Thursday, July 29, 2010

Daniel Solomon and Daniela Spector-My Sweetheart



Daniel Solomon is probably one of Israel's most appreciated (and melancholic) singer/songwriters today. And it's quite justified. When reading the lyrics of this song I can really believe that they belong to Daniel. It never ceases to amaze me that certain feelings I have, or thoughts in my head, can be found in so many other people and that I'm not as special as I thought. It's also quite comforting. I guess that's the idea behind the video. Sort of. Daniel's kind of speaking the words and not really singing so Daniela Spector's chorus really completes the song and makes everything flow.

I’ve wasted many years being sad
Closed and unsure, like a lion in a cage
Always yearning to go out into the freedom
And the lock is open, but not in my head
Many women passed here, and those that stopped
Were closed up like me, or they simply saw
That my heart is gone, it’s probably with you
And in their faces I searched but only your gaze
That touch and smell, that piece of peace
That wasn’t really inside you, but you wanted it
And God knows, in your name I yell
And nobody hears when the entire house is empty

My crazy sweetheart
Calling my name maybe he’s coming
My far one, I’ll be yours
My sweetheart when will you find me

I’ve wasted many years being alone
I was taken and thrown, falling from side to side
I’ll always miss what is not mine
Were you really mine, or was it just in my head
Many women passed here, and those that stopped
Were broken like me, or they simply saw
That something is missing in me, it’s probably with you
And in their bodies I searched but only the warmth of your body
That touch and smell, that piece of innocence
That wasn’t really in you, but you liked to dream
And god knows, with me it hasn’t passed
What’s gone is gone what’s left is left

I’ve wasted many years, being sad
Closed and unsure, like a lion in a cage
I’ll always miss what is not mine
Were you really mine, or was it just in my head
Many women passed here, and those that stopped
Were broken like me, or they simply saw
That something is missing in me, it’s probably with you
And in their bodies I searched but only the warmth of your body
That touch and smell, that piece of innocence
That wasn’t really in you, but you liked to dream
And god knows, with me it hasn’t passed
What’s gone is gone what’s left is left

http://www.myspace.com/danielsalomonmusic
http://www.myspace.com/danielaspector

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Knesiat HaSechel-What are you dreaming about



This is the latest single by the well-known Israeli rock band Knesiat HaSechel (The Church of Reason). I think it takes a few listens to get used to it and to the singer's voice, but the effort pays off. I found myself floating in the waves of this song, especially towards the end. I don't really like it's video-It's a bit too trying to be dark and I'd prefer something with the sea, not a shower. It kind of reminds me of Aviv Geffen's depressing video's from the 90's and who wants to see something so heavy these days?

What are you dreaming about Michal
When the night is dark and wide
And the winds of the sea ruffle thoughts
And the sprays of the waves are bright dots

And there isn’t the guy that was and left
And you don’t have the parents who want you to be
And there are no more insignificant days
And you don’t have legs feet or a body

And the taste in your mouth changes from fear to salt
And the fish caress your body stroke by stroke
And the lights in the deep call for you
What are you dreaming about Michal?

And the taste in your mouth changes from fear to salt
The fish kiss your body kiss by kiss
The lights in the deep call for you
What are you dreaming about Michal

http://www.myspace.com/knesiath

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Sivan Shavit-Friday Dinner



I usually prefer to post songs with videos, but here it seems like there's no need. I usually try to post songs fitting to the season, or my general mood but this one's different. This is such a beautiful and sad song that I don't care that it's not "summerish" and that it doesn't really fit the sweltering heat. I really like Sivan Shavit's songs- they're all quiet but filled with emotion. Songs that left a big impression on me are "Kiss Me" and "Flying Ticket". They both manage to perfectly capture the situation in the song. In Kiss Me I can really feel like I'm with her on that so familiar car drive from Haifa to Tel Aviv by the sea and in Flying Ticket I'm stuck with her in airport world. This song is no different and I easily get the feeling of an empty house at Friday night-A night reserved for family dinners. I don't know if her home is completely empty, but it's without her mother for whom Sivan wrote this song and who passed away four years ago. It seems like Sivan is a fresh breath of air among the mainstream singers here, maybe because she's not trying to publicize her songs, or herself too much. She's just being who she is and knows that there are enough people who appreciate her and will come to concerts and even buy her CD. Or maybe she doesn't even care about that. There's something very Tel Avivian about her and I can't even define what makes a person Tel Avivian. But she does remind me of Tel Aviv in Friday late afternoon after all of the out-of-towners have returned to their homes in the neighbouring cities and the suburbs to get ready for dinner.

