Beni Bashan with Boom Pam - Michal

I had to break my strict "just one post per artist" rule to share this video. I excused myself by saying that Boom Pam are just featuring in this song and the real star is the always charismatic Beni Bashan. Bashan won me over at InDnegev with his classic "Achla Chamuda" (cool and cute) which got everyone dancing- a parody of light Mizrahi shakers which became a huge club hit with the Mid-Eastern crowd. And hipsters. And actually everybody because it's so great. It's been a while since I've seen such a confident personality who just does whatever he wants. I really love this clip. It's kind of how I imagined The Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes" video would be. Except they'd be on a bed, he playing a guitar and she blushing staring at her wedding ring. And maybe there would be a hippie in the background playing the tambourine. But the concept of opening your heart to someone unattainable (and having nowhere to run) is the same. I remember seeing Michal Yanai in a play when I was a kid thinking she was just... magical. With her sweet girl next door smile and rare blonde hair, she wasn't dubbed "The queen of children" for nothing. The tension and embarrassment are so strong, and the fact that no one is taking themselves too seriously makes this one of the sweetest and most authentic videos I've ever seen.

Michal, I love you
I want to stroke your hair
Michal, I love you
I want to stroke your hair

And a day will come
A scorpion will arrive (oh, how he'll arrive)
Will try to sting you on the neck
But then
I'll come
And tell him "No. Here you can't."

Because Michal I love you
I want to stroke your hair
Michal, I love you
I want to stroke your hair

And a day will come
A bee will arrive (Oh, how she will arrive)
Right away I'll call the police
Because I
I don't kill bees
I leave the dirty work to others

But Michal I love you
I want to have kids with you
Michal, I love you
I want to untie the knots
In your hair.

http://www.benibashan.com/hp/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXtC6KeFVP8&feature=related

Shmemel - The Latke Story

Of course, I completely forgot that today is the first night of Hannukah-I was only reminded when I walked back from university and saw a lit Hannukah menorah by a window and then I saw an ambush at the bakery for sufganiyot (jelly donuts). It's not surprising since it's become a tradition to remember at the last minute and rush to buy candles at the grocery store. Anyway, this is a remake of a classic Hannukah song which I must admit I wasn't really familiar with (or maybe I just don't remember). I love how Shmemel (an amazing band by the way) kept the Jewish vibe of the song- they just made it so much more awesome. It kind of reminded me how on one Purim I saw a group of teens dressed up as Na Nach jews (the Hassidic jews who dance techno in the street to spread the word of God) and then some real Na Nachs came and danced with them and it was just amazing. Because I really don't like where things are going between the seculars and religious and hopefully we can learn to live side by side (even on a bus) and co-exist peacefully. On another note, I personally like Levivot (or Latkes) much more than sufganiyot because they have to be homemade (with love of course) and make you feel much less guilty! Happy holidays :)

Hoy Hannah Zelda, my lovely wife
Hanukkah is coming
And in Hanukah my soul desired
to eat a warm sweet latke.

Hoy Rabbi Kelman, my dear husband
In my kitchen, no flour is left
My dear husband and how can I
make a latke without any flour?

So Rabbi Kelman moved his waist
Put on his hat and his boots
To the market he raced, He bought quickly,
A bag of white flour and returned home.

Here Hannah Zelda, my lovely wife
Here is the flour to make latkes
Because in Hannukah my soul desired
To eat a warm and sweet latke.

Hoy Rabbi Kelman, my dear husband
In my kitchen, no oil is left
My dear husband how is it possible
To eat a latke if I have no oil?

Again Rabbi Kelman moved his hips
Put on his hat and boots
To the market he raced, he bought quickly,
A jug of pure oil and returned home.

Here Hannah Zelda, my lovely wife,
Here you have oil to make latkes
Because in Hannukah my soul desired
To eat a warm and sweet latke.

Hoy Rabbi Kelman my dear husband
In my kitchen, there is no sugar left
My dear husband, how is it possible
To make latkes without sugar?

Tired Rabbi Kelman his soul is sad
Puts on his boots and thinking about latkes
To the market he returns even hungrier
He buys sugar and rushes back home.

Here Hannah Zelda my lovely partner
Here is sugar to make latkes
Because in Hannukah my soul desired
To eat a warm and sweet latke.

Hoy Rabbi Kelman my dear husband
Maybe we'll delay the latkes to tomorrow
My dear husband, how is it possible,
To make latkes when there's no energy left?

Then Rabbi Kelman took off his boots
Put on an apron and rolled up his sleeves
And kneaded the dough pouring and pouring
the last laughter is only the one who laughs.

