Mosh Ben Ari - I'd tell you everything

I'm not the hugest fan of Mosh Ben Ari. He's a talented musician, and he deserves props for making the huge shanty scene a part of Israeli culture, but he's not really my cup of tea. Except maybe his wonderful cover of Ariel Zilber's classic "And How I Won't" (ואיך שלא-Ve'Eych She Lo) which in itself has become a classic bringing back many memories. There's been talk that Mosh has gotten more mainstream over the years and listening to this song I can understand. But the video adds to the natural feel of the song and overall it's quite charming.

If I could see the top of a mountain
If I could know how it will end
I'd tell you everything, reveal to you everything

If I could tell between good and evil
If I could make you less hurt
I'd tell you everything, reveal to you everything

I'd cross over land and sea
Beat devils, wrapped in blood
Tell you everything, If I could

If I could know where I'm going
If I could see how far away from you
I'd stop everything, stop everything

If I were more attentive to my heart
If I were to understand more my soul
Tell you everything, reveal to you everything

I'd learn to trust in you more
Conquer fears, never hide
Tell you everything

I could've seen the top of a mountain
And I could know how it will end
Tell you everything, reveal to you everything
If I could

http://www.moshbenari.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUl5M9QVXrA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSLPY743FMg&feature=related

Geva Alon - I Wonder If She's Fine

I must admit that I take some pride in knowing that I belong to the group that's part of Geva Alon's fanbase from before he became mainstream. I first discovered him at the 2007 Jacob's Ladder Folk Festival when he performed after he released his first album "Days of Hunger". A friend of mine was really into him and she said that we had to catch his performance- no excuses. He performed on the small stage for new artists, but the place was packed and he really was great. I think it was one of the only performances I've seen when it felt like time just stopped and we were all mesmerized by his voice and amazing guitar skills. He really blew me away with his cover of "Ohio" which I have to admit I hadn't heard before. He performed many original songs, but one of the most remembered was his cover of "Modern Love", completely different from the original. So I wasn't too surprised when Modern Love became a huge hit on the radio. I caught another concert of his at the Barby after the release of his second album "The Wall of Sound", an album that I became addicted to and will always remind me of that wonderful period after high school and before the army. Between his 2nd and 3rd albums, he traveled in the U.S. and you could hear the American influence in his album "Get Closer". "Get Closer" reminds me of the army, specifically the song "Fade away with you" which I'd hear a lot when trying to catch some sleep before a night shift. Now he's already a household name performing on student days and a regular on the radio. Every time he releases something new he sounds better and more mature and this single is no exception. It sounds positive but in a realistic way and it's perfect for today- a warm and sunny day after a few days of thunderstorms and showers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZH33PKofQ4

http://gevaalon.bandcamp.com/

Michael and Shimrit Greilsammer - Who is it

I'm being a bit unfashionably late but last week was the memorial day for Yitzhak Rabin and I feel like writing about it. The official memorial ceremony was this past Saturday (delayed because of weather) marking 16 years since his murder. Members of his family said that the ceremony isn't relevant anymore, but I personally feel that it's never been more relevant than this year. Rabin was many great things, but he will always be remembered as the prime minister who pushed the most for a peace agreement and that is why he was assassinated. The security at the peace protest on November 4 was very tight, but their eyes were searching for suspicious Arabs, not men in kippahs. The fact that his murderer was a religious jew came as a great shock to many, despite the strong criticism and propaganda against him that had become normal in the months before his death. I can't say that it's exactly the same today, but there are more and more violent acts of "price tag" against the left and the situation seems very delicate. Not to mention a series of anti-democratic laws that are being passed that seem too weird to be true. In general, it seems that as the religious community is getting more religious (if in the past it was common to see advertisements of women in Jerusalem now they are torn down, even if they are dressed modestly. Not to mention the criticism of women singing in public) the gap between the secular and the religious is getting harder to bridge and it's getting even harder to see ourselves as one united community. Among all this, the idea of peace seems more and more remote and if we do get there it certainly won't be a unanimous decision among us, to say the least. 

Michael Greilsammer who has teamed up with his wife Shimrit is one of my favorite new artists around. It's quite rare to hear an artist voice his opinions so openly and the Reggae Irish influenced music is wonderful.

Who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it

I'm sitting here thinking in Zion
I've missed a lot
The days in which hope
Was not yet lost

I'm reminded of my childhood
How in the neighborhood field
I asked him to bring peace
In my world

Who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it

He can do anything
He sees everything
And his hand is in everything

Years have passed like a storm
The faith in me stayed
But my wish has already gotten old
To God lost

Yom Kippur arrives
I'm turning to him again clearly
To bring me the peace
Even if it is belated

Who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it who is it

He can do anything
He sees everything
And his hand is in everything

He is the worst of all
He sees everything
And his hand is in everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kLnHzLNuT-M

http://www.michaelgreilsammer.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2011/07/Greilsammer-Bio-English.pdf

Miri Mesika - King

This song has been around since the beginning of summer, but it won't leave the radio charts and quite understandably. It always reminds me of riding a bicycle in Tel Aviv at night during the summer- being so happy to catch a cool breeze from the sea. But I guess it could fit with being in any foreign city away from home. I don't like all of Mesika's songs- sometimes she's a bit too dramatic for me but this song really isn't too much and her voice sounds great. Actually, I think it's one of her best since "Nobody" (אף אחת) which is a perfect winter song.

Two weeks in a foreign city
Living in a half-rented apartment
Living from everything that comes to hand

Eating from Tupperware
Mother said: "take more, take more"
But you can't take any more

How beautiful people on buildings look to you larger than life
Forever young
Always happy...

Hands in the air, flying above the city
Come and be a king for the night
Wind in the face how good it is for you inside
You'll see
There's nothing holy left in this world

Two weeks in a foreign city
It's sad and it's not terrible
Everybody here lives off of loneliness

Happiness is available in two minutes
And emptiness in all kinds of languages
Waiting for a chance

How beautiful people on buildings look to you larger than life
Forever young
Always happy...

Hands in the air, flying above the city
Come be a king tonight
Wind in the face how good it is for you inside
You'll see
There's nothing holy left in this world

http://www.mirimesika.co.il/mainPageEn.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iXgCsX_Kw&feature=related

Roy Dahan - Does anyone know

I really wanted to write about inDnegev and my great experience from there but with school starting again and the rockets it seems so far away. But when I do try to recall it, one of the performances I remember most is Roy Dahan's Friday morning performance. When I first checked out the long-awaited line-up I was a bit disappointed that he was set to perform at 10 a.m. on Friday. I felt he could do better than that and was a bit concerned I might miss his show (I have no idea why I thought I'd still be sleeping in my tent at 10 a.m.). I read a review on the festival a few days ago in which the writer mentioned that what he loved most about it was the fact that there weren't really any pumped up headliners. Every performer was given a time slot that best fits his performance. Which is why Benny Bashan, one of the most admired indie artists around, performed on Friday early afternoon to welcome the Shabbat, and the mind-blowing but relatively unknown Tiny Fingers were given the spotlight on Thursday evening to kick off the night parties. And with a main stage for bigger artists and a smaller one for smaller ones, there was always something good to hear although the festival was much more than just the concerts. Anyway, Dahan's morning performance was exactly what I wanted to hear after a night of Dubstep and indie-electro. Everybody there was still sleepy-eyed and not entirely awake but we all fixed our attention on Dahan and his guitar and the cool desert morning air was a perfect touch. A perfect way to set off the chilled laid-back feel of the festival, and an amazing day of concerts.

http://roydahan.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/InDnegev1?sk=wall#!/InDnegev1?sk=wall