Spreading Israel through song

June 22, 2008 - 11:07 AM by

Oleh RecordsA fellow Harry left a comment on a music post I wrote about Rockfour and the trend of some Israeli artists writing and performing in Hebrew.

He said:

Why push Israeli artists that sing in English? I’d rather give props to the musicians who still sing in Hebrew. This trend is bad for Israeli Culture. There’s something terrible about hearing Aviv Geffen and Ivri Lider singing in English. It does not have the same power as hearing them sing in Hebrew. I’m worried that in the future, more and more Israeli Musicians will sing in English because they see everyone else doing it and their dream is to be big in England and America. Things didn’t quite work out that way for Monica Sex. I am afraid for the day when every Heyehudim song will be in English. In the future, the only thing left in Hebrew will be those Mizrahi singers like Eyal Golan. I mean this in the nicest possible way. I really am scared for the future of Israeli Rock.

You can find my initial response here but I wanted to elaborate a bit as to why I see nothing wrong with Israeli music in English. First of all, the amount of music being created in English is so small, so minute and on such a small scale that your average joe (Israel Israeli) probably has absolutely no idea that a scene even exists. The effect that it has on the cultural landscape is pretty much non-existent. Sure, Aviv Gefen put out a couple of English albums with prog-god Steven Wilson (Blackfield) and Ivri Leder is currently working on an English album, but both artists have not even remotely abandoned their Hebrew music. Leder actually just released a new Hebrew single on his website just a couple of days ago (to download, click on the scrolling Hebrew text at the very top of the page).

I think there is a dire need for American youth to connect with Israel on some level. I firmly believe one of the strongest ways that youth can connect with Israel is through commonalities. And I believe music is powerful enough to be that commonality. An American teenager who loves pop punk isn’t going to connect with an Israeli pop-punk band such as Sheygetz who performs their music is in Hebrew, though if he/she happened to hear Useless ID, whose music is in English, he/she might connect with the music and in turn, connect with Israel. Israeli music in English exists in all genres – metal, hip hop, rock, pop and dance. It is certainly a cliché, but music connects people and does indeed break down borders and opens minds. As mentioned in a previous post, Oleh! Records (a music company I co-founded), mission is to do just that. Conveniently enough, you can read more about Oleh! Records at ISRAEL21c.com

Tags: , , , , , , , • Category: Music, Pop Culture 

Comments

One Comment on Spreading Israel through song

  1. Israelity » Israeli chanson on the Riviera on Wed, Aug 6th 2008 5:45 PM

    2. [...] But with music made by Israelis [] and Israel lovers gaining in popularity internationally, even the French are playing along. They’d better – some of the most interesting acts in the Israeli musical export roster are part French. Ramat Hasharon-raised, Steve Jobs-endorsed songstress Yael Naim was actually born in gay Paris. Cheeky electro pop DJ and singer Onili, who splits her time between the clubs and stages of France and Tel Aviv, was raised in Paris. Keren Ann moved there when she was 11. [...]

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