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 at 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 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 its own place. 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 Fishman

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, 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, Karaoke parties with more modern music are a completely different story... I love how Omri Nobel took Zohar's classic and gave it his own twist, emphasizing its timeless lyrics. I also love the video - 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 by friendly small talk. In fact, I've come to realize that finding the right grocer, baker, tailor, and hairdresser is 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...

Labrador Labratories - Dance All Night In The Rain

When I first heard this song I thought it was sweet and charming and that's about it. But after hearing it again and especially as part of Labrador Labratorie's new album "Lonely Tribes" I realized it's exactly what I was looking for: sweet, humble and charming, a perfect companion for warm spring days. Make sure to check out their lovely video "Don't Take That Flight" from their previous album "Labra Cadabra". And the album itself, and basically their whole discography!

Roei Freilich - Tonight She'll Dance

It's officially Spring, meaning the first wave of spring weddings before the Counting of the Omer. I personally enjoy engagement parties much more than the weddings themselves, and this video really captures the magic of it. Just a group of close friends celebrating the good news with just the right amount of people and the right amount of alcohol. If Roei's voice sounds familiar it's because he's the lead singer of the much-loved band Reines Girls (bandcamp here). Don't worry, they're not breaking up, just on a break since bassist Guy Goldstein is currently living in the States for a few months. I love how Freilich is experimenting with new material, and this is his third single (and so far my favorite) after 'Electrical Storm' and 'ADD' from his upcoming album 'Raising Smoke'. I also love how the songs don't take themselves too seriously, just excellent music to dance to at a memorable party.

I dance and don't sweat it
I'm afraid that my steps are limited to rules
I trip and don't keep the pace
And disgrace the floor with ill dances

At home on the screen
There's one who is waiting
If I miss my goal
In front of her I'll stain my bed
But maybe tonight she'll dance with me

I stand on it and don't reach
And cling to the tops of tall trees
My pride is now at the height of grass
I'm willing to compromise even on flashing lights
Light...light...light...
Lights!
Light...light...light...
In the end she'll nest, with me she'll grow old
Lights!

At home on the screen
There's one who is waiting
If I miss my goal
In front of her I'll stain my bed
But maybe tonight she'll dance with me
Maybe...maybe...maybe...maybe...tonight she'll dance with me

Noar Shulayim - Draw Yourself a Mustache

In a city very close
To Satan's dwelling
Grew a girl, possibly a girl
She was always like a little boy

So draw yourself a mustache, draw yourself a mustache
Draw yourself, draw yourself, draw yourself a mustache
Draw yourself a mustache, draw yourself a mustache
Draw yourself, draw yourself, draw yourself a mustache

With the years she grew
And her manly root grew with her too
Now in paratroopers
She commands over a whole troop

So draw yourself a mustache...

Recently she discovered
Some hair on her left cheek
Now she has a beard
And the mustache is still on the menu

So draw yourself a mustache...

In a city very close
To Satan's dwelling
Grew a girl, possibly a girl
She was always like a little boy

So draw yourself a mustache...

It's Purim! Well, the official holiday is tomorrow but celebrations have started since Thursday. I can't think of a more fitting song than this tune from 1990 by Noar Shulayim (translates to Marginal Youth). Lead singer Mickiyagi has said in interviews that it's simply about a girl he knew in the army who, well, had a bit of a mustache but I like to believe there's a deeper meaning underlying it regarding gender bending and choosing your own identity. In any case it's a super catchy tune which makes you want to loosen up and temporarily be something else which is basically what Purim is all about. I read in an interview that while Mickiyagi was inspired by emerging new wave artists his band mates came from the world of 80s heavy rock and I think you can really hear that in this song and it's what gives it an edge. The whole album, which was their second after a mild debut (despite this hit) kind of dresses up as a pop album (and was a very successful one) but there's still a complexity to it. You can't really discuss it without mention two of its hugest hits "Anog" (Tender) and "Amsterdam" so here they are:

The night is over
Over into the light
The moon falls
Too drunk
Up there
Like a pure baby
You up there
Aren't you sad to be alone?

