MY URBAN KVETCH

Dueling Divas: Sivan v. Maya Bouskila, "Shoveret Shtikah"

Two divas. Two styles. Two songs. But only one title: Shoveret Shtikah (Breaking the Silence). Which one rules? You be the judge.

Maya Bouskila: Sivan (from the TACT Family):

Eurovision Report: Liveblogged from Jerusalem

This was my first Eurovision viewing, and it was fun, but I have to admit that the whole thing doesn't seem all that European to me. True, the costumes are over-the-top and the fashion of man-vests as apparently mandatory garb would never fly in America. (Or at least, one hopes.) Israel chose an amazing song, but it's the wrong feel for the fast beats of the techno-heavy Eurovision contest.

The hosts were like an episode of "Ryan Seacrest and Daisy Fuentes Meet the Nunis." Most of the acts sounded like homages to or rehashes of American songs, from 80s hair metal to house/techno, the women looked very similar in terms of hairstyle, and the few original-looking acts were either not original-sounding or so bizarre that you knew there was no way they were going to win. The prevailing language, for both the songs and the commentary, was English, which didn't seem terribly European of them. The one interesting political note was that countries that you'd never pair up were voting for each other: you had Serbia voting for Bosnia-Herzgovina, and Ireland voting for the UK, and various other voting pairs, which might make you believe that music is perhaps the path to peace. That is, if they can get past the Latvian pirates.

Analysis: The open shirt and the ice skating gimmick won, with Russia's Dima, fiddler and ice dancer edging out Kalomira, Greece's answer to Britney Spears (who sang about not being a little girl anymore and having a secret combination), as Russia took the Eurovision title for this year. Fascinating, right?

Shavua tov from Jerusalem.

"20 Things to Do With Matzah": Michelle Citrin and the Jewish Robot Win Again

OK, OK. Michelle, Shabot, you win. I can't out-creative you two. Chag sameach to everyone!

What's With Israeli Bands and Britney's "Toxic"?

"Toxic" is one of those songs that gets in your head, and there's just nothing to be done about it. And I'm not even a band. But if I were, I'd probably do a cover of it. But I'm American, and with the exception of my recently acquired obsession with Coolooloosh and Subliminal and the TACT Family, tend to mostly enjoy American music.

Then came the Israeli "Toxic" invasion. When I encountered Israeli band missFlag, they did a cover. Then I saw a Newsweek article that reported Yael Naim (she of the ethereal squeak in the MacAir commercials) also performs a cover of the song. One quick trip to Wikipedia later, and I've got a whole list of bands that cover this tune, including missFlag, Naim, and Shiri Maimon, who covers it in Hebrew translation, which has been overlaid on the original Britney video here.

So to recap, three Israeli musical acts, and three different versions of one Britney Spears song. missFlag (3 versions available, below is the one with the best sound): Yael Naim, multiple versions available including this soulful version, and a more classical sounding clip, which is below): Shiri Maimon (her vocals on Britney's video):

Which is your favorite? And why do you think "Toxic" is resonating in Israel? Is it because every Israeli is secretly in the Mossad? Or secretly fans of Britney no matter how big a train wreck she is? Is it a Kabbalah thing?

Missed the Israelity Tour? Catch Coolooloosh in NY This Weekend

Coolooloosh is playing in NYC this weekend, their last NY performance before they hit Philadelphia, DC and then return home to the Promised Land. At the invitation of Grammy® nominated engineer/producer David Ivory (The Roots, Patti Labelle, Erykah Badu) Coolooloosh arrived in the US in January of 2008 to begin pre-production and the tracking of their new full length album with Ivory at the helm.

Coolooloosh is a Jerusalemite word for celebration and joy; this is precisely what the band exudes with each and every exciting performance. Wooing fans around the world with their intelligent blend of genres, Coolooloosh combining Hip Hop, Rap, Jazz, and Funk, is one of Israel's most popular groups.  Consistently pushing the envelope, the band is destined to break internationally. 

Saturday, March 15 2008 11:00 – Israeli Funk Hip-Hop band, Coolooloosh lands at New York's famed Joe's Pub.  425 LAFAYETTE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003 (Astor Place Subway Station)
Tickets: $12 Students with ID : $10
Tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day online at joespub.com or 10am-9pm by phone at 212-967-7555.

"Coolooloosh is a band worth looking out for - a bastion of originality in a culture of copycats"-Jerusalem Post

"In short, the Israeli public can expect to hear a lot more from this band with the addictive sound and a magical ability to draw crowds" –Jerusalem Post Show Review "

“The Music Is infectious and the crowd gets on their feet” Swindel Magazine L.A

Links of interest: http://www.youtube.com/coolooloosh
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y4bSt3dVaeg

Old School Israeli Music Meets the New School: Givatron and Subliminal Collaborate

I'm so glad that the Israelity Tour, sponsored by Taglit-Birthright Israel, has given me the gift of re-appreciating Israeli music and turning me on to both Coolooloosh and the work of Subliminal and the TACT Family. While Coolooloosh stays East-Coast-side, gigging in New York twice over the first two weeks of March ((JCC next week as part of Israel Non-Stop, and March 15th at Joe's Pub, check them out), preparing for a May tour and recording a new album, Subliminal and the TACT Family have returned to Israel and continue to produce video clips that I can embed onto my blogs. (This post is inspired by TM's post at Jewlicious.)

