came on so their people could not see the talent...keep them ignorant so they believe the bullshit they read in the papers instead of seeing for themselves that israelis are normal people. israel's media and government doesnt do that

[sharonstonts]

yes thats right. too bad. Im sure a lot of Lebanese would have liked to participate and see the Israeli song too.

[Michele640]

You are right, I admit my mistake. I have an extremely basic knowledge of the Hebrew language, which is very difficult to learn.

[McAndy89]

Why does Israel compete in Eurovision? Its like Morocco, and Lybia, they aren't part of Europe in any way. And this is a genuine question, I am in no way anti-Israeli.

[irishgodfatherchris]

because they're part of the EBU (like Lebannon and Egypt) so to participate all you have to do is join the EBU you don't have to necessarily be part of Europe

[McAndy89]

Fair enough, thanks for the insight.

[tanger55]

Grande musica.

[MondoBeno]

Izhar Cohen later said that a-ba-ni-bi doesn't mean anything.

[Michele640]

"Abani" means "my father" in Hebrew if I'm not mistaken (I have an extremely basic knowledge of the Hebrew language)...

[MondoBeno]

I'm pretty sure "avi" or "abi" would mean "my father" in Hebrew. Then again who knows.

[inbarhallie]

sorry that made me laugh...

im a native hebrew speaker so...

Avi means my father.

WHat they're saying in the song is "Abanibi Obohebev Obotabach"

Its hebrew gibberish for "Ani Ohev Otach" which means "I love you"

Basically you put a "B" sound after each vowel.

[spiano18]

100% correct, although i wouldnt call is "hebrew gibberish". It is an Israel kind of "secret language" between friends that became popular (like pig latin here in the US). Just for fun.

[panchitofeo]

The sentence is: Ani oeb otaj. "I love you" In the middle they put "B". In argentina it´s calls "jeringozo" and put here "P"

So is: A(ba)ni(bi)o(bo)e(be)o(bo)ta(b­aj)

[robotsarekinky]

you guys should learn better hebrew because they arent talking about any fathers in this song WOW

[repla222]

whats the meaning of the refrain?

[muchallsufos]

At the time we all thought they said " I wanna be a polar bear"!!

[nordicfreyja88]

haha i wanna be a polar bear:P

[stasi246]

XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

good one XD

[louismatalon]

La principale raison pour laquelle est rentré pour le concours Eurovision est simple: Israel est composé d'immigrès venus de tous bords, mais notamment d'Europe! Au cours de leur diaspora les Israelites se sont melangés avec les europeéns, ils sont donc impregnés de culture Européenne! Ils ont laissé derrière eux 6 siècles d'existance en Europe, ils sont donc aussi Européens!

[inbarhallie]

Hey i actually understood that! I guess 5 years of learning french DOES help!

...sorry i just really suck at french and i was surprised at my own abilities... :P

[pecami7]

I truly believe, this is one of the greatest refrains ever! It will never get out of my mind, since I heard it as a child!

However what does Israel have to do with the Eurovision contest? It is in Asia, isn't it?

[waltere200]

Israel is part of Asia divided into Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Middle East Asia. Did you take history and geography classes?

[damnfake]

Eurovision is not limited to "European" countries. Note the participation of Morocco, Libya, Jordan, etc.

[Furienna]

Gaaargh! The sound is terrible. But at least you can see Izhar's face here. You can't do that on the other clip on Youtube, but there, the sound is much better.

[quietman18]

what does a ba ni bi mean anyone ?

[Bloodless2112]

This is something called "B language" kids at the time used so that their parents don't understand what they were saying - after every vowel, you'd add a B with that vowel. For example, "abanibi" is "I" in "B language" - I in Hebrew is 'ani" - a(ba)ni(bi). The chorus means 'I love you' in "B language". :)

[IACBY]

So(bo), i(bi)ts li(bi)ke thi(bi)s! ge(be)t i(bi)t? :o) So(bo) Coo(boo)l!

[panoskite]

oh my god just the best refrain in eurovision ever!!!!its so good!!very "

John Travolta style"

[Martel1964]

Toujours de bonnes chansons d'Israel :)

Altid dejlige sange fra Israel.

We love U!

[Tintz210]

One of my favourite songs :)

[jethrosesc]

Israel won it that year!!!

Gr8 song by gud ol' Izhar Cohen!!!

[mak500]

Le son est pourri, dommage.

[avshalom999]

What a great video- especially the parts in the backstage- was this the way it was broadcasted? Awesome! Thanks! (the sound is not all that great)

[Bigbentz2005]

Great song!