Oren Lavie Nominated For Grammy, "Best Short Form Music Video"

Los Angeles-based, Israeli native Oren Lavie was surprised to learn of his 2010 Grammy nomination. "I was in a guitar shop and I got a text with a note of congratulations," Lavie says of the news. Initially the indie singer/songwriter thought it was a joke. "But then more messages came in, and I realized I couldn't play the guitar, my hands were shaking!"

The video, which he produced and co-directed, for "Her Morning Elegance" is nominated for the 2010 Grammy Awards alongside Depeche Mode, Coldplay and Black Eyed Peas in the category "Best Short Form Music Video."

The video has become an internet phenomenon with over 9 million views on Youtube and as an iTunes 'Free Download Of the Week,' over 200,000 downloads.

In an interesting twist, two years ago, Oren Lavie was living in Berlin when the song ("Her Morning Elegance") was synched to a Chevy Malibu commercial that premiered during the Grammy 2008 broadcast. At the time, the album wasn't available in the US and living abroad, he was unable to even watch the ceremony.

Fast forward two years, and his debut, "The Opposite Side of The Sea," on his own indie A Quarter Past Wonderful is available in the US with the same song nominated for an award. Maverick UK Magazine describes the debut as "... a cinematic album of magical qualities and hidden meaning."

The Grammy nomination wraps what has been a banner year for Lavie:

He recently won the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for promising lyricist 2009, past winners include John Mayer and Nicole Atkins; performed on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in March; was a live guest on Jason Bentley's first show as host of KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic;" and the song "A Dance 'Round The Memory Tree" was featured in the Disney film "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian."

The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards will be held January 31, 2010, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Video: Oren Lavie - "Her Morning Elegance"

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