Amir Lev-Train

Amir Lev has been referred to as one of the country's finest storytellers, and for good reason. When I heard this song I felt I was travelling together with Amir easily understanding his mood-at first the images reminded me of the train ride from Tel Aviv to the South but I slowly realized the journey was much further away. It's so different from the usual encounter with the dark past that most of us face when we travel to Poland in high school. There's been ongoing debate about these trips and how they shape our collective memory and ultimately our national identity. I personally had great difficulty-not just with the chilling sights of the barracks and personal items but also with the extremeness of it all-we had "heavy" and "light" days and on the long bus rides with all of the chatter and Bamba I kept forgetting that we weren't on a regular class trip. But most of all I had difficulty with the immense pressure to cry with my friends, something I have never been comfortable with. Looking back I realize how incredibly silly,and selfish, this was-instead of concentrating on the tragedy I was concerned that I wasn't reacting with enough emotion. I think if I would have gone privately with just a close friend or two I would have seen things in a much different light-I would have had more time to comprehend and also to observe the fragile connection between the past and present. Amir Lev weaves strong emotions in a very gentle way-this isn't your typical Holocaust Remembrance Day song and it probably won't be heard at school ceremonies tomorrow but its music and lyrics leave a very powerful impression as well as the realization that the Holocaust is a deeper part of our lives than we think. By the way, another song which has left a surprisingly powerful impression on me is Michael Greilsammer's impromptu mash-up of Hatikva and the Game of Thrones theme, just in time for Independence Day.

On the train from the city we held hands
Factories, car lots
Later electrical power stations
And then began the fields

And we said wow when we passed the river
Wow to a tree by a boat
We got off with another couple who were surprised
That there was no shop at the station

Through the woman and scarf
Who took out mushrooms from the soil
I had to drink before the bridge
You loved me as if I built the castle

And the village is delicate and winding
A bakery out of a fairy tale
You told me to give up the meat
It is not appropriate here to eat dead animals

Glasses from the past at a second hand shop
We waited for the seller to wrap
Between the glass and the table
She sold there a yellow star

I cursed and we were silent on the way back
The train wasn't late
I noticed that it was an old train
And windowsills of at least sixty years

Shai Tsabari-Difficult at Night

Difficult at night without a person
Not good at day with people
Rising to sow in their season
Stars of nights faint lights

And the streets in the city are as an abyss
At night clumsy sadness
Difficult with people at day
At night they have no fault

Such a perfect soundtrack for a hazy Saturday like today. Shai Tsabari became a household name with the stunning "Silence Above Me", the title track of Ahuva Ozeri's latest album featuring various artists, but he had already gained himself a name of respect as a back-up singer for "Adumey Hasefatut", Berry Sakharof and Rea Mochiach's joint project as well as his work with the Idan Raichel Project. This is his first official single and while it highlights his beautiful voice it doesn't capture his endearing stage presence which can be seen here. A while ago he created a weekend playlist for Kol HaCampus and opened with this statement: "In recent years almost everyone who speaks to me about music and especially Israeli music hears the same sentence-the last decade is the best time of Israeli music I got to live in. Israeli artists young and old, from all backgrounds, are digging their roots, discovering them and renewing them, and are doing it an amazing level of musicianship and professionalism. Different artists are taking the influences they absorb in the street or in the vast archives of the internet-from America, the Middle East, India and Africa and where not, and are making from them little diamonds. I collected a few bits like these which caught me in recent years and I added to them some of the artists which I always come back to. Pleasant listening". Tsabari's collection of diamonds is a must and can be streamed here.
This song is written by Avraham Chalfi who wrote Arik Einstein's beautiful "Adorned is your Forehead (with Black Gold)" which appears in Einstein's 1988 collaboration with Yoni Rechter "From the Songs of Avraham Chalfi". The album was recently issued for the holiday and now includes 5 unreleased Einsten tracks which can be sampled here. "Difficult at night" has been performed by different artists over the years, most notably by Israel Bright and Alon Eder, but I love how in this version despite the dark lyrics there is a whiff of optimism and comfort.

Sputnik Hi Fi-Alex Fishman

Passover is just around the corner and with it the tiring family meal and reading of the Seder (so so long-even with the shortcuts!) yet after hearing this song I can't help but think of the Alex Fishmans keeping guard on holiday eve away from their families, guarding alone and at night, sort of in an alternative universe. It's so easy to overlook them... Sputnik Hi Fi define themselves as "Jerusalemites and Tel Avivians, veterans of the reggae scene and new believers, aged 40, 30, and 20+, natives of the country and another one. Flying high in the sky as is customary with Sputniks!" I love them. I couldn't find too much information about them but I did come across this wonderful photo album from a concert of theirs in Jerusalem. I love how the photos really capture the listeners in the moment and also that it's a very welcoming mix of people, something you don't always see in Tel Aviv where every group has their own places. You can download this song as well as the dub version (starts here at 04:36) at their bandcamp page. Chag Sameach!

The guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Yeah the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders

With an old pistol, a sandwich with sausage
A volume of Borges in his bag
He goes to work at an hour when everyone
Withdraws from the night in their houses

Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Yeah the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Alex Fishman
Alex Fishman

Because the property of the shareholders
At night emits negative energy
And only Alex Fishman the brave and strong
Stands on his own for us against them

Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Yeah the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Alex Fishman
Alex Fishmn

All night fighting the dark forces
For the safety of the citizens
Believing that the army and the police
Guard them from any trouble

No
Only the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders
Only the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the property of the shareholders

He keeps guard at night
Keeps guard at day
Keeps guard on Saturdays
Keeps guard on holidays

And when the night is over and the sausage is finished
The volume of Borges returns to his bag
On the quiet street Alex Fishman walks
Singing a Bob Marley song and smiling

Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the world from the shareholders
Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the world from the shareholders
Alex Fishman

Alex Fishman

And Alex Fishman doesn't receive any fame

He's used to facing the darkness

He'll just be very happy if you say thank you

For the courage and the perseverance

Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the world from the shareholders
Because the guard Alex Fishman keeps guard at night
Over the world from the shareholders

Alex Fishman
Alex Fishman
Thank you
Thank you Alex Fishman

Guarding us
Days and nights
Saturdays and holidays
Thank you very much
From all the heart

Omri Nobel-As of Today

As surprising as it may sound given my Eastern European roots, I really love old school Mizrahi music style Zohar Argov and Haim Moshe. It almost always suits my mood and reminds me of when my neighbors in Be'er Sheva would throw parties on Saturday nights when I had to study-at first I would be bothered but it eventually became the perfect soundtrack to help me focus. On the other hand Kareoke parties with more modern music are a completely different story... I love how Omri Nobel took Zohar's classic and gives it his own twist emphasizing its timeless lyrics. I also love the clip-even though it's sometimes more expensive than the supermarket nothing beats buying fresh fruit and vegetables at the local grocer, especially when it's accompanied with friendly small talk. In fact, I've come to realize that finding the right grocer, baker, tailor and hairdresser are what really makes a new city feel like home.

Every day I rip a page from the board
Sunday is sad
Monday I'm happy
And Tuesday is a new day

On which I'll lie on my back
I'll roll over on my stomach
And the mind runs
Oh...working my ass
In the mezuzah I'm a slave
And the mind runs

Every day I become from substance to dust
Sunday is black
Monday I shine
And Tuesday is a new star

On which I'll lie on my back...

Every day I wait for a good ending
Sunday almost
Monday you dissapear
And Tuesday I'm alone

And then I'll lie on my back...