Maya Isacowitz - Is it alright

Wednesday morning opened with a series of very unpleasant noises. First, there was the siren at 5:30 which woke me up from a dream, I remember thinking "not again" and quickly getting everyone into the stairway, then we heard the explosion, immediately afterward we heard screams and then we started to hear ambulance sirens. It took me a while, but I fell asleep at around 8, only to be woken up by another hit at 9:30 and going through everything again. The whole day was pretty stressful, I'm usually a quick walker and noticed that this time I wasn't the only one. And then there was the news in the afternoon about the bomb in Jerusalem, where one (a Christian Scottish tourist who came to Israel to study Hebrew so that she could translate the bible to the language of Congo) was killed and 70 severely injured. Right now the scariest part is that we're all uncertain what's next and where we're going. This is a really beautiful song, and I especially love the violin part. Maya is supposed to perform at the wonderful Jacob's Ladder folk festival in May, and I plan on going and catching her act, but of course, who knows what will be in May. Who knows what will be tomorrow.

www.myspace.com/mayaiisacowitz

Gilad Segev and Madboojah Project - Hannah'leh was confused

It's Purim! Although it's a bit hard to celebrate with all the bad news in the world and not to mention waking up to hear the terrible news about 49 (!!) mortar bombs fired from Gaza into the Negev which adds further tension to what seems like a pre-war, we can still try. And what better way than this hit that even wallflowers like me will rush to the dancefloor to dance to. If it sounds a bit old-fashioned that's because it's a cover (making it all the more perfect for Purim) to a 1974 song by "The sounds of the grapevine" which is Mizrahi music in its truest sense and just as good as this update. The song is part of the "2 sides to a coin" project in which rock and Mizrahi musicians "switch sides". I think it's a wonderful idea that helps, even if slightly, to fizzle the tension between the two groups. Of course, it doesn't always work but in this case there's no doubt that it does. Gilad Segev pleasantly surprises because I'm used to much mellower (and mainstream) songs from him and you can't go wrong with the amazing Madboojah Project. Hoping that Haman won't bother us anytime soon.

We came here together from Afula
On the Friday train
I have a salted fish on my plate
And a hairdo on my head
And on me a Sabbath dress
With a leather wallet in my hand
Oh Mother, how nice it is
Yehuda promised her
That he'll keep her faith
Like before the wedding

Honeymoon before the wedding
Tar after the honey
The groom wants to be a father
A son from Hannah'leh he demanded
Hannah'leh told him feh
It's completely unfair
I don't care
If you want a boy or girl
Go have one alone
Because the individual has the freedom

Friday Tartzat Parashat Vayomer
A circumcision was in town
A feast was given like the king's hand
And congratulations to the man
Hannah'leh was confused
No way a circumcision
And she was still a virgin
But the husband didn't remember
How he came to have a boy
And it was too late to celebrate

They brought the son to the Rabbi
And told him Rabbi take
She says it's not mine
And he says it is yours
So the Rabbi was interested
They both denied the son
And this isn't possible
We'll wait until he grows up
And then from his mouth, we'll ask him
Where did you come from you disgrace

www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=212838

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmi48eyGgIA

www.youtube.com/GiladSegevVideos

www.myspace.com/madboojah

Tal Cohen Shalev - Heartaches and Ashes

What a tragic weekend. On Friday, I heard from someone that there was a Tsunami in Japan and that many people were killed but I didn't quite get what happened. Only when I saw the pictures on the news, which looked like scenes even a top Hollywood disaster movie wouldn't have the budget for, did I realize the enormity of the disaster. Suddenly I realized that in every house that was effortlessly swept away, every car, there were people and a life. Then I woke up today to find out that an innocent family in Shomron was brutally murdered including a 3-year-old and 5-month-old baby who were stabbed to death. I don't want to get into politics, but a murder is a murder and it's very heartbreaking. This song is about something completely different, but I felt like choosing it. I was lucky to see Tal Cohen Shalev in an intimate concert a while ago and I still remember how everything just stopped and I felt goosebumps on my arms. Hoping for a peaceful week.

http://www.myspace.com/talcohenshalev

Noam Rotem - Kain

After a long tour of his excellent last album "Help on the Way" Noam Rotem is back with a new album and this is his 2nd single. I've always liked Noam's songs because they sound so honest and the music is great. I liked Noam's melancholic songs, but it's great to hear him in an energetic song like this one. I'm very curious how the rest of his upcoming album will be and hope I'll be able to see him live- especially with songs like this one.

On red roads on the way to you

Obscuring signs inside, on the hands

Who seeds a wind harvests a storm

I'm not sure what else she said

Swaying in the summer wind

And the taste of your kisses chases me

You called me Kain, from me you came and you'll come back to me

I've already forgiven you, when will you forgive yourself?

I hear a sound in the skies

Confess my love, come close to me

But I'm sunk up to my neck

The sweet temptation leaves a sour taste

Maybe I went too far?

I went too far

And you called me Kain

I'm hungry and tired, I'm thirsty for you

Leaning on a wall that was once home

A light blinds me consciously

Only a kiss on the forehead is left

Swaying in the summer wind

And the salt in your tears burns me

You called me Kain, from me you came and you'll come back to me

I've already forgiven you, when will you forgive yourself?

http://www.myspace.com/noamrotem