How tender he is
How tender
In me crumbles the fear
How tender he is
How tender
In me awakens love

The sun
My hot fire
You are burning
With your pain alone

How tender he is...

When the light turns blue
And also the moon is ashamed of its endless loneliness
Disappears so not everyone will see it

Light
How tender it is
How tender
How tender is the light, world
How tender it is
How tender
How tender is your light

Hana Goldberg who wrote the song has said that her inspiration for the song was the comforting sunlight, she didn't really intend for it to be Israel's first gay anthem. It came out that way, especially since in Hebrew light sounds exactly like skin-how tender is your skin... But she was delighted that it gave young gays the courage to come out-this was during a time when things were still very conservative and gay culture was very secretive (quite hard to believe given how things have changed so much). Lead singer Mickiyagi never hid his sexuality, but the media never discussed it. He was labeled a pop idol and was adored by girl fans, something he was never really comfortable with, and this heightened success eventually led to the band's breakup. It was always a very popular song and it's still so much fun today to sing along to (not to mention the always enjoyable and slightly creepy video).



You dream of a different place
A distant continent
There you'll find peace
With a backpack on your back you
Delay a bit at the door
And go on your way

Oy Amsterdam
Oui Madame
No Madame
Magical foreign person
Come to me come home

Girls with yellow hair
Mysteriousness of Europe
Here beyond the district
When you came to Amsterdam
You immediately wanted to leave
You didn't find relaxation

Oh Amsterdam...

You go to find a place
At a specific point
There you'll find the peace
Even to India you've already reached
And the peace is not there
In your house it is hiding

Oy Amsterdam...

Hana Goldberg wrote this song as well (more hits which she wrote you can find here) and says of it: "1985-Many of my friends went to 'find themselves' in Amsterdam and in India. Most of them came back wearing jellabiyas, with beads and weird haircuts and spoke of 'the enlightenment' they had experienced, but I felt that nothing had changed in them except for their clothes and hairstyles, I felt that true searching is internal and not external...". I guess this brings us back to dressing up-on Purim and in general in life... There's something so Israeli about this song and it's as relevant today as it was 30 years ago (except maybe Berlin can replace Amsterdam). There's also something so calming about the music making it perfect for Friday afternoons and easy for everyone to relate to. After the band went their separate ways Mickiyagi developed a career as a make-up artist but he did return with a new single a few months ago. I love how mature it sounds reflecting where he is today, and he still has such a beautiful voice.

