Performed by: Ofra Haza
Music by: Avi Toledano
Lyrics by: Ehud Manor
Conductor: Silvio Nanssi Brandes
Language: Hebrew
Placing: 2nd (136 points)
Other versions: English, French, German

"Hi" (Hebrew: חי, English: "Alive") was the Israeli entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1983, performed in Hebrew by Ofra Haza. The song title was transliterated at the contest as "Hi", and has also been credited in other media as "Khay", "Jai", "Hay" and "Chai".

The song is a moderately up-tempo number. The singer begins by singing that she is still alive, and that despite her thorns, she also has many flowers. As the song goes on, this is revealed to be a metaphor for the people of Israel (the song is ambiguous as to whether this refers to the modern state or the global Jewish community) surviving various attempts at destroying it. The song had further profound meanings since it was performed on German soil with the Holocaust background and in the city of Munich, the site of the Munich massacre in 1972. Haza performed the entry with five backup singers, who were all dressed in yellow costumes.

The song was performed sixteenth on the night, following Denmark's Gry with "Kloden drejer" and preceding Portugal's Armando Gama with "Esta balada que te dou". At the close of voting, it had received 136 points, placing 2nd in a field of 20. Haza also recorded the song in English, German and French, entitled "High", "Frei" and "Va, Va, Va" respectively.

Ofra Haza went on to have a worldwide hit in 1988 with a dance remix of the Yemeni/Jewish traditional "Im Nin'alu", which became the start of a very successful international career. This was cut short in 2000, when Haza very unexpectedly died at the age of 42.

Inspired by a love of her Yemenite Jewish and Hebrew culture, her music quickly spread to a wider Middle Eastern audience. As her career progressed, Haza was able to switch between traditional and more commercial singing styles without jeopardizing her credibility. Her music fused elements of Eastern and Western instrumentation, orchestration and dance-beat. She became successful in Europe and the Americas; during her singing career, she earned many platinum and gold discs.

Ofra Haza died on February 23, 2000, at the age of 42, of AIDS-related pneumonia. While the fact that she was HIV positive is now generally known, the decision by the major Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz to report about it shortly after her death caused controversy in Israel.

Lyrics:

Chai
Shim'u, echai, ani od chai
Ushtei enai od nisa'ot la'or
Rabim chochai, ach gam prachai
Ulefanai shanim rabot misfor

Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva

Over mizmor midor ledor
Kema'ayan me'az ve'ad olam

Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva

Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Homim yamai (Chai, chai)
Velelotai (Chai, chai)
Uveshamai, amud ha'esh od kam

Ashir bli dai (Chai, chai)
Efros yadai (Chai, chai)
Leyedidai asher me'ever yam

Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva

Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Shim'u, echai, ani od chai
Ushtei enai od nisa'ot la'or
Az ko lechai lechol orchai
Ulevanay hamevakshim lachzor

Ani sho'el (Ani sho'el)
Umitpalel (Mitpalel)
Tov shelo avda od hatikva

Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani

Chai, chai, chai
Ani od chai, chai, chai



ENGLISH translation:

Alive
Listen, my brothers, I'm still alive
And both my eyes still look into the light
Many are my thorns, but also my flowers
And I have countless years ahead of me

I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost

A song is passed from generation to generation
Like a eternal spring

I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost

Alive, alive, alive
Yes, I'm still alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me

I'm still alive, alive, alive
The Nation of Israel is alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me

My days rumble (Alive, alive)
As do my nights (Alive, alive)
And in my skies, the pillar of fire still stands

I'll sing forever (Alive, alive)
I'll reach out my hands (Alive, alive)
To my friends from across the seas

I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost

Alive, alive, alive
Yes, I'm still alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me

I'm still alive, alive, alive
The Nation of Israel is alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me

Listen, my brothers, I'm still alive
And both my eyes still look into the light
So kudos to all my guests
And to my sons who ask to return.

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