Alon Eder - Power Power Power

There's quite a lot to unpack in this excellent song and video but I don't think I'll fully understand it until I hear the rest of  "Casio Rage", Alon Eder's upcoming album featuring only Casio guitars and keyboards from the 80s mixed with revealing rage.

I don't take showers, I don't cut my hair
I don't shave, I don't get by
And from outside they're telling me to start behave
But I long ago left the lane you're driving on

I'm not looking to escape
I prefer to see
I'm not engaging in power struggles
Cut that nonsense
Power power power
Cut that nonsense
Everyone here is fucked up
I prefer to see

Let's make some money, we'll invest it wisely
BBQ on the balcony with a quarter view of the sea
On Monday yoga on Friday swimming at the pool
We'll pass the law for..., we'll get a blessing from the rabbi

Feeding each other with bullshit
Your basic situation isn't comfortable
Come up with another plan with goals, make another survey
Let's stop for a moment and see-it's just a lie

I'm not looking to escape
I prefer to see
I'm not engaging in power struggles
Cut that nonsense
Power power power
Cut that nonsense
Everyone here is fucked up
I prefer to see

Smiling and playing the game till the end
No matter how much you smile you're just an evolution of an ape
Invent some hipster start-up that will break the market
Your situation isn't cool and that's for sure.

Luna Abu Nassar - I'll Tell You

I'm posting this song about two years too late but sadly it will always be relevant, especially in light of the weekend's tragic events. I got to see Luna Abu Nassar in concert about a month ago, performing together with Rona Kenan. I was in awe of her humble personality, her strong stage presence and her gentle voice. Read a review on her stunning debut album here and click here to listen to it. Heartbraking and beautiful.

I'll tell you about enemies
And ghosts
From the 80s
I'll tell you about enemies
And spirits

Just remember
They all are bad
They all are bad
Listen to me
They all are bad
They all are bad
Listen to me
Listen
Everyone wants to hurt me

Looking
Laughing
From afar
Because they all are bad
Because they all are bad

I see them
Speaking
Bastards, those liars
What do they want
What do they want

I was the queen of the world
But the drink deceived
I was given a drug
I was given a drug
Be careful that it will not happen also to you
What did you put in the finjan this morning

I'll tell you about enemies
And ghosts
From the 80s
I'll tell you about enemies
And spirits

I'll pray for you
Believe me
Because of you I don't have
I'll hope that you'll fail
And will beg

They want to take you away from me
When you grow up
Understand
Just understand
They all are bad
They all are bad
Listen to me

I'll tell you about enemies
And ghosts
From the 80s
I'll tell you about enemies
And spirits

My moon
Close your eyes
Do not worry
I'll give you everything
But I don't have
I don't have

كان يا مكان
في قديم الزمان
الزمان كان
ولليوم علقان

REO - Courage

"After two and a half years over which we went through enough experiences for a decade-drama, disappointment, excitement, euphoria, dire heartbreaks, and sliding relentlessly on the spectrum of human emotions, we decided to write a song about the courage to live, to try, to experience.

Even from the bad memories and experiences which we accumulated during this time, we tried to create something new, beautiful, real and optimistic.

We suffered from many blows to the heart, and we decided not to give in, but on the contrary, to fear less and dare more.

The water band REO wants to believe that even the worst and harshest feeling can be put in a dream box, and it will become a part of magic"

This is how Zoe Polanski and Or Edry, the girls of REO, introduced this mesmerizing single, the first from their upcoming album. So fresh!

