Aviv Noiman-Jerusalem

I've been waiting for this song to go on youtube ever since I first heard it a few weeks ago when I listened to Aviv Noiman's debut album "David" but a part of me also wanted it to stay a secret, a hidden gem for whoever listens to the full album and not just the singles. I love this version and you can really feel the intimacy of the performance but it's not the same as hearing the original recording, especially as part of the album and not just standing on its own. I've made a habit of listening to albums from start to finish on the bus from Tel Aviv to Be'er Sheva and lately I've been finding it a bit difficult to hold my attention and really listen to a whole album by one singer/band-the songs seem to be repeating themselves, the sound stays exactly the same and there are too many fillers. Overall it's pretty frustrating because there's a sense that the album is made just to hold the singles and just doesn't work that great as a unit. But that is not the case here. I didn't even need the bus ride-I had planned to hear one song in the background at home while surfing the web but I ended up just listening to this album straight from the first song till the last while reading the lyrics and ignoring all other distractions (not an easy feat!). It's been a long time since I've really been moved by an album and really felt like a journey was made-and there was even some change in the air. I found this song to be especially emotional maybe because it came after a beautiful song sung entirely by Shani Velman and I was starting to miss Aviv's voice (she also shines here, complementing with her wonderful voice), maybe it's the strong and clear lyrics, I don't know but this song really stands out when listening to the album. There's something very special and spiritual about Jerusalem, it's so different from the rest of Israel, almost like another world. Last Passover I went up to Jerusalem with my mother to see an exhibition and we spontaneously decided to go to the Western Wall in the evening. The place was packed because it is after all a mitzvah (commandment?) to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on Passover but it only made the experience more special. I'm far from being religious but there was an amazing feeling in the air and I had forgotten how beautiful the walls of the Old City look in the night. I hope I'll get the chance to hear Aviv perform live, until then here's another clip from his performance in Tel Aviv. Oh, and here's an excellent interview in English: http://www.midnighteast.com/mag/?p=25024

I was the king of Jerusalem
When the city was still inside me
I gave my heart to explore everything under the skies
Nothing excites me anymore
You chose to spend another night with me
Yes you were in my bed also last night
There's a hint of tomorrow in yesterday's memories
There's nothing new under the sun

And from your Tower of David you can see far
You write me letters
Saying it's a shame I'm not with you that beyond the walls
There is also a hint of God
I also got lost there in the sand when I thought
That I had found someone to light some emotion in me
I also made a mistake but honey I've already seen everything
There's nothing new under the sun

I was the king of Jerusalem
When I was still inside you
I placed my fingers to wipe the tears under the eyes
I opened a window for you
Just as you blink into the light
The soul closes and opens
But something inside me remembers
That in the end it opens forever
There's nothing new under the sun

https://he-il.facebook.com/AvivNoimanBand