Lior Narkis

Lior Narkis is an Israeli pop singer known for his energetic Mizrahi-pop music and charismatic performances. He has been active since the early 1990s and remains a prominent figure in Israeli music. His career spans over 30 years, filled with hit songs, television appearances, and personal milestones. 

Early Life and Debut in Music

Lior Narkis was born on November 8, 1976, in Holon, Israel, to a family of mixed Iraqi and Serbian Jewish heritage. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a singer. He began pursuing music as a teenager. At just 16 years old, Narkis released his first album, Tfilat Chayay (The Prayer of My Life). A few years later, during his military service in the Israel Defense Forces, he even formed a Mediterranean-style music group with a fellow musician. This helped him gain experience and exposure in performing Middle Eastern pop (Mizrahi) music, a genre that blends traditional Sephardic-Middle Eastern sounds with modern pop beats.

Rise to Fame in Israeli Music

Through the 1990s, Lior Narkis steadily built his music career with a series of albums. By 2000, he had released six albums, refining his blend of Israeli pop and Mizrahi music. His sixth album, Rak Itakh (Only With You), included a breakout hit called “Lekhol Ekhad Yesh” (“Everyone Has”). This catchy song propelled Narkis to center stage in Israeli music. It was even named “Song of the Year” in Israel and became a popular anthem among football (soccer) fans. As a result, Narkis became a household name in Israel. In 2001, he followed up with another successful album, Ze Mehalev (Straight from the Heart), which produced several hits and cemented his status as a leading young singer. 

Eurovision 2003 in Riga – “Words of Love”

In late 2002, IBA picked Narkis internally to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. Then, on 23 January 2003, Kdam Eurovision 2003 chose the song. Four songs, all performed by Narkis, competed in Jerusalem. “Milim La’Ahava” won and later carried the English title “Words for Love.”

At the Eurovision final in Riga, Narkis performed in position 13. “Words for Love” finished 19th with 17 points. The entry mixed Hebrew with other languages on the hook and was written by lyricist Yossi Gispan with music by Yoni Ro’e. He released an album of the same name later in 2003.

Narkis capitalized on the Eurovision exposure by releasing an album titled Milim La’Ahava (Words of Love) later that year. This was his eighth album, named after the Eurovision song. The album contained the contest song and other tracks, and it showcased his continued growth as an artist at the age of 26. 

Continued Success and Television Appearances

After Eurovision, Lior Narkis continued to thrive in the Israeli music scene. He released numerous albums throughout the 2000s and 2010s, maintaining his popularity with the public. Notable releases include Street Cat (2005), Words You Didn’t Say (2006), Sleepy (2008), Good Evening (2010), If You Want (2012), Diamond (2014), and We Made History (2016). In total, Narkis had released around 15 studio albums by 2016, a testament to his productivity and longevity. Many of his songs became party hits and are frequently played at weddings and celebrations in Israel. His music often combines pop dance beats with Middle Eastern melodies, making it very catchy and danceable.

Narkis is also known for his dynamic live performances. He has performed in major venues, including a headline concert at the famous Caesarea Amphitheater (one of Israel’s premier concert venues, where a live DVD of his 2011 performance was recorded). In July 2017, Lior Narkis was honored to sing at the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, often called the “Jewish Olympics”. This performance showed his status as a beloved national entertainer. 

Aside from singing, Lior Narkis has made several television and film appearances. He even ventured into acting roles on occasion. In 1996, he appeared in the Israeli film “Boche BaGeshem” (Crying in the Rain). Later, he guest-starred as himself or in cameo roles on TV. For example, he had an appearance in the comedy show “Buba Shel Layla” in 2011 and in the drama series “Zaguri Imperia” in 2014. These appearances helped keep him in the public eye beyond the music charts. Additionally, Narkis often appears on Israeli television for music specials, holiday shows, and interviews. His charismatic presence makes him a popular guest on entertainment programs.

Personal Life and Milestones

Lior Narkis’s personal life has also seen significant milestones alongside his musical career. He comes from a multicultural family background, which perhaps contributed to his versatility as a performer. Besides Hebrew, he can speak Serbian and French, reflecting his family’s heritage. In his early years, he focused intensely on building his career, but by the late 2000s he reached an important personal milestone: marriage. Narkis married Sapir Vanunu, his longtime girlfriend, around 2009 when he was in his early thirties. Sapir is 13 years younger than Lior, and their relationship was covered in the Israeli media as a high-profile romance. The couple has since started a family. They have two sons and a daughter together, and they reside in the town of Savyon, an upscale community in central Israel.