Charlie Megira
Gabriel “Gabi” Abudraham (born 10 October 1972), also known by his stage-name Charlie Megira, was an Israeli singer, songwriter, and musician. His music often consists of melancholy, dream-like melodies and cryptic lyrics, and are delivered in his trademark soft, hazy voice. His brief career consists of six albums, all reflecting great influence from rockabilly and experimental genres.
Abudraham was born and raised in Northern Israel. Inspired by the work of Roger Corman, Apocalypse Now, Zohar Argov and Jim Jarmusch, he began 'cocooning himself in a makeshift studio inside his Tel Aviv apartment and crafting the Charlie Megira alter-ego for the performance of his new compositions.'[1]
Abudraham suffered from depression his entire life, attempting to commit suicide twice during the 1990s. On completion of his fifth album, 2015's Boom Chaka Boom Boom, he performed three gigs in Israel, then retreated to Berlin, retiring the Charlie Megira persona. On 5 November 2016, Abudraham was found dead in his apartment, having hung himself.
Due to the lack of mainstream commercial success, Abudraham's body of work has gained an international cult following.
Career
2001
In 2001, Abudraham released his debut under the stage-name and alter-ego Charlie Megira, titled Da Abtomatic Meisterzinger Mambo Chic, inspired by the independent, low-budget filmmaking of Roger Corman, Ray Dennis Steckler, the rockabilly style of rock and roll, and the pop music of the 1950s, specifically the songs of Santo & Johnny. Mambo Chic consist of a strumming, distorted rhythm guitar and crooning vocals, and is regarded as both Abudraham's most popular and critically-acclaimed album.[2]
Following Mambo Chic, Abudraham strove to maintain the purity of his artistic vision. In an interview with the film-director, Boaz Goldberg, Abudraham said that “Israeli-Rock is too staged,” intending to create music in a more spontaneous manner, finding further inspiration in Zohar Argov and the Mizrahi music he popularised, sung in Hebrew.
Charlie Megira | |
|---|---|
| Native name | גבריאל עבודרהם |
| Birth name | Gabriel Abudraham |
| Born | October 10, 1972 Beit She'an, Israel |
| Origin | Northern District, Israel |
| Died | 5 November 2016 (aged 44) Berlin, Germany |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2001–2016 |
| Associated acts | The Hefker Girl |
Charlie Megira (Gabriel “Gabi” Abudraham, 1972-2016) was an Israeli musician of cult like status. Born in the Beit She'an Valley on October 10th, 1972 Charlie was A major figure in the Early 2000's Israeli rock scene. His music is reminiscent of 60's surf rock and rockabilly thrown together in a psychotic fever dream. Recorded mainly on 4 track cassettes, his music sounds like that of a past that had never existed. Charlie's career struggled his whole life as he constantly bubbled under the mainstream trying to breakthrough. Sadly, Charlie fizzled into obscurity. He took his life on November 16th 2016.
References
- ↑ "Charlie Megira - A Sun Shining Backwards [Numero Group]". www.numerogroup.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ↑ "Charlie Megira - A Sun Shining Backwards [Numero Group]". www.numerogroup.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
https://www.popmatters.com/confounding-case-of-charlie-megira-2630760763.html
http://www.numerogroup.com/d/charlie-megira-a-sun-shining-backwards
Charlie Megira
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