Raichel and Keys
Idan Raichel and Alicia Keys: 'We Are Here'
Raichel performs with Keys and Palestinian artist Ali Amir in Central Park; Keys: 'Let's do everything we can to encourage a peaceful solution.'
After performing together on the same stage in Israel, the musical connection between Israeli producer Idan Raichel and Alicia Keys has grown stronger as seen Saturday in New York's Central Park where the two performed live alongside Palestinian musician Ali Amir-Kanoon in Keys' newest release "We Are Here".
Amir-Kanoon is a musician from Ramallah who regularly collaborates with Raichel and the two met Keys during her 2013 show in Israel when the two performed Keys' popular tune "Fallin" as well as a track produced by Raichel.
The Israeli star posted on Facebook after the New York even saying, "Over the last few months I've being playing with a musician from Ramallah, Ali Amir. We meet mostly in the US despite the fact that there's only a 40 minute drive between our cities by vehicle."
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"Despite the difficulties, together we're trying to build a musical bridge that we'll all try to walk on," said Raichel's post. "This visionary bridge has been embraced and adopted by several international artists including Alicia Keys with whom we performed Saturday at a massive stage in Central Park in New York."
The three artists in a picture posted on Keys' Facebook page.
Keys also took to Facebook after the performance and said, "I went to Israel and Palestine. I talked to many people on both sides and I know that most everyone I spoke to there wants peace. My generation wants peace."
Instead, the artist blamed those trapped in the past of perpetuating the conflict. "It's the old guard that are still fighting to win while people and children are suffering. Let's do everything we can to encourage a peaceful solution. Music and Art unites. These two artists (Raichel and Amir) represent the love we must all find in our hearts to heal old wounds and move forward."
