Hanna Dresner-Tzakh[1] (Hebrew: חנה דרזנר; born 17 September 1947), known by her stage name Ilanit ( אילנית, Hebrew pronunciation:[ilaˈnit]), is an Israeli singer. She was one of Israel's most popular singers from the late 1960s to the 1980s, both as a soloist and in the duo Ilan & Ilanit. Ilanit also represented Israel twice in the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1973 with "Ey Sham" (Israel's debut entry in the competition) and in 1977 with "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim". In a career spanning over four decades, Ilanit has recorded and produced over 600 songs and more than 30 albums.[2]
Childhood
Hanna Dresner was born in Tel Aviv in 1947, after her parents had fledPoland in 1939. In 1953, at the age of 5, the family moved to Brazil where they joined several South American acts, at which point Dresner adopted the stage name Ilanit. She moved back to Israel in 1960, at age 12.[3] In 1962, Ilanit was discovered in a youth talent contest organized by WIZO and the magazine Ma'ariv Youth.[4]
Music career
Ilan and Ilanit
Shlomo Zach, an Israeli singer whom she later married, formed a trio that was later known as Gidi, Zach, and Hanna (Hebrew: גידי, צח וחנה). The trio became a duo, renamed Ilan & Ilanit, and released their self-titled debut album in 1967.[citation needed] Two of their songs, "Lekol Adam Kochav" (לכל אדם כוכב) and "Boi Senyorina" (בואי סניורינה) became hits.[citation needed] Their 1971 song "Shuv Itkhem" (שוב אתכם) was covered by Turkish singer Şenay as "Sev Kardeşim".[citation needed]
Emerging as a soloist
In 1968, Ilanit released her first solo single, featuring the songs "Kvar Acharei Chatzot" (כבר אחרי חצות) and "Bo VeNishtage'a BaCholot" (בוא ונשתגע בחולות). She sang "Shir Be'Arba'a Batim" (שיר בארבעה בתים) in the 1969 Israel Song Festival.[citation needed]
Ilanit represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest a second time in 1977, pperforming the song "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim" (אהבה היא שיר לשניים) and finishing in 11th place.[7]
1980s and 1990s
Ilanit performing, 2016
In 1984, Ilanit was approached by producer Shlomo Zach and offered to represent Israel in the Eurovision for a third time. She declined, and instead released the song outside of the contest.[8][better source needed] Israel did not participate in the contest that year due to a conflict with its Memorial Day.[9] After the release of "Brazilian Dream" in 1996, Ilanit didn't record a new album for 12 years.[citation needed]
21st century
Together with other established Israeli artists, Ilanit took part in a tour through North America in 2005. In 2008, Ilanit released the album "Israelit". She performed at the Hadassah centennial in October 2012. Ilanit also appeared at the opening of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, where she performed the chorus of "Ey Sham". She also announced Israel's jury points at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
^O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). Eurovision Song Contest 50 år (in Swedish). Translated by Deshayes, Jacob. ISBN91-89136-23-3.
^"Final of London 1977". Eurovision.TV. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^"1984: עוד יישמע שירי בארץ ישראל" [1984: My song will be heard in the land of Israel]. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). 22 April 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^"Luxembourg 1984". Eurovision.TV. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
