Looking at this picture, several words will automatically come to our mind: cute, handsome, angelic, sexy, beautiful, gorgeous, dream guy. Who would have never fallen for this young man during the 90`s? Almost every girl, if not all, dreamt of him in their sleepless nights. A lot of them went and, even until now, still go crazy about him. Angelic face, tantalizing eyes, kissable lips, beautiful voice, very talented, sporty, funny and humble. What else can you ask for from a Gil Ofarim?
Have you ever come to this point?
Define handsome: Gil Ofarim
Define great singer: Gil Ofarim
Define talented: Gil Ofarim
Who`s your dream guy: Gil Ofarim
What is your dream guy: Gil Ofarim
If you have, then there`s no denying at all. You were/are a certified Gil Ofarim addict!
But more than his looks and talent, there is another interesting about Gil. It`s his life story: how he was during his "teenage pop idol" years; after he left BMG, went on his own and formed Zoo Army; living a new life with his new band, Acht; and even during and after his journey in The Voice of Germany.
And what make me admire him so much are the principles he lived by and the lessons I`ve learned from him and his life:
1. Pleasing others ain`t no fun at all.
Gil seemed to be perfect in many ways, but not really his life. His career as a teenage superstar only lasted for 5 years. The first 2 years was great and very overwhelming for him. But why he chose to end it so soon it`s because he wasn`t happy anymore.
"For months I had every day in a different city. I was broken, but I had to keep going. At 17, I was completely burned out, only a robot that had to work," said Gil recalled in an interview with the Cologne Express.
Gil was happy making other people happy. But later on, he realized that he almost never left something for himself and was left out. He never had the chance to be with his friends and enjoy his teenage life. Aside from that, some of his songs that he wrote were not accepted by the company and he had to sing only whatever they gave him, some of which he couldn`t even relate. That was no fun at all.
"roughly mistreated, he made no protest
remained silent, anger in his chest
got nothing to live for, they don´t
understand nothing" - Never, Zoo Army
Thinking about what he`s been missing, he felt so alone and sad.
"I just wanna talk to you
Where are my friends tonight
I'm feeling so blue" -Talk To You, Gil
2. Live your life the way you want it to be
At 21, Gil decided to step out of the teenage idol image to do things on his own--the way he wanted his life to be. Although he never left his passion for singing, we can say he`s really grown up after that. His talent for songwriting has become more evident. He proved everyone that he didn`t need any professional songwriters because he himself was and still is a great one.
"Going my way - I don't need to justify
Doing what I want - no alibis
Living my life in the way I want it to be
The way I want it" -- My Way, Gil
In 2005, he broke up with his father, his manager, and formed a band with Tal, his brother, which is Zoo Army. He loved rock and he dreamed of it for so long. That time, he really had his chance and was very happy to express himself through his songs. He didn`t care if many couldn`t appreciate them, but it turned out he gathered even more fans-old and new. That was really a fulfillment for him.
"taking my live into my own hands
living my dreams and taking the chance
walking my talk and making romance
living my live today" --I`m Alive, Zoo Army)
3. If you can imagine it, you can do it.
Zoo Army wasn`t able to release another album because the label companies didn`t accept his songs. Also, his band mates had to go somewhere else, so they had no choice but to break up. The band was no more and he had to start a new life again. Despite all these, he never quit his dream of singing his own songs and performing on stage again. Music has been his life. Until there was Oswin who`s been his bestfriend and his partner in songwriting. Later, they formed a new band together.
Stell dir vor! Imagine. That`s the title of the album of his current band, Acht. And that is also what the album and the band is all about. What one can do depends on his imagination. Similarly, he believes that there is no limit in imaginations.
"Stell dir vor, daß nichts ist wie es bleibt
Imagine that nothing is as it remains
Stell dir vor, daß alles bunter ist als du es treibst.
Imagine that everything is more colorful than you drift.
Stell dir vor, daß wir alles sind und nichts brauchen
Imagine that we have everything and need nothing
Stell dir vor, daß uns egal ist ob kluge Köpfe rauchen.