The latest is Subliminal's collaborating with the legendary Israeli band Givatron, creating a new version of their song "Bat Shishim" (sixty years old) in commemoration of Israel's 60th birthday this spring. The song, written 26 years ago for Russian olim to Israel (original version here), now gets reborn as part folk, part hip-hop. Check out this clip from Channel 2 (in Hebrew) which brings you inside the studio for these magical moments:

• Subliminal teaches hip-hop hand signs to old folk singers!
• The gang orders pizza--someone doesn't want onions and someone else complains that in Afula, they give you a bottle of drink with every pizza; "so you can't taste the pizza!" someone quips.
• Givatron-niks try to pronounce "Subliminal"!
• "Do you know how many folk dances we have to change now?" asks one man. "No, no, the rhythm is the same, "another insists...
• And more!

An Open Letter to West Coast Famous Jews

[cross posted from the Israelity Tour blog]

Dear West Coast Famous Jews,

This means you, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Jason Segel and all the rest of those guys --you gave a shoutout to "Munich" in "Knocked Up," and now it's time to take your Jewish pride to the next level. Natalie Portman, you sabra you, can translate the lyrics for Zach Braff. Mia Kirshner, your new "L-Word" is "L'hitraot," so we'll see you at the show. Lisa Edelstein, it's time to leave the House and get out for an evening. Ditto to you, Paul Adelstein--leave Private Practice and bring your wife Paris Geller with you. Speaking of Gellers, Schwimmer, get your Friends together and come to Avalon. (Seriously--you already went to that Heeb party in New York last year.) Greg Grunberg, be a hero and join us, and bring J.J. with you if he's done destroying New York.

And as for you, Mark Zuckerberg, we at the Israelity Tour blog want to thank you for creating our events notification system, or as you call it, Facebook.

You work hard to entertain us and give us the tools we need to stay in touch with our culture and our lives. So come to the Israelity Tour. Seriously...it's hip-hop, funk and acoustic-style music plus Israel. In SF on February 10, in LA on the 16th and ending the tour in Vegas on the 17th. Plus, lots of other concerts and events between Seattle and Vegas starting this Wednesday. All courtesy of Birthright Israel.

Join us! Non-celebrities, click here. Celebs and/or publicists, RSVP here.

Almost Famous; Still Grateful

Wednesday morning, I leave for the adventure of a journalist's life and something I never dreamed was within my reach--going on a West Coast tour with a hip-hop act. OK, so it's an Israeli hip-hop act, Subliminal and the T.A.C.T. Family, and we're accompanied by hip-hop/funk band Coolooloosh and "Rosh Hashanah Girl" Michelle Citrin. Still, Subliminal's Israel's #1 hip-hop artist, so think of it as me being on tour with Eminem. (Sort of.) Sponsored by Birthright Israel, the tour hits seven cities for the Israelity Tour, Where West Coast Meets Middle East. You can follow all the action on our blog, buy tickets here, and read about us in the JWeekly here.

Before I go on the road and make all the hip-hop artists sing "Tiny Dancer" on the bus (see clip below), I just wanted to thank those of you who came to my presentation at the AfterWords session (the podcast is available on iTunes, and should shortly be available on the Skirball Center website).

The session provided me with a chance to delve into last week's Torah portion from a position of real inquiry, unfettered by fears of what my teachers would say in response to my questions; and also, coming in a week right after I lost a friend very suddenly, it was an honor to be able to dedicate my learning to his memory.

And although the class isn't happening till tomorrow night, I received word that the Improv for Daters session at the JCC is sold out. So if you wanted to join us and didn't reserve a spot, let them know you'd like to see me back on the calendar for summer or fall...and thanks for the support!

So unless I get subsumed into the T.A.C.T. Family as an MC--hey, you never know what can happen on the road--I will continue to blog, at a somewhat reduced rate here, but certainly in other places. Stay tuned for an exciting two weeks!

And now, that clip:

"In a World..."--Introducing the Israelity Tour

Want more information? Or tickets? Visit the Israelity Tour online. (And stay tuned to the blog for insider posts on prep for the tour and concerts in seven cities on the West Coast. Brought to you by Birthright Israel.)

Hava Nagila, the Way Bubbe Never Intended

And now, it's becoming a regular feature over at Jewlicious, to bring you crazy YouTube variations on the classics, especially the hackneyed, overplayed and oft-mispronounced by non-Jewish singers at weddings and bar mitzvahs "Hava Nagila."

No, not that one. This one.

Next thing you know, the rumor will circulate: the Jews run Bollyvood, too. And in case you found this version less-than-all-that-and-a-box-o'-matzohs, you can check out any of the other 511 versions on the song on YouTube. Mix 'em, match 'em, trade 'em with your friends.