Back to Zion - Jah Love

Jah love take care of me
Most of the day and all of the night when my heart begins to be confused
Your faith in the nights is what will give me the strength to live

This past weekend I was at the wonderful inDnegev festival, which took place in the desert in the middle of nowhere (40 min from Be'er Sheva, but it felt like another world). Lots of sand, sun, good music, and good people - just what I needed to recharge before going back to university. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see these guys perform, but I did get to hear them from the tent area where we were wondering whether to make coffee in the sweltering heat (in the end caffeine won). I really believe that the first song you hear in the morning sets your mood for the entire day and this was a perfect energetic yet laid back start. The video also really captures the free spirited feel of the festival and wide variety of different styles and sounds (it might be an indie festival but it's so much more than just alternative rock bands). Plus it makes me want to visit Jerusalem which has a unique vibe that's so refreshing from Tel Aviv. There's something in the air that makes even the most cynical and secular person feel at least a bit spiritual.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA-%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F/29900256257

Vaadat Charigim - The world is long lost

So unsurprisingly Bibi announced early elections, which will probably be the most unsurprising elections yet. The real question on people's minds is who will join Bibi's coalition. To say the truth, I'm not sure how much energy I have for these elections - the newspaper articles, the polls, the interviews, the propaganda ads, the posters on buses, and most of all the endless discussions around the dinner table with family and by the bar with friends. Endless discussions that all end when someone points out that there isn't any real alternative, which seems to be the only thing we can all agree on. Of course, that doesn't mean that I won't participate; it just makes me want to go to the beach and forget about everything. Which brings me to this excellent band I've recently discovered and their great video, which really captures the "it's the middle of August so I don't want to think about anything serious" feeling which sweeps over the nation in the summer, and the holidays. Only now it's already October and it's getting too chilly to go to the beach, but at least I can always disconnect for a bit and get lost in Vaadat Charigim's (Exceptions Committee) mesmerizing guitar riffs.

Let's lie on the beach
Let's lie on our stomachs
As deep as possible
If we'll fall in love it's okay
Because there's no tomorrow
And the world is long lost

http://www.facebook.com/vaadatcharigim

Danny Sanderson - Crying and Laughing

It seems that you can't dislike Danny Sanderson. Even if you're not a huge fan of his music, he's such a likeable person, always good-humored and positive. He made a huge impact on Israeli music by singing and songwriting with the mythological Caveret band, as well as Gazoz and Doda, and you can hear in this song a lot of nostalgia for those good old days, especially in the music itself. The lyrics here are quite dark and very fitting for the end of the holidays beginning of autumn feel of these days but the music is so bright and cheerful. It sounds like it could have been written 30 years ago but it still manages to feel fresh and relevant, and exactly what people want to hear today.

Crying and laughing, what's going on with me
I don't distinct between day and night
Crying and laughing, what hit me
How do I continue from here on

I used to play in orange fields
The sun sailed high up in the skies
On my way I met happiness and troubles
They're with me along the avenue

Crying and laughing, what's going on with me
I don't distinct between day and night
Crying and laughing, what hit me
How do I continue from here on

When my friends left me
Only their songs remained
In a crowded street I hear a melody
In my heart a little tear weeps

Crying and laughing...

The days become shorter
The winds are becoming colder
I wake up in the morning revised and refreshed
And aching each time again

http://www.dannysanderson.net/bioENHome.html

One of Sanderson's most loved songs (also by me): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WqvYZiEDrM

Polar Pair - Cry x3

Well, I'm back after a pretty long break. I'm well-rested and ready to open the new year with a fresh start. And what better way than with this great song by the always fresh Polar Pair. The quality is superb, and the video is wonderful.
A few days ago, it was Yom Cippur or as kids and some grown-ups call it, "the bicycle holiday" because there are no cars in the streets. It's such a unique feeling to walk on the highway and just breathe the clean air and complete silence. Well, except for the loud groups of kids on bikes always arguing how to valuably spend the day and where to go before the sun sets and the cars return. But even so there's really a feeling that the whole world has come to a halt and it's just you with your thoughts, and your bike.
I discovered pretty late the really funny cult comedy Parliament, based on a skit from the satire "A Wonderful Country". It perfectly captures the typical group of guy friends in their 50's who sit together at the coffee house every Friday. It's a shame that there aren't subtitles but I think you can pretty much understand without them. It's Yom Cippur and Shauli (the very talented Assi Cohen) swallows a piece of onion from the pre-fast meal, leading his younger brother to "disqualify" him from fasting. It's pretty brilliant: http://www.mako.co.il/tv-parliament/video/Video-b60bfef1ca6f831006.htm

More Polar Pair here: http://polarpair.tumblr.com/ they've just made a disc of collaborations with artists from the country and abroad, not all of them are my cup of tea but they're well worth checking out.