Hoy Hannah Zelda morning is already coming
Open your eyes here is a latke
Because our souls desired
To eat a warm and sweet latke.

http://www.shmemel.com

http://shmemel.bandcamp.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnLiYgs2Ic&feature=related

http://observers.france24.com/content/20100204-na-nach-jews-religion-tradition-techno-music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK0b_4bBW0I

Yardena Arazi - A dream and yearning

I've noticed for quite a while now that I rarely post about female singers. I think it's a combination of two reasons:
1. I'm much more critical of female singing and I just enjoy male singing much more.
2. There aren't that many female singers in the Israeli music business.
I really don't want to feel that I have to search for female singers just to show more diversity, just like I don't want to specifically search for certain genres.
That being said, I really felt that Yardena Arazi's new single was very refreshing, probably because I'm more used to male singing, and it's a very honest and pretty song. It's hard to believe that Yardena recently celebrated her 60th(!) birthday because she looks great and only when you see clips of her from the 80's it makes sense. I've heard a lot about the huge Yardena Arazi vs. Ofra Haza rivalry, which almost tore the country apart (maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration but I remember reading that sentence somewhere). It seems that Yardena was always the prom queen- beautiful and popular but not really taken seriously and the Eurovision didn't really help. This song is part of her recent comeback and I really like the direction she's taking- it fits her perfectly. And who doesn't like seeing personal home videos of a famous pop star? This song also gets a different context with all the recent talk of the rise of the exclusion of women, especially in public singing. Yardena sings of her love and need for music (specifically performing as a singer) and I can't imagine taking that away from someone just to try and preserve the status quo. I'm probably making this connection because the women's segregation situation reached the government and Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman referred to Arazi thanking her for showing the significance of women singing, and how much it contributes to a positive atmosphere. These are kind words, and it's important that they were said, but they don't really comfort me as a woman and I have trouble seeing how things will get better soon.

I was born from crying
From an uncalm pain
I was born from a dream and yearning

I was an enchanted chord
And maybe I was a melody
I was an unforgettable shout

You, somewhere in the dark
It doesn't matter where you came from
I see you in my thoughts

Be whoever you are to me
A bit different a bit like me
With sensitive skin thirsty for love

Music is freedom
To express and be heard
I came from the need to express

You, on the edge of horizon
A bit different but familiar
For a blessed moment you're not a stranger to me.

Music is a way
To break the silence
A place to put grief
A source of comfort.

A wondered eyed childhood
A scratch of youth
A wonderful flash of happiness
All of the world: songs

You somewhere in the dark
It doesn't matter where you came from
I see you in my thoughts

Be whoever you are to me
A bit different a bit like me
With sensitive skin thirsty for love

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4160719,00.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow3t-4X1rHM

http://www.yardena-arazi.com

Hashlichim - A New Person

Hashlichim (translated as the messengers) are a relatively unknown band, but I'm pretty sure I'll soon hear a lot more about them. Their whole "you can do anything!" attitude is a bit too sugary for me, but it's cool that they're using their music to spread their positive message. And it's a pretty great song, too.

It's happening, it's growing tendons
In front of your open eyes
You find yourself
Seeing the world differently
You exist, a new person

Marking the steps
Tuning the sounds
Your new reality
Until the end of your life
You will feel
What it's like to live with hope

It starts now
A new person
Wake up, it's time
And in your eyes they'll see everything
Your deeds will change because only you can
Only you can

It's happening and continuing
And your open eyes
Only make sure
That it's real
And it's only yours
You've found your place

http://www.hashlichim.co.il/index.php

Mashina - Polaroid

This is an acoustic cover of one of Mashina's older and less famous songs from 1988. Which is probably why I like it so much. Mashina released a couple of months ago, at the height of the protest, an acoustic cover of "Why politics now" (Az lama li politika achsav אז למה לי פוליטיקה עכשיו) which although written in 1990 with a reference to prime minister Shamir, hasn't stopped being relevant which is a bit sad. This song is also as relevant today as it was in 1988- living under threat, questioning God, facing reality but looking for optimism, etc. I think the acoustic version is great, especially the guitar duet but the original is a wonderful piece of Israeli 80's pop and it's a shame it was overlooked.

The traffic that is increasing again borders madness
A girl who passes highlights her body

A mother crosses the road with a child who hasn't yet seen
How the light blue sky has darkened, how a storm is coming in

And to myself, I ask
If God banters
To who do we have to pray
To sleep in peace

A thought that passes leaves me exposed
It's funny I believed that I could fly

And to myself, I ask
If God banters
To who do we have to pray
To sleep in peace

And to myself, I ask
If God banters
To who do we have to pray
I'm sailing to the imagination

I've always wanted the things
That I've never had
Waking up you're next to me
And all the fear disappears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQEM-l2bo74&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhuQbePTA10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashina