Friday, February 25, 2011

Subliminal and Sivan-It Happens


When I first heard this song I felt a huge flashback back to a certain year in junior high (I think maybe 8th grade) when Subliminal and HaTzel (the shadow) were the coolest singers around and their songs were the go-to songs at parties. I even have a distinct memory of dancing to their hit "Finale" at a Purim party. Unfortunately, junior high gives me associations I'd prefer not to remember-I'm not just talking about the awkward years of preteen angst but also the bloody and tense years of the second Intifadah. Looking back I can safely say that I remember much more vividly school and friend related memories as opposed to scenes on the news but not completely. As much as I wanted to, it was difficult to escape reality-I remember always having to let my parents know where I am and they're not really the anxious over-protective type, I remember hearing that there was a bomb explosion while I was at an art class and we didn't really know how to act- going back to painting at first seemed a bit disrespectful, I remember planning to go shopping with friends in Tel Aviv but it was cancelled because of a bomb threat, and the list goes on. I'm sure there's more that my memory just kind of blocked. Junior High seems like such a blurry time to me but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. Anyways, two days ago a graad rocket fell in Beer Sheva-the first time since the war (or operation, not sure what was decided in the end) two years ago. It wasn't the first time I heard the alarm, and it also wasn't the first time I heard the thud of the fall but it was the first time that I heard the explosion so clearly, and the first time I felt in real danger. And it caught me completely off guard. I guess I was just really hoping that I'd have only good memories from the university years which really did start to give the impression that they'll belong to one of my favourite and most enjoyable periods (hopefully not THE best because that would be a bit depressing). Wars and rockets kind of fitted in with my army life but I do not want them to mix with these years. I'm pretty sure I'm being way too optimistic, but I don't mind. I can't stop thinking about yesterday's meeting with a sweet 10 yr old girl I teach. Naturally she was a bit scared of what happened and she started talking about memories from the war. Apparently she remembers every single detail. When I advised her to try not to think about it and maybe we should go back to her math homework she said "I can't. It's my trauma". I'm not even sure I knew what trauma was when I was her age. Anyways, this is a great song leaning on a great classic by Arik Lavie and I really hope that I won't have too many negative associations with it if I'll hear it again in a few years.

It happens that the way keeps on going
It happens, you have to walk walk
Nothing is certain, not a year not a week
You have to move, to move and to think that I could
Repeat everything, but man
It happens!

And it happens that history continues, reality bites
The way is lost there is nowhere to go.
Afraid?! Feel the pulse!
At least do you see the hope in the horizon?!
Of course man, all rivers in the end all go to the sea.
Winning is like living in everyone's dreams.
I don't learn from mistakes and ask questions,
Tell me what lies behind locked doors.
"Stop" the world is frozen from coldness but bro we melted in the heat
Blue sky air but still a red rock.
Let our heart beat, album is seeing light,
A dream with arteries, tendons we'll let him form "seen" if we don't stand straight we sit,
There's no respect in the end and there's also no life
A train is speeding and doesn't give up getting off all the tracks.
After years of watering the flower is blooming smell the smell, Iron check-ach, we're sweating, arriving at the finish line.

It happens that the way keeps on going
It happens, you have to walk walk
Nothing is certain, not a year not a week
You have to move, to move and to think that I could
Repeat everything, but man
It happens!
It'll happen, and maybe at the end of the way
that seems that the way keeps on going...
Nothing is certain, not a year not a week
You have to move, to move and to think that I could
Repeat everything, but man
It happens!


Friday, February 18, 2011

Berry Sackharof-The eye



Berry Sackharof. I don't really know where to begin. Definitely one of the coolest rockers around. It seems that he really earned (deservingly) a title of respect in Israeli rock. I've always preferred him over crazy Fortis and connected with the calm (but still rocking) contra he gave to their duo. And I've always had a bit of a crush on him and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. He seldom gives interviews so all his personality and who he really is is a bit of a mystery. He's getting older but still manages to stay at the top of the game and it sounds like he's still growing. I just love how he does his own thing and really seems to enjoy it. I wasn't crazy over this single the first time I heard it-it takes a bit time to get used to and I'm not sure it'll become a Berry classic. But it's him and makes one curious to what else will be on his upcoming album. And he's still pretty cute.

I just wanted to go to sleep
To part with the excess of day to day life
It's hard to find rest
When the eye stays open.
I've already seen mirrors that show,
Reflections on a low ceiling,
The dawn has almost rised
And only the eye greatly promises.

How she draws in,
And again she turns me on
For what it seems that you need
That you can't live without,
How she sends
A spark bright in the darkness
To what it seems you need,
that you can't live without.

I just wanted to be free,
To leave everything and let go
The party has finished already a long time,
And only the eye greatly promises.

How she draws in
And again she turns me on
For what it seems that you need
That you can't live without,
How she sends,
A spark bright in the darkness
For what it seems that you need
that you can't live without.




Friday, February 11, 2011

Eric Berman-I Couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time


Eric Berman is probably one of the most honest and talented songwriters around. And he's not a bad singer too. I remember hearing his first single "What more?" (מה עוד ביקשת) and being just blown away. It was clear that the lyrics were the main thing here. The rest of the song was just accompanying it. I liked some of his other songs, and I really didn't like some other ones, but it always sounded like they were written from his heart (I know that sounds lame and I don't care). This song was recorded in Nashville after a pretty long stay in the states and you can tell by the instruments that there is a country influence but in a good way. Anyways, it's a bit different than his earlier stuff which is great-I really love it when artists step out of their comfort zones yet still manage to sound like themselves. If you're curious what Eric's talking about in the middle of the song he's talking about going on a journey that he's been planning since he was 18 (now he's 30). He has absolutely no idea where he's going. And why.
This is the first song of his album/project inspired by his trip to the states and each week he'll release a new song on his site. Definitely worth following his journey.

I Couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time,
Maybe it's the doctor who locked me emotionally.
Talks and talks of childhood in the shade of divorce
And what it did to me, it's good to have someone to blame.
But it's an emotional thing, you'll probably have a hard time,
I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time.

I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time,
Across your window in the bushes I silently hid.
I saw a light turn on, you were a couple of shadows
After a year you went out, I already wasn't there between the leaves.
I waited for you nights, weeks, months
And I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time.

And however we turned things around ten degrees
You saw me lying dead a thousand times in the nights.

I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time,
The tree has in the meantime shed its dry leaves.
Your dog (who I once took with me
To walk around in the town, proud that she's mine, that you're mine)
Smelling me at the door, considering whether to tell-
I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time.

I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time,
The blonde I met apparently also knows how to sing.
But it doesn't bother, she makes me laugh,
And she has a pair of lips so soft it isn't human.
You're the one who open the gate for me for those women,
I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time

I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time,
A long time the main way is calling me.
I look ahead, feeling a bit young
I already know by heart all of the addresses on the city sidewalks.
Woman, I'm going, don't take it personally-
I couldn't fall in love with you for the sixth time.

www.ericberman.co.il

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T6-qQKVMkM

Friday, February 4, 2011

Avigail Roz-Half Consolation



What a tense week. It's surprising how quickly confusion can turn into fear. It seemed like when Mubarak gave his speech we were all holding our breaths to see how the protesters would react. Their first shouts of joy were too optimistic and it wasn't surprising that they were quickly followed by demands to resign immediately. I know that afterwards there were very violent clashes between the protesters and supporters of the government (who might actually be cops) but I was tired of following the news, as much as an interesting story this is- after all it is the first revolution I'm following live and it is proof that when people unite they can achieve great things. If it weren't such a huge threat to my country I might even be a supporter of their mostly peaceful demonstrations- it is quite justified. I hate these days of uncertainty and tension. A few days ago I got on a bus and this song was playing. At first I thought that it was just a nice song and nothing more- even a bit too short to be a single, but it refused to leave my head the whole day. I was much happier to have this in my head rather than opinions I heard on the news. It's a bit comforting to remember that there are other problems in the world like not finding the right one and although it's melancholic it actually ends on a positive note- sort of. And I like the clip. Getting a glimpse of the streets of Tel Aviv on a sunny day is always a welcoming sight during these wintery days. I really liked Avigail's first big single "And Maybe" and was wondering where she disappeared so it's nice to hear her again.

I've decided not to depend on anyone
Anyways most of the time I'm alone
Sitting all day drinking coffee
Fighting for a good song to come out from me

Most of the time alone
Half choice
I'm better of alone
Then with people
Who make me feel bad.
Most of the time alone
A quarter choice
A quarter loneliness
Half consolation.
So I decided not to depend on anyone
And I'm not some person who takes care of everyone
I can't expect to be given and to give only what I have
So I'm alone that's what there is

Most of the time alone...

So I decided to rise a bit
And go down the stairs
What do I care to stay
What do I care another place

Most of the time alone...