Yael Deckelbaum - Song Banishes the Darkness

What a fitting song for Women's Day. I personally find the "holiday", which was marked here with sales on cosmetics, to be a bit ridiculous, but I guess it does raise awareness and discussion of where we are in society. I'm well aware that I tend to post many more songs by male singers and songwriters, and it's probably because, for whatever reasons, there are many more well-known male musicians, and also because I tend to be much more critical of female singing. This song is part of a newly released tribute album for Chava Alberstein, and apart from a few songs here and there, a lot of the versions made me want to return to the originals, but I guess it's always like that with these kinds of tribute albums. But this song is different. It's a perfect choice to end the album with, and it breathes new life into Chava's original, which I wasn't familiar with before (a possible reason why I like it so much). Chava took a Georgian folk tune (Gogoli Gogo) and added her own lyrics to it. In Hebrew, like in many other languages, there's a grammatical difference in how you speak to men and women-for example when you say "you" to a boy it's "ata" and to a girl it's "at" (and of course even if there is only one boy in a group of girls you'll automatically say "atem" instead of "aten" which is just for girls). In this song, the singer sings directly to a woman, which gives it a strong sisterly effect. In the translation, the singer could be singing to anyone, making it more universal but also much less empowering. I love the singer's "get yourself together" attitude and how it's not at all aggressive or righteous, just straightforward. There are two versions by Chava, and I can't decide which I like more. The very original, from '91, sounds like some kind of spiritual folk chant, especially with the drums and fast tempo. A newer version is taken from Chava's concert in 2008. It's much more soothing and peaceful: "You have a voice and a guitar, so sing" is said as an encouragement, and it sounds much more personal, as if speaking to a close friend or family member. And then there's Yael Deckelbaum's version, which highlights her unique voice and also conveys some sort of progress throughout the song, as if she herself is getting stronger with each verse.
I first came across Yael at the 2007 Jacob's Ladder Festival when she joined the reunion of "The Taverners" the Jerusalem folk group founded in the 70s by her father Dr. David Deckelbaum, together with Shay Tochner and close friends. My friends and I were heartbroken a few years later when we came to the festival and heard that he had passed away a few months after suffering from a stroke. It was hard to grasp because when we saw him, he was so...alive with his terrible jokes and carefree disposition. He was also a pretty amazing banjo player. In the meanwhile Yael had become a household name with the very successful group "Habanot Nechama" with Karolina and Dana Adini. In 2010, she released her first solo album, "Ground Zero" with songs in English. A year later she was about to record her second album, which was supposed to include songs in Hebrew and English, as well as collaborations with other artists, but on the first day of recording she got the news that her father had passed away "From that day, I was thrown to a new path. I started a new journey, which brought me to create a Hebrew album, unlike my debut album which was entire in English". (Translated from this interview in Hebrew from 2011). Later in the interview, she's asked to choose between Hebrew and English and answers, "It's like asking 'Which one of your children do you prefer' or 'which song that you wrote do you feel most connected to'. It's two entities that exist inside me, each time a different one takes a place and is expressed. There's something in English that brings me to a more imaginative place. My songs in English are as if they come from a different dimension. In Hebrew, it's more here and now".
At first, I wasn't sure how the Hebrew album would be. I was used to hearing her sing in English, and I felt at the time that maybe the switch to Hebrew was an attempt to connect with a wider audience, at the expense of her artistic abilities. But today I heard "Joy and Sadness" and it feels so personal and mature. It's really beautiful from start to finish. Here's an IndieCity video of one of my favorites: "A free man".
Towards the end, Yael says something which I find very insightful: "I deal less with 'what' and more with 'how'. How I experience myself when I'm writing a song, or teaching, or when I go see a concert, or when I'm sitting in a van, or waiting backstage, or when I'm going to the bank, or even when I'm calling Social Security, it's 95% of life. Those moments on stage are a really small part. Because of that, I try to give it the right weight. Ultimately, I believe that all of these things come to play into my art. After all, the person you are is the artist you are".
These days Deckelbaum is performing new material together with songs from her previous albums. Earlier this year Alberstein released the excellent album 'And How are You', which you can buy here. She also sings together with Shlomi Shaban in his latest single (and one of his best) "Exercise in Awakening".

He won't return and you see already
You have no reason to keep crying
He won't return and you're not a child anymore
It's time to stop waiting
You have no reason to keep crying
It's time to stop waiting

Don't turn sadness into a home
Don't get addicted to longing
Get up and go out the world is before you
It will compose for you different songs
Don't get addicted to longing
It will compose for you different songs

Song banishes the darkness at night
Song strengthens the heart in difficult times

Love wanders on the way
A gypsy who got lost
She has hair the color of the burning sun
You'll easily recognize her
A gypsy who got lost
You'll easily recognize her

Don't stop her let her go
Follow her wherever she'll go
Go after her go after her
She'll override obstacles for you
Go after her wherever she'll go
She'll override obstacles for you
You have a voice and a guitar so sing

Song banishes the darkness at night
Song strengthens the heart in difficult times

She'll teach you she'll tell you
You'll understand the language of birds
What happened to you and what will happen to you
You'll learn to turn into songs
Understand the language of birds
You'll learn to turn into songs
You have a voice and a guitar so sing

Song banishes the darkness at night
Song strengthens the heart in difficult times