Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Katonti • Yonatan Razel

Sruly M. emailed this new mellow and melodic track last night.

My first thoughts: Excellent background listen. Potentially excellent period.

As both Razel brothers have separately proven to be thoughtful composers—inspired by and inspiring to the Chassidic soul of life—I am fine with "reading into" this whole thing like a three-part niggun.

The low part is simple and structured, almost simple enough to be any low part on any slow song of any "Smashing New Superstar Singer", but with a few note-twists that remind me of JEP (hear 1:05).

Often, a slow start from a proven musician is a sign of a great punchline to come. Indeed, besides for the fact that the composer called this song "Katonti", I think it is about "Hatzileni Na." These words are where the emotion and prayer come in. As if to say "it's true that I feel meritless; and it's true that I may be meritful; but Save me on Your terms, G-d!"

Following the prayer is the self-assurance, "Ki chasdecha gadol"—You have saved me before and You will hold me again. Orchestra, gospel, understated but very full.

Your thoughts?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Ki Anu Amecha • Israel Edelson

And we blessed Chodesh Elul. Here is the first HH tag of the season :)

Thursday, August 9, 2012

A gutten EREV Erev Shabbos!

In the final minutes of 1442, I say: thank you for your love, your warmth, and all your music. See you on Monday, bez"h! Meshane makom, meshaneh mazal litova vilivrocha!

a

Jo Amar: Yismach Moshe

Yevarechecha Medley • Avraham Fried
Live in Israel

Great songs. Great singing. Ah, the good old Fried!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Monday, August 6, 2012

Adon Olam - Sruli Ginsburg

Perfectly Pleasant. Well done Guy I Never Heard Of!



Friday, August 3, 2012

Yehuda Green • Holy Brothers (Tayre Brider)

Three-of-three. PUMP IT, BROTHA!


Also, I found an actively publishing blog with fewer clicks than ours! (Checked their Sitemeter for fun.) Check our Shmeeze.com for cool yellow, cooler yellow on highlight, and several excellent posts.

Good Shabbos!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Return • Avraham Fried

The second of the First-Rate songs that I referenced yesterday. After davening, I was apparently humming the intro to this song. "Dijon" commented that "this intro is one of the best intros in Jewish music period. It is it's own song!" And I thought, Yeaah. It kinda is and it kinda is.





But it wasn't yesterday's Shir Shel Yom.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Binu Bo'arim • Yitzchak Fuchs

This is the first of three #1 blockbusting songs that came to mind this morning. But it's the only one that is from today's Shir Shel Yom.



Now let's hope I both remember and still love the other two when it comes down to it...

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Ribono Shel Olam • Moshe Schulhof
Pierre Pinchik, composer

A bit rushed, but certainly smooth and pleasant. Hits all the Pinchikities but with a little less precision.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Hofachta • Avraham Fried

In honor of Peretz. In honor of me.

:'תהילים ל

Friday, July 27, 2012

V'Shomru (Carlebach) • Yehuda Solomon

But I do have good news...



Shabbos is coming, and we will sense the Beis Hamikdash in our hearts, so we will want the Beis Hamikdosh in our minds, so we will build the Beis Hamikdosh with our hands and see it with our own eyes and dance inside it, listen to its music and praise Hashem, Hallelu-y-a! Now!

Have a joyous and meaningful Shabbos, easy and fast. If you must.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Vehoyu Limshisa • THE Chevra

"THE preeminent Jewish boy band today!"
— Ber Boimel, Spotlight on Music


Someone once told me that R' Shlomo Carlebach once noted to or about Avraham Fried "I don't mind if people copy my songs. I just mind if they ruin them." Or something.

I think it was about this song. **Now more ruined than ever!**

Ach, these 9 Days. Are you happy now, Roman conquerors? ARE YOU HAPPY NOW???

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Yedid Nefesh • Itsi Kleinfeld/Tzvi Silberstein

The good thing about this song is that it is so exceptional that even a not very good acapella version is still technically pretty awesome. Cuz the song is, see.



Itsi Kleinfeld was born in [Judenstrasse Shpitol] Antwerp, Belgium, [at 7:11 and 22 seconds] on October 7th, 1979. See more. I dare you.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Shades of Acapella • Yossi Green - Shades of Green

This track was naturally selected by the 9 Days themselves, which have proved surprisingly resilient in rejecting any *NSYNC, Bon Jovi or Mariah Perry in Jewish drag, a.k.a., AKA Pella. Grrrr.



And then there is the beauty of the two songs selected for acapella treatment: 1) Min Hameitzar composed for Shlomo Simcha, and 2) Ki Chilatzta, which I had not heard before and do not know from outside of this track. Do You?