Amitai Vilk-Take Yourself

One of the things I love about writing this blog is that it forces you to search for new music. This week was a bit tough, not necessarily because there wasn't anything new, but because nothing really fitted my mood. And then I came across this pearl. Amitai Vilk hails from the kibbutz Givaat Haim Meuhad in the pastoral Hefer Valley (Emek Hefer) and it's quite noticable in this song, bringing to mind a simpler time. It's a gentle but important reminder that there's really no need to rush and things will eventually work out, especially when you have the sun and stars on your side.

Take yourself
All the time in the world
The moon will smile to you
There too

Take only
What is important to you right now
The sun will shine
For you, there too
They take care of you
They love you

And the wind blows
And will watch over you
And the stars
Will sing you a song

Take yourself
All the time in the world
The moon smiles
To you now

Take only
What's important
The sun shines on you again
They take care of you
They love you

And the wind blows
And watches over you
And the stars are singing you a song

Soda Fabric - Atlantis

I've always had a soft spot for epic album closers and this is one of the best I've heard in quite a while. Soda Fabric are from Tel Aviv but are currently based in Berlin, and you can really feel the whiff of freedom in their stellar album, which you can listen to in its entirety over here.

Nurit Galron - Awakening

Such a beautiful song, fitting for a beautiful voice and a beautiful soul.

I want to plan the next dream
Up to the very last detail

From the excitement to the disappointment
From delusion to sobriety
From the beginning to the peak of success
From the glory to the abyss of failure

That way I can fall asleep quietly
The awakening will be expected
The awakening will be easy

I want to plan the next dream
Up to the very last detail

From the opportunity taken to the one missed
From belief to blindness
From the promise to the charmed illusion
From the understanding to the depth of the insult

That way I can fall asleep quietly
The awakening will be expected
The awakening will be easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ga6HoypSJU&list=PLwo1H9JJbMc191xRoVnXOLsdpTei3917n&index=1

Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy

Everyone loves to make fun of the Eurovision but at the end of the day it's very exciting to see Israel in the finals for the first time in 5 years. There's been some critique that the catchy song is entirely in English but I find it to be very Israeli-especially the lines "Mama, someone broke my heart again/ Now I'm gonna ease my pain/ Dancing on the floor". Another very Israeli element is that either on stage or on the red carpet Nadav is never really alone, he's always surrounded by his team, capturing that very Israeli feeling of "hevreh", hanging out with the gang. They're hard workers taking their roles as representatives of the country quite seriously but they also come off as a fun group of friends making sure to have the time of their life in Vienna. Good luck!!

Yaron Ben-Ami - Getting Worse

Sometimes a style of music only works in a certain type of weather and sometimes it only works at a certain period of time. The Blues have always been here in the background but it feels like now is really the genre's time to shine. Something in the political atmosphere, the yearning for something authentic and intimate, yet also refreshing and thought provoking just make it work. There are so many blues concerts popping up, mainly thanks to Nobody's Fault Productions, who are also behind this album by the talented singer/songwriter and History of Israel teacher Yaron Ben-Ami. Listen up!

Hey, people, listen to me!
(getting worse, getting worse, getting worse)
I don't have anything left here
Getting worse, getting worse
Where the green becomes gray,
Getting worse until darkness overcomes the light,
Getting worse until the night lasts a whole day-
Somebody in the end will pay!
Getting worse and there's no escape.
(getting worse, getting worse, getting worse)
Getting worse, just fill up the cup.
Getting worse, getting worse
Where they don't give any more instructions,
Getting worse until there's no more to see,
Getting worse, avoiding the word "must"-
If God doesn't want me,
So the demon will take!

It's clear to me what needs to be done:
(getting worse, getting worse, getting worse)
I have to finish this path.
Getting worse, getting worse,
Where there is freedom and liberty for all,
Getting worse until there is nowhere to fall.
Getting worse, avoiding the siege-
I don't even want to stop!

Seven maidens are singing for me:
(getting worse, getting worse, getting worse)
Six more hourse, and then I'm free.
(getting worse, getting worse)
It's already five, where are the kids?
Four directions, so where do we go?
Three steps and I'm already inside'
We're both finally face to face.
One.
Let's go.

Wasserman - Not Over

Just the right dash of optimism. Discover more Wasserman here.

Time to let go
The sun will rise tomorrow I'm sure
Follow your heart work with your mind yes it's time to let go

Before I fall asleep I've got
Myself a promise to keep
When I open my eyes it will be no surprise
Chase the thing that keeps me alive

But it ain't over
No it ain't over
It's not over, not over
Not over 'till I say so

Better days to come
As I see them coming throgh the gate
No need to hide
No need to be blind
Time to make things right

But it ain't over
No it ain't over
It's not over, not over
Not over 'till I say so

This time I swear I won't fall
And you will see I'll show them all
With no one else but myself
With blood and tears without any fear

But it ain't over
No it ain't over
It's not over, not over
Not over 'till I say so

Noa Shemer - Noa

There is no relation between Noa Shemer and the late singer and songwriter Naomi Shemer but I can understand how you can feel a special connection with someone who shares your last name, especially if that person wrote a sing with your first name. I wasn't familiar with Noami Shemer's "Noa" and I'm very glad that I discovered it. The semi-autobiographical song was first performed in 1957 by Nehama Hendel and the band Batzal Yarok, though the version most people are familiar with is the one by Arik Lavie. I personally really like Hagevatron's version of it though none are as gentle and personal as this one, taken from Noa Shemer's stunning album "Osey HaSicumim", (The Makers of Summaries).

Noa was born in a field between grass and stones
Noa was like a drop of dew
A daisy she picked in the field and from the flower
She plucked petal by petal

Yes or no, yes or no,
A thousand songs and the song of Noa
Yes or no my petals
Yes or no or maybe

Noa led him between the grass and stones
Noa kissed him with the descent of dew
And he in her eyes peered softly
And without a word asked:

Yes or no...

Noa wandered far from the grass and stones
From her curls the dew vanished
And a hundred daisies of the field are watching her
And every petal will ask:

Yes or no...

Noa is there in the field between grass and stone
A last song the dew sings for her
And all the daisies of the field with pretty crowns
Are weeping petals over her

Yes or no, yes or no
A thousand songs and the song of Noa
Yes or no alas
Noa has returned to me