Thursday, December 07, 2017

Forward Thinking on Carlebach

Quite a good nuanced article on Carlebach and #MeToo at the Forward... Shlomo Carlebach And #MeToo: Should We Sing His Music?

Monday, December 04, 2017

New Yonatan Razel Tape Out

Over at VosIzNeias... Popular Orthodox Singer Sticks Tape Over Eyes To Avoid Seeing Women At Concert

Recent Peeps from Da Hood

It's been a while... "The Negotiator" This peep is very wealthy, but can't help lowballing anyway. They'll call for a small gig and when you quote a very fair price, they'll offer your mitzvah gig rate and claiming that that's the budget they can offer and that even that will be split between both families making the simcha. IOW, they're willing to pay half of that total. We just turn them down. Naturally, the negotiator will call back offering more. We turn them down again. In the end, relatively last minute, we take the gig at a small discount that is still within the range we usually get, and well above their offers. Naturally, when we get to the gig, it's quite the affair, with fine cigars, expensive hot catering, etc. After the gig, the negotiator makes sure to ostentatiously pay us, and then adds a tip, bringing it back to $20 less than the initial quote. $20 to create a negative impression. Well negotiated. "I'll Never Use You" This peep is a real charmer. Over the course of the event, he'll respond positively to numerous song selections, coming over to sing loudly along demonstrating his approval, giving us smiles and thumbs up signals and saying nice things about the music when we take a break. At the end of the gig though, he'll come over, introduce himself, and say: "just so you know, I'll never hire you." That's because he's a die-hard Soulfarm fan and there is simply no alternative, as far as he is concerned. He just had to make sure we knew that. Um, ok.

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Monday, August 07, 2017

Friday, June 23, 2017

Nikki Haley Fan Song

It's been a while since we've posted one of Dovid Kerner's songs. He's a fan of US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley.



Her support for Israel --and her non-apologetic public expression of it too -- is quite a refreshing change.



Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

The Poper Rebbe

Over at the aptly named Cross-Currents... Jammin' with the Pope

What's The Catholic Version of a Carlebach Minyan?





So these guys met with the Pope and brought along Pumpedisa to sing/dance along with. They played Carlebach's Orech Yamim. Some are very upset about this.



Me? I see the humor in it. They also missed the opportunity for much better song selection like perhaps "Yoshke Fort Avek".

Sunday, April 09, 2017

Mah Nishtana: You're All Singing It Wrong!

Nice article. Four Melodies for Four Questions  The comparison between the composer's version of Mah Nishtana avoiding the minor (mostly) vs. the way we all sing it is fascinating.



Chag sameach!

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

From the mailbag...

From Simple Man... "Simple Man is a new Jewish multi-genre band from Highland Park, New Jersey with innovative sound fusion including hip-hop, rock, funk, reggae and more. Lead singer/songwriter Yaakov Kafka was just featured as the rap lyricist on Beri Weber's new hit, One Heart.

Simple Man's unique flow is bolstered by Kafka's empathetic lyrical style. Band guitarists Tamir Tusia, Eli Weiss and bassist Clayton McIntyre blend rock, blues, classical guitar, and other styles together.

Simple Man's first video, "Hydroplane", from their debut EP is now available. You can check out links to their entire EP at simplemansound.com/ and upcoming shows will be announced in New Jersey and New York City.

Please let us know the best way we can support your blog and be a partner in music."

Here's the link: Simple Man

From Chillent... "I'm from Chillent, a Pittsburgh based Jewish funk/blues/jazz band (chillentband.com). We just released an alternate mix of a song from our upcoming album "Jewish Soul Stew" which will be out around Shavuot. Single available for free streaming here: Universe in Miniature (Brian Fitzy Mix) | Chillent

Sunday, March 26, 2017

That moment when....

... the Ba'al Tefilah chooses a melody for Birkas Hacjodesh that no one in shul knows, and then sings "chayim she'ein bahem busha uchlimah" badly off-key.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

BD'E - Eli Lipsker Z"L

COL reports on the passing of Eli Lipsker, 76, OBM.



I remember attending weddings as a kid that Eli played at with his band. Very spirited Chassidic music with feeling. (Andy Statman was playing with his band those times). Yehei zichro baruch!

Friday, February 10, 2017

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Friday, December 09, 2016

JMR Benny Friedman Review

This Guest Review of Benny – Fill The World With Light gets a link for this line: "This is the one that teenage girls and middle aged men trying too hard will [be] pumping loudly through open car windows."

Crisis-mukkah Is Coming!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Echo Yochi

It's one loon with a YouTube channel, not all Chabad.

That said, even one is troubling. Not representative, but still troubling...

Chabad Messianist who Preaches Killing Gays Raps Funky Praise for the Rebbe.

Rare Recordings of R' Ben Zion Shenker Z"L

Over at Circus Tent.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

BDE - R' Ben Zion Shenker

I'm sad to report the passing of the influential chassidic composer/singer R' Ben Zion Shenker Z"L. R' Shenker composed many songs that are widely sung in the Jewish world, including melodies for Mizmor LeDavid and Yosis Alayich. He also carried the Modzits musical tradition, documenting, singing, and recording the melodies of the Modzitser rebbes. Yehei Zichro Baruch!

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Mostly Kosher - Ain't No Sunshine

The best klezmer version of a Bill Wither's tune I've ever heard!

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Yiddish Trump Jingle from April

Not an endorsement, but came across this and thought it'd be of interest to my readers.



Sinai Tor Arrested for Wedding Performance

I've written about this story and the song Zochreini Na. Recently Israel arrested thirteen Israelis who celebrated the murder of a Palestenian baby by Jewish terrorists last winter. The Forward has some details: Israeli ‘Wedding of Hate’ Groom and 12 Guests Charged for Celebrating Murders of Palestinians.

Why Kohanim Shouldn't Go To The Met

Man scattering friend's ashes halts Metropolitan Opera performance

Friday, October 28, 2016

Diaspora Yeshiva Band - Hasidisco Pioneers

The original version of Malchutcha recorded by the Diaspora Yeshiva Band for the 1978 Chasidic Song Festival. The producers overdubbed a mixed chorus after the band had recorded their tracks. It was not the band's choice.


‫להקת יש

Thursday, October 27, 2016

This Week's Leining

Pretty sure it won't sound like this in my shul...

Wednesday, October 19, 2016