Here is the creator of the video, Masha Diamond's site: http://creativesnack.wordpress.com/animation-2/

Happy Sukkot!

Kobi Aflalo - Keep Me

You know that Rosh HaShana is getting closer when you hear nonstop radio ads for the yearly countdown, which plays somewhere between doing errands for the evening meal and the dinner itself. Actually, I won't be in the country this New Year's. I'm going in a few days on a much-needed vacation for about a month, and I think I'll miss the special atmosphere before the dinner much more than the meal itself. It's hard to explain, maybe it's because you greet acquaintances and even strangers with a beaming "happy holiday" or because everyone wears white, or it's the first September holiday, and people aren't fed up with family meals yet. For whatever reason, you can't deny the festive atmosphere during the day before the evening meal. I have a distinct memory of hearing Kobi Aflalo's "What my heart chose" a few years ago on the eve of Rosh HaShana. It was during the countdown, of course, and I think it was in a pretty high place because we were already on our way to our relatives, just like everybody else, and the broadcaster said something about how probably everyone is in their cars listening to this song with the windows rolled down, and looking at the cars besides us, he was right! Some didn't have their windows rolled down, but they were certainly smiling knowingly. Anyway, this song is nominated in this year's countdown, and it certainly deserves a high spot and it's so fitting for Rosh HaShana. The Hebrew is very beautiful here, and I had a bit of trouble translating, so here's my best attempt.

Keep me from lonely fog
From struggling emotion from heart's pride
And I will be in awe of your charms
Embrace me in you wrapped in your words
And silently I will want your smile
Surely I will tell you

Do not leave me in the dark do not switch off my light
I am clear I am drunk
In my weakness I am a hero
Do not forget me in the silence
Until the fear will will pass and in your grace I will be a hero
I will be a hero

Keep me from lies from storms
From a deflated outlook and a bent tear
Come back to me sweetly flushed with faith worn from any distress
And as I sit across from you I will want your compassion
Surely I will tell you

Do not leave me in the dark do not switch off
I am clear I am drunk
In my weakness I am a hero
Don't forget me in the silence
Until the fear will pass and In your grace I will be your hero
I will be a hero

http://www.kobiaflalo.co.il/

Have a great September!

Tzvika Force - For Breaking My Heart

It's hard to believe that in two weeks it'll be September. I was at the mall the other day and was stunned to see Back-to-School sales. I can't wait for September - no teens packing the streets, no papers, and most importantly (hopefully) no air conditioning, with whom I've developed a serious love/hate relationship. This song feels like Autumn in England - I can almost feel the breeze and see the scarves and jackets. It's also a really excellent song that stays with you for quite a while. 

Staring at your matches
Pull it in and backwards.
Hold on.

Forest's built for ages
And erased in hours.
Hold on.
Hold on.

Don't you miss the time
We sat under the cypress?
Holding on.

Putting arms around him
Promise he will blossom.
So hold on.
Hold on.

And you owe me answers!
Why you got into this danger?
Why you're breaking my heart slowly?
You owe me answers!
Why you got into this bandage?
Instead of into my heart , surely.
Do you really think it's time
We should go and end it forever?

An empty box of matches
Leaves a lot of black dust.
That's holding on.

Planting all your roots
Inside my choking lungs.
That's all you ever did.

Song available for free here:
http://tzvikaforce.bandcamp.com/

Etti Ankri - Your melody

Etti Ankari has made quite a journey since she first broke out about 20 years ago with her intense "I see it in your eyes" (still powerful today). Here she sounds so peaceful and mature. Soulful and beautiful.

I remember your melody which I ask
Whoever will sing your melody in a chord or bow

I'll give him my soul
And he'll raise it in a net
Will add character to character
In the written melody
I'll give him my soul
And he'll rase it in s net
Attach all of it
To a wonderful melody

I miss your melody which only I ask for
Whoever will sing your melody in a chord or bow

I'll give him my soul
And he'll raise it in a net
And sweeten the bitter
With the precious melody
I'll give him my soul
All of its strings
Tuned in a scale
In a perfect melody

I will not forget your melody only I ask for
Whoever will sing your melody in a chord or bow

I'll give him my soul
All of its words
He'll rearrange
In the holy melody
I'll give him my soul
If he'll play you're melody
Then I'll be happy
To return it to you

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

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