מאיר אריאל

Meir Ariel (Heb. מאיר אריאל) (March 2, 1942 - July 18, 1999) was an Israeli singer-songwriter. He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influ

Meir Ariel (Heb. מאיר אריאל) (March 2, 1942 - July 18, 1999) was an Israeli singer-songwriter. He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as Natan Alterman, S. Y. Agnon and Hayyim Nahman Bialik, and American singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan.

Ariel was born on the Feast of Esther in 1942 and grew up in Kibbutz Mishmarot. He and Israeli rock singer Shalom Hanoch were friends from childhood. He served in the Paratroopers Brigade and was one of the soldiers who broke into Jerusalem at the beginning of the Six-Day War. This inspired him to write the song "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" ("Jerusalem of Iron"). The song was also inspired by Naomi Shemer's hit song "Jerusalem of Gold", and borrowed its tune. It was represented as a cynical reaction to the over-patriotism of the Israeli public and media of that time. Ariel was referred to in the media as "The Singing Paratrooper" because of the "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" mini-album cover that represented him in his military uniform.