I took down the paintings from the wall
I gave away the white couch
The little wooden elephants are still standing in a line
Your garden gently grows wild
I am pruning the roses
Soon the last picking of strawberries and figs

I can only see you with closed eyes
You rise and the tears fall
Maybe you just travelled abroad and soon will be back
The suitcase filled with presents for everyone and Friday dinner

In the meantime, I write in the room that was once yours
And the heaviness that comes every summer
After it comes autumn
And another year will start without you
There won’t be a ring of a telephone
Not a letter or a postcard
Not a quick visit
Not a kiss
A dry one

http://www.myspace.com/sivanshavit

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Yoni Bloch - Not Easy, Not Simple



Yoni Bloch. It seems like there's so much to write about him. I feel like I've really grown up with his music and then eventually outgrew him. His first CD came out when I was just starting high school. I liked his songs and he seemed to me like a sensitive, honest singer/songwriter. And quite talented too. I liked his music but not enough to want to see him in concert. But enough to want to meet him in person and have him as a friend. Okay, I might have had a bit of a crush on him and wondered what it would be like to have him as a boyfriend. Considering I was 15 that's not too surprising. His second CD came out right before I started the army. I think it's the last album that reminds me of my high school life and not my army life. Yoni matured, along with his songs, and I still managed to enjoy his songs but not enough to want to see him in concert. Maybe it's because he's an artist best heard in the car, or at home, not in a live concert. His third CD came out when I was deep in the army. I didn't bother to hear the whole CD-It seemed to me that the heavy rotation of his singles on the radio was enough. I must say that his songs are annoyingly catchy and I even remember having his song "you're more beautiful when you're unfaithful to me" with the chorus "the jealousy hurts between my legs, you've been done before me" stuck in my head a whole week. From what I've heard from his songs, he sounded a bit depressed-like after a bad break-up. Now he has a new CD out soon and this song is the first single. I have no doubt that it'll receive heavy airplay. The video is one of the cutest and most original I've seen in a while. It's nice to hear that he sounds happier, sort of. There's still an air of melancholy to him-but it goes well with this pop song. Anyways, I don't think I'll get the CD-it depends on his other songs, and I still don't want to see him in concert. But I wouldn't mind meeting him in person.

I do not want to sound soft
But whenever your hand wanders up my thigh
I feel the passion trying desperately
To flow life into the rest of my exhausted body

All the night pam pam pam
I may seem like an animal, but I’m only a person

I don’t know how about you. Ach.
For me it hurts. Hurts so much. You
Know, loving you.

It’s not easy, it’s not simple
It’s not simple, It’s not easy

There’s no need to pressure it’s very clear to me
I fought, I didn’t give up, I developed a heart and lung
Endurance. Without a word, like a bleeding lion.
Only when you left did I let myself fall asleep

Suddenly at the door tuk-tuk-tuk
Tell me: How screwed up do you think I am?

Here exactly the line is drawn.
I already have contributed in the kitchen. You
Know, loving you

It’s not easy, it’s not simple.
It’s not simple, It’s not easy

And how much I want
I don’t know what to do to stop this

In my dream I see
A little boat in the rising sea
And in the boat sits a man
And his fishing rod is sent to the sea
And in the rod a sudden movement
I just want to sleep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40NeDueRGjc&feature=related
http://www.myspace.com/yonibloch