Thursday, January 31, 2013

That's My Boy • Moshe Yess


For your Yossi. Or your Do-vid. Or your Sarala. Or your Ruchala.

Watch on TorahCafé.com!

From a live show that the Ivy League Torah Study Experience. Years ago.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hanan Bar Sela • Kol Dodi

Pssssssshhhhhh. Three albums worth of Chabad nigunim on heaven's clarinet.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Mi she'oso nissim • Yehuda Green

TTTO Ani Maamin, R' Shlomo Carlebach, as posted here (February 2011).

Monday, January 28, 2013

Adon Olam • Ken Burgess (and Friends)

To gather, to-gether,
for-ever in Is-ra-el...

Friday, January 25, 2013

Hofachta • Diaspora Yeshiva Band

Oh no you di'int! (Oh, yes You did!)



Speaking of original Jewsic... these fellows.

From the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh on Beshalach: Pharaoh chased after the Jews because he thought he had sent them out. He wanted to retract what he had earlier allowed. But, in fact he did not authorize G-d to end the slavery, he just agreed to be a party to G-d's salvation. When we realize who is joining Whose team, we'll get on board faster, stay for longer and try not to get in the way as much.

Good Shabbos, friends , friends of friends and those whom they like. Good Shabbos.
a


Thursday, January 24, 2013

We Won't Be Left Alone • MBD (Mona 3)

Referring to a performer by his or her first name has long been a benchmark of stratospheric success. Though it is less incredible in the Jewish world, it is no less true as Avremel, Abie and MBD have shown and as "Yaakov" "Michoel" and "Yossi" have also, less intentionally shown.

Composers and arrangers don't tend to earn first name recognition. Except Mona. (Granted, his name is Mona.)

I don't truly know what Mona has composed, arranged or produced over the lasts bunch of decades but I know it has been broad, deep and not overly attention-seeking. It was and is all very musical.

From Mona 3, this MBD number is a little over-lyriced for my head to handle; the Hebrew version of same is quite a bit better; but it's still Mo-nificent.



UPDATE: Found the Hebrew version.


HT: HaProfessor on SoundCloud. Quite a good stream as I am noticing!
a

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Mamleches Kohanim • Benny Friedman

3:30. Best use of liturgy-as-harmony.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ad Matai? • MBD (We Are One)

כשאח נגד אח—המנצח תמיד מפסיד

Monday, January 21, 2013

Tzomo Lecha Nafshi

UPDATE: I've somewhat wondered how everyone in 770 knew instinctively that this Niggun would be sung by the Rebbe alone. In this clip, you briefly hear a child who didn't (right after the Rebbe sings the first bar).

Friday, January 18, 2013

Neshomele • Journeys

It is bitter cold in New York.
We have what to be thankful for.
Let it warm our Shabbos souls, and let Shabbos warm our souls.

Yes, dear Malach'l, I can see Kedusha over there!

The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was asked why he "wasted" precious resources on the types of people who had abandoned mainstream Jewish commitment and showed no signs of turning back.

"Because," he responded, "there are four sections to Shulchan Aruch. And of those four sections, Choshen Mishpat is the fourth. And within Choshen Mishpat are scores of sub-sections, each with a collection of individual chapters. And in one of the very last sections, covered by a handful of points, are the laws explaining ascent and descent.

"We have to learn in order: the first 3 sections of purposeful, vibrant, joyful Jewish living and the main thrust of the fourth. When we are done, we can look at that last part and dare to judge who is going up or down."

Good Shabbos, friends.

Freely paraphrased from Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1, Parshas Bo, Ch.12-17.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

A little bit of light • AF

From the most recent "Keep Climbing". I've noted before that AF puts a lot of hope into his message, and a lot of message into his song. Often, the whole shebang is then shmeared in a foot or two of cheese. But, as the lactose intolerant among us can attest, cheese is ultimately fantastic even when you know what it's doing to you.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Absolutely Yess! • The Yess Legacy

A soon-to-be-released Moshe Yess tribute project is gaining publicity. We don't have to dwell on the benefits or excitement of the project; or on the vocal and musical results. The people behind the project have an absolute feeling for Moshe Yess, which is evident in the artists participating. And though nothing and no one will come close to replicating that  music, those lyrics, that voice, the guitar-slash-bongo, and a neshama from the highest highest high, it's gotta be good.

Here's Aryeh Kunstler singing the already released and free download "Coming Home."

Here's a full Nachum Segal interview with Gershon Veroba and Yossi Zweig about the project. There are a couple of interesting tidbits in there but I'll save you the effort: Less than a month ago Shalom LeVine spent a full day in studio and conducted a full-length video interview on how Megama met and what the process was like. The last 5 minutes of the interview have Moshe himself singing Coming Home.

Go to MosheYess.ca for details and participating artist bios.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

You're Never Alone! • AF

In case you wondered...

And don't you just love that bass commentary at :55?
a

Friday, January 11, 2013

Megama • Megama

Yesterday, R' Shalom Levine, the second half of the Megama Duo, returned his soul. To him and to R' Moshe, o"h: Thank you for the music! Rock on, neshomalach!



As always, thank you Yanky for making this 1981 Minnesota concert available to the world piece-by-soulful-piece. Amazingly, a YESS TRIBUTE recording featuring Shalom is in the works and we'll bez"h be all over that!

Good Shabbos.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

"Ich" • Avraham Fried (Yom Tov Ehrlich)

The gems of Yom Tov Ehrlich are equal-parts brilliant for their music, lyrics and powerful story-lessons, as in this story of Reb Aharon Hagadol (Karlin).

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Monday, January 7, 2013

In America • Charlie Daniels

G-d bless the new morning, the new week, the new month, and G-d bless America!

HT:HR(T)

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Gerer Hoaderes V'Hoemunah - David Werdyger

This one caught me by surprise.

After my media player went through three straight Israeli songs, this popped on, and then went right back to some more Israeli... Hence... Surprise!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Dror Yikra • Harei Yehuda (Lev Tahor)

The inimitable sound of Shabbos. Originally posted and explained here.

Good Shabbos!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Zichor • Adderall Please

From Brocha v'Hatzlacha, commonly cited on this blog as an underdiscovered goldmine of Jewsic.

HT:YM (דע לפני מי אתה זמר!)
___________________________
According to Google, this is a Piyut composed for Parshas Zachor. And from Cmusic.co.il:

קל נא, בלשון אשר הזכרת לזוכריך זכור,
בו בלשון הזכירוך, נא אתה זכור.
ואם המה כאדם עברו ברית מלזכור,
ואתה קל ולא איש, למה לא תזכור.

בזאת ידעתי כי יש לך לזכור,
אבל תשוח נפשי עד זכור תזכור.

ומה כוחי כי אייחל לקץ זכור.
ומה קיצי כי אאריך נפשי עד שתזכור.
אם לא למעני תזכור, למענך ולמען ירושלים זכור

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Ashrei • Yeshiva Boys Choir

You know, in case we forget to post any Yeshiva Boys Choir at all, ever, during the entire 2013? We're covered. You're welcome.

Ok, and for serious: Their sound and moves do add a little bounce to the day, and a little ache to the head.