Imagine that we do not care if smoking masterminds.
Stell dir vor, daß du zu alt bist um jung zu sterben
Imagine that you're too old to die young
Stell dir vor, daß Ablaufdaten nie mehr gültig werden.
Imagine that expiration dates are valid any more.
Wenn deineVorstellung beginnt
If your imagination begins
In einer Zeit wo alles stimmt
In an era where everything is right
Dein Vorhang aufgeht wenn du fällst
Your curtain goes up when you fall
Und dir das noch alles gefällt
And you like it or anything
Stell's dir vor
Imagine's in front" --Stell Dir Vor, Acht
Forming Acht was both risky and exciting. Although they`re a mixture of love and inspirational themes, he wasn`t sure if people will like it. Genre is mostly rock although like Zoo Army, there are also a mix of sentimental ones.
First time to have a German rock band, which songs are pure German, Gil conquered the uncertainty and once again, showed up on stage with three comrades. Surprisingly, it turned out that many people liked it even if it`s their first time to hear their songs. In an interview about their tour as opening act for Alex Band, Gil said he didn`t expect the reactions of the people to be very positive towards them. They(the audience) even commented that they liked them better than the main act and was craving for more, but unfortunately, they only had limited time.
"The people have entered our super harder line. Even demanded encores. Reamonn the people were full of praise," says Oswin.
"But the sold-out opening concert at Munich's Backstage were fabulous. The audience did not even know the song, " added Gil.
Acht was a total fulfillment for him as they have created almost everything on their own. Self-written, self-composed, self-arranged, self-prepared. No hassle. No stress. They were very relaxed and happy the way he imagined himself to be.
"We already work completely independently. Decide for yourself and everything will choose the people with whom we want to creatively make a difference," underlines Oswin.
4. If you want to prove something, do it for yourself not for others.
Everybody was surprised to see him auditioned on a talent show, The Voice of Germany. News about him flooded the internet in different context but with the same content: The Comeback. There were many speculations as of why he had to do it when in fact he`s been at the top. One of which really made me angry was that he wanted to prove once again to everyone how great he is. But the truth is Gil just did it for himself and not for anybody else.
I was a teenager, you have no idea what is actually happening around you. I could then also a very important word not say that was the word 'no'. I wanted to please everyone. But today I know that I do not need. I make myself not because of some crazy things, such as when something negative is said about me. I stand with both feet on the ground, I am at peace with myself.
He`s been at the top, yes, and been living with extremes. But he realized something was wrong. He wanted to make a change and start cleaning his life, doing things right for himself. He didn`t have to prove anything to others as he has done it a long time ago and the real proof of how great an artist he is is no other than himself.
5. Everybody deserves another chance
Many people didn`t appreciate him after he left his teen idol image. His fans have left him and didn`t support him anymore.
"Where are the friends that used to call me?
Where are the friends i used to know?
The clock moves fast
But i´m too wasted
I feel released, but jet so old" - Broken, Zoo Army
However, he proved to us that he didn`t even the least bit regret his decision. I admire him for taking the courage to stand up for what he believed was right and what made him happy. Gil`s life may have been messed up in the past, but at least he took the chance to clean it it up.
"I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . ." Man in The Mirror, Michael Jackson (Gil sang it in the fourth Live Show)
Everybody deserves another chance. It should not only be second chance but as many as possible that`s worth him. People do have mistakes. Some have gone to the wrong way or have chosen it. But the most important thing is we realized our mistakes and take action into making things right.
"And I don't want the world to see me'Cause I don't think that they'd understandWhen everything's made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am" -- Iris, Go Go Dolls (Gil sang it in the 2nd Live Show)
We may have been still dreaming of that long-haired boy, but let`s learn to appreciate the man he becomes. He may have changed a lot but he is the same guy we once knew about, once dreamed of and once loved. Everybody deserves another chance...to be appreciated...to be accepted...to be loved...and to be happy...for who and what he is!
"Happiness is a choice." - Gil
