FTV Israel
Filed under: A New Reality, Business, Entertainment, General, Israeliness, Life, Pop Culture, tv
Will anyone admit to ever watching FTV (the Fashion Channel to those not in the know)? To be honest, I’ve only ever watched it while sitting in the chair at my former hairdresser, who has small screen TVs in front of each chair, presumably to stave off boredom while getting one’s hair cut (I always like to talk to my hairdresser).
But, it is still news to know that Israel’s Tourism Ministry recently launched an advertising campaign on said FTV, with the slogan, “Israel, it’s like magic.” The idea is that the Israeli tourism ‘product’ will be exposed to the broad FTV market, which reaches about 200 countries worldwide.
And so, in order to appeal to this particular market, NIS 3 million was spent on the ministry’s idea of what’s magical in Israel, from vineyards in the Carmel (bad timing, that one) and salt flats in the Dead Sea to the menorah in Jerusalem and Ramat Aviv Mall in Tel Aviv. I’m not saying they’re wrong, but well, take a look at one of them for yourself:
And don’t pay too much attention to their spelling…it’s kind of embarrassing.
Music under the headlines
Filed under: A New Reality, Entertainment, General, Israeliness, Life, Music, Politics, Pop Culture
The big headlines arise when a Madonna or Elton John come to Israel, or when an Elvis Costello or Pixies cancel coming to Israel.
But in between those highs and lows, there are dozens of class acts who land on our shores during European tours, providing a much-needed niche for the more discriminate adult music fans who either can’t afford to, or don’t enjoy standing with 50,000 other people in a park or stadium looking at a video screen.
Case in point was last night, when Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan unassumedly breezed into Tel Aviv for a show at The Barby Club. Hardly household names, to be sure, but then again, anyone with a knowledge of British and American indie rock will recognize the duo as one time members in good standing of Belle and Sebastian and The Screaming Trees, respectively.
Together, they’ve been making eerily enchanting music together for a few years, and have established a cult following around the world, including Israel. While the Barby doesn’t hold anywhere near 50,000 (or even 1,000), it barely provided enough space for the local fans of the duo, as shown by this clip.
Away from the headlines about boycotts and superstars, there are talented musicians coming here regularly, and as you can see, making some beautiful music.
Under the sea in Tel Aviv
Filed under: A New Reality, Entertainment, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Life, Movies, Pop Culture
Taking a child to one of the plethora of special Hanukka musicals and stage shows that are featured every year is wrought with dangers.
First of all, you have hundreds of screaming kids letting out their pent up energy during the week-long Hanukka vacation from school. Then there’s the gum that’s likely to end up everywhere from your shoes to your hair. The traffic in Tel Aviv, where most of the shows are staged, is terrible and the parking is expensive. But…
…But the shows, at least the show my young son and I saw, was marvelous. It was a Hebrew adaptation of the fabled Disney hit The Little Mermaid (in Hebrew Bat Yam Hak’tana), and if historically, kids’ Hanukka shows were cheesy, semi-professional and instantly forgettable, then this was the anti-show.
All stops were pulled out – choreography, costumes, a costly film/stage integration to invoke the sea, and the acting were all top notch. The local production, headed by director Moshe Kaftan and choreographer Oz Morag, did Disney proud, as did the cast led by actors Guy Zoaretz (Munich, Tipul Nimratz) as Prince Eric and children’s video star Rinat Gabbai as Ariel.
Rather than playing down to the young audience, the Israeli version of The Little Mermaid subscribed to the theory that children deserve top quality entertainment as much as adults. And funnily enough, adults enjoyed the show as much as children.
No cellphones – a burden or a blessing?
Filed under: A New Reality, Business, General, Israeliness, Life, News, Technology
Yesterday will always be remembered in Israel as day of the great cellphone collapse. Millions of Cellcom mobile phone users around the country were unable to make calls or send and receive text messages on Wednesday after a malfunction occurred in Cellcom’s core network.
This was the worst technical problem since the founding of the company, Cellcom CEO Amos Shapira told reporters at an evening press conference in Tel Aviv, attempting to calm the ruffled nerves of the nation.
Though service was available in some parts of the country, it is estimated that about half of a total of 3.3 million Cellcom customers were unable to use their phones. The malfunction began at roughly 10 a.m., and service was only restored to most customers late Wednesday evening.
It was only mid-afternoon that I realized that my cellphone had been exceptionally quiet for a few hours. After checking out the news on the radio, I understood why.
The lack of cellphone use threw the country into a tizzy, and for some users, it was like their right hand had ceased to function.
Cellcom staffers were inundated at service centers throughout the center of the country, where most of the service was disrupted, by irate customers demanding their cellphones be restored to use, damn the reasons.
Certainly, in today’s information society, mobile phones are vital for many people – and in some instances are linked to life-saving security and medical services. However, for the vast majority of Cellcom subscribers, their cellphone is just a convenience, albeit a convenience that has evolved into a necessity.
As inconvenient as it may have been for many Cellcom customers Wednesday – trying to get in touch with their children, or their clients, or their doctor – there was also something quite liberating taking place. Like throwing our yokes off, we were temporarily unburdened by the ubiquitous little mobile device in our breast pocket.
Maybe some people took advantage of the communication lapse to catch up on work piled up at their office, pick up that unopened book on the counter, or remember to take care of more personal communication with family members.
The Cellcom fiasco had its silver lining – it reminded us that our lives are more than our mobile devices. I can’t wait to call people to tell them.
Jewish moshing at Linkin Park concert
Filed under: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, Life, Music, Pop Culture
Some of the crowd at the front of the stage.
As parents sat on the sloped hill on the peripherary of the amphitheater, the wide area in front of the stage was where most of the 15,000-strong crowd crammed and jostled, turning it into a hormone-fueled mosh pit.
According to first-hand accounts, there wasn’t even room to raise their hands down in front, and even before the show started, promoter Shuki Weiss emerged from the shadows and took center stage, and said something like:
“You have to stop all the pushing and shoving, or the security people are going to come and remove you. And then you’ll miss the show, you don’t want that, do you?”
And when that didn’t seem to work, he took out his secret weapon, saying, “This isn’t the kind of behavior we expect from you,” echoing the plaintive wail of Jewish parents throughout the ages.
I’m not sure if that did the trick, but the show went on as scheduled, with the audience swaying like a sea of humanity, raised fists thrust in the air. Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington at one point, reminded the crowd to take care of each other and “if someone falls down, what do you do? Pick them up!” (a sad commentary on contemporary society when we have to be reminded to do things like that).
He also commented that it was the “rowdiest crowd” the band had ever seen. Bennington might say that at every show, who knows? But when the 16-year-old I accompanied emerged from the bowels of the crowd, two hours later, he was so sweat-drenched that he appeared as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. And when we got home at 1:00 am, I successfully used the same Jewish guilt strategy to get him into the shower.
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