Courage
I have the courage
To swim from the beach to the deep waters
I have the power
Not to remember what is best to forget

How you pulled me far far away
And then everything looked different

But now
I don't care what he thought
Or who I am to him
I gave into the dream

I have rhythm
Soft beats of sadness
I have spirit
It isn't safe to hold on

How you pulled me far far away
Everything looked like in a movie

But now
I don't care what he thought
Or who I am to him
I gave into the dream

J’ali Ensemble - Jali

Hearing this song again is like meeting an old friend. I first came across J'ali Ensemble when they performed at the 2011 InDnegev-their music blended so beautifully with the warm desert air and sense of freedom. J'ali means "people of music" in local Senegalese dialect, which is how Eran Katz, the leader of J'ali Ensemble, was called when he walked around in Senegal with his kora, immersing himself in African music and culture. But J'ali Ensemble isn't just African music-what makes it so special is the fusion with other instruments like the drums and of course the saxaphone, together with the lyrics in Hebrew, English, and Mandinka (West African). This is the first single from the ensemble's soon to be realeased album titled "Feeling of Life". In the meantime you can catch a glimpse of their amazing stage presence over here. Shabbat Shalom!

Ilale jali musolo le
Aleu wille donkililake
Ilale natali kontone
Dunia mulwo
Baraco bije

All the people they need your warm hand
They need your love
All your children they wait for your hand
They need your love
Baraco bije
Broken people come loosen your hand
Where did it go?
Baraco bije

Mother pick up your son and hold him
Give all you know
Then let him go
All your children they wait for that hand
Now they can grow
Baraco bije (let the blessings come)
Cambion bije (let the brotherhood come)
Kairo bije (let the peace come)

She said she wouldn't arrive yet she will arrive anyways
She said she wouldn't arrive yet she will appear anyways

Bones Garage - Birthmarks

Something about this song and video stayed with me all week-and it's not just the very catchy riff. Check out Bones Garage's impressive debut album "Massacre/Dance" over here.

Lukach feat. Isaac DaBom - And Again the Night Falls

I'm so used to Lukach's hysterically funny songs and acompanying videos (his last single was about his struggle at the gym) but it's so nice to hear a different side of him, together with the great Isaac DaBom. For some context on Lukach and the Israeli hip hop scene check out this informative long read from 2012. Since then Israeli hip hop has gone through quite a revival, becoming more mature and critical with immensely talented artists which I hope to introduce sometime in the coming weeks/months.

When the shit gets heavy, I just light up the shit
Atropine in a juicebox, so pass me the straw
Life is tough so deal with it, I'm not able to commit suicide
Not eating the iron, that's why I don't have heavy shit
Oh fuck again I rolled and smoked and left the shanti-give me a bit more
Rolling melanthin and pouring thyme into mon soup
So don't say it's tough not to give a shit
I'm from the religion of Moses, striking water from stone

And again the night falls, I'm left here alone
Glancing up, and there's only one star there
And I sail and I sail

At a young age, in elementary school, I dreamed of being an MC
Watching Snoop and Dr. Dre drinking the Henessy
Not the tired songs just about smoking and hot girls
Jamaicans are mad at Bomboclat and Pussyhall
All day in style and swag it just makes me
Not be so heavy now it's already growing in me
Taking shape it's quite simple
Feeling overwhelmed? Start sailing

And again the night falls I'm left here alone
Glancing up, and there's only one star there
And I sail and I sail

Not stuck and not moving becuse you always need to move
Fixed time I fly and don't always schedule it
A break because a break from a break is work
And unemployment is idleness if you came to is so no thanks

Shhhh, a long road and no cars
Shhhh, a quiet sailing from boats
Head above the water dragging uphill
Shortcuts, elevators

And again the night falls I'm left here alone
Glancing up, and there's only one star there
And I sail and I sail

Kerach Tesha-With Him Forever

Mazal Tov America! I was very happy to wake up from my Friday nap to discover that the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage throughout the U.S-and of course this gay anthem by Kerach Tesha is the first song that came to my head. What a burst of optimism!

I wanted him to show
I wanted him to show
His love to me with a kiss
Maybe I had a feeling
Of course I had a feeling
That when he smiled at me I felt that
It happened

I want to live with him forever
So certainly I'll take him to be my husband
We'll live like husband and wife

I asked if you're interested
You said yes but not here
A friend brings a friend every night to the garden
I wanted him to say
I was hoping that he would say
Come with me to my place forever

I want to live with him forever...