Moti Amir - Trees

I remember that I already forgot stories that once
You told me or I told you or they told us and we listened together
Trees fall behind our parents' house
Dad is silent in the garden counting wars
Which can't be won
A man against his years rocks against the wind trees against bulldozers
I remember that I already forgot songs that once
You played for me or I played for you or they played for us and we listened together

I didn't go to InDnegev this year but that didn't stop me from going over the line-up and seeing who is playing when and on which stage. It's always curious to see who is opening the day so it was nice to discover that Moti Amir played Friday morning at the fittingly named InDtox stage, which from what I gathered is the more Jewish/spiritual area with Kabbalat Shabbat and rebirthing. One of the founders of the festival has become more religious over the years so it makes sense that the festival will include artists like Moti Amir and not just the usual indie acts you can find on stages in Tel Aviv. In any case, I'm glad I discovered him and this song, which is very fitting for these chilly fall afternoons.

Nadav Dagon - White G

It's the last long weekend of the holiday season and I'll miss being able to completely disconnect from work, doing just what I feel like doing. This is a very fitting choice for Sukkot as the holiday is all about spending time in nature (or a Sukkah on your balcony) and most importantly, hosting and visiting friends (see the mitzvah of Ushpizin). Nadav Dagon's video is a colorful celebration of friendship and freedom with the lovely Danielle Tourgeman on vocals. Chag Sameach!

The Rubber Project - One More Cup of Coffee

When I heard that Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature I couldn't help but feel a warm sense of delight. I get the controversy surrounding the choice, but to me it makes perfect sense to give the award to the songwriter who introduced me to Dylan Thomas and later to Keats, Rimbaud, and Ginsberg. I first took note of the names when I read a short bio on Dylan but I had the urge to delve into their work after hearing this song, and many other songs by Dylan which paint a story with so much depth, emotion, and playful mystery.
There are quite a few famous Hebrew versions to Dylan: Danny Littany's "Blowing in the Wind" and "Girl from the North Country", Aviv Geffen's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and Shlomi Shaban's "Mama, You've Been on My Mind, to name just a few, but I really love this version by the Rubber Project. The group actually made a whole album of Dylan songs which they translated but this song isn't included in it. I love how it stays loyal to the original but adds an extra flair, amping the guitar with so much emotion. And it works so perfectly-I can almost smell the finjan-made black coffee.

Original lyrics:

Your breath is sweet
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky
Your back is straight your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie
But I don't sense affection
No gratitude or love
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.

Your daddy he's an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade
He'll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food.

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.

Your sister sees the future
Like your mama and yourself
You've never learned to read or write
There's no books upon your shelf
And your pleasure knows no limits
Your voice is like a meadowlark
But your heart is like an ocean
Mysterious and dark.

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go.
To the valley below.

Yair Yona - Sword

These days before Yom Kippur are also the days when we remember the Yom Kippur War.

From the Youtube description: 'Sword' is the title track that seals the war chapter in my 1973-War Soundtrack album. It is the fusion point of memories, sounds, visions, blood and death. All of which took place shortly before the ceasefire command.
During the fighting, one cannot stop and relate to the experience, the survival mode controls the body and mind, one cannot think or feel anything. Just survive.
But when the fires are gone, and all tanks are making a u-turn to return home, time becomes very slow. Memories come to the brain, picking with a sharp knife in the open wound tasting the blood, torching the flesh.

http://yairyona.net/sword-en/

http://kipur.ynet.co.il/#!:/gallerypage.aspx

Mark Eliyahu - Through Me

The death of Shimon Peres didn't come as a surprise, and yet it sent a wave of shock throughout the country and the world. I think it hit me when Netanyahu said the next day "Today is the first day the State of Israel has existed without Shimon Peres". I internalized the sentence and realized that we won't hear his thoughtful and carefully chosen words anymore, always said in a confident and comforting tone. We won't see his face light up in wonder at the latest tech innovation, like as he tried a VR set a few months ago when he laid the cornerstone for the Israeli Innovation Center. It's difficult to imagine future chapters in our country's history without Peres by our side, acting as the stern but loving grandfather who has very high expectations from us. On Thursday night the news channels were dedicated to Peres-most were focused on his political past but one of the programs was from a few years ago when he was President. He gathered together a small group of 30 year-olds from different sects of Israeli society, all with promising futures in medicine, politics, hi-tech, science, education and the social sector. He asked them complex questions with a sparkle in his eyes and seemed to be at his happiest: he was bringing together bright people from very different backgrounds and was deeply interested in not only what they had to say but perhaps more importantly, in what they had to say to each other.
I chose this beautiful piece by Mark Eliyahu because there is something so touching and reflective in the tune. It urges you to take a step back and to listen, just as Peres always encouraged us to do.