Israel is "stealing" arab music

Is the statement above a sign of israelophobia? Yes clearly it is I argue.

On the internet arab bloggers and composers are mad of Israel because of Israeli artists are "stealing" their music. Instead of thinking of it as a an israeli tribute to arab music and an act of antiracism the Egyptian composer and artist Amr Mustafa chose to view it as stealing. In Youtube there are several israeli tributes to arab music labelled as "zionists stealing" arab music. However Amr Mustafa only mention Israeli artists buying copyright from Egyptian music companies but not the turkish and lebanese and greeks aswell copy egyptian music and Egyptian copying Turkish music.

This approach to israeli cultures use of the middle eastern herritage is something I faced myself when I once played an israeli mizrahi song with a traditional oriental style. An arab then commented and asked what language it was sung in. I told him that it is in Hebrew and Arabic and it was Israeli artists performing the song. His instant reaction was that it was stealing arab music,however that song was purely original israeli (Ishtar - Yahad).

Why this sentiment that a love for the culture is stealing and why this only is

referred to when it comes to Israel?

A little bit more of Arab composers "stealing" israeli compositions maybe would

contribute to peace.

Below Eti Bitton's interpretation of one of Amr Mustafas hit songs:

A chinese proverb - Eti Biton

Amr Mustafa about copyright (in Arabic):

We didn't start the fire

A fire has hit the Carmel forest in nearby Haifa area in Northern Israel. This is How Israeli comedians give their view on this topic. A cover of We didn't start the fire but with new hebrew lyrics. Meanwhile it is interesting that Iraqi Christians are spreading a rumour that Israel was behind the recent killing of Christians in Bagdad Church. And another ridiculous accusation was made by South Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha claiming that Israel was behind the new shark attacks in Egypt. It is sad and hilarious to see how Jews and Israel always are blamed for everything they haven't done and how little self- criticism there is in the Middle East.

Egypt Governor: 'Mossad may be behind Red Sea shark attacks':

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3995302,00.html

Miracle of light - equivalent for X-mas

5/12 23:1 (updated 6/12 10:24 by

The Equivalent for Christmas in the Jewish religion is the Hanukkah or the "light festival". And in the coming year (2011) it will be in the same time as Christmas.

It has many things in common with Christmas. Just like Swedes light candles for every week before Christmas the Jews in Israel and around the world light the Mennorah, the eight candles for every day in this holiday. The holiday is to remember how the jews got rid of the Greek God Zeus from the Temple in Jerusalem. And the eight candles are there to remember the oil lamp that burned for 8 days in the temple.

In this period you eat special food for Hannukah aswell as singing special songs like we do in Christmas time.

Instead of getting presents 1 day like Christians, jewish children get gifts for every day during this 8 days celebration.

In Christmas times there are a lot of Christmas songs displayed in TV and radio but very few Hanukkah songs. Jewish-American reggae star Matisyahu made this very catchy song this year. "Miracle"is the song and involves a mix of snow, Santa Claus mennorah and characters from the Hanukkah story.

An uplifting pop gem arriving just in time for the holiday, "Miracle," produced by Dr. Luke protégé Kool Kojak (Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Ke$ha), is drenched in a joyful spirit and features chiming synths, bouncing beats and an irresistible chorus.

Matisyahu says, "There are so many Christmas songs out there. I wanted to give the Jewish kids something to be proud of. We've got Adam Sandler's song, which is hilarious, but I wanted to try to get across some of the depth and spirituality inherent in the holiday in a fun, celebratory song. My boy Kojak was in town so at the last minute we went into the studio in the spirit of miracles and underdogs and this is what we came up with. Happy Hannukah!"

Lyrics of "Miracle":

Just livin’ in the miracle, candles are my vehicle
Eight nights, gonna shine invincible
No longer be divisible, born through the struggle
Keep on moving through all this hustle
Head up, heads down through all of the bustle
New York City wanna flex your muscle
Look so down, look so puzzled
Huddle ‘round your fire through all the rubble

Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all

[Chorus]
Do you believe in miracles
Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you?
Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right
Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle

Against all odds drive on till tomorrow
Wipe away your tears and your sorrow
Sunrise in the sky like an arrow
No need to worry, no need to cry
Light up your mind no longer be blind
Him who searches will find
Leave your problems behind you will shine like a fire in the sky
what's the reason we’re alive – the reason we’re alive…
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all

[Chorus]
Do you believe in miracles
Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you?
Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right
Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle

Eight is the number of infinity one more than what you know how to be
And this is the light of festivity when your broken heart yearns to be free

[Chorus]
Do you believe in miracles
Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you?
Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right
Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle

Song to Achmadinejad

3/12 22:13 (updated 3/12 22:46 by

Israeli mizrahi singer Mariaje releases a new song dedicated to the president of Iran saying that his reign will soon come to an end. Cute song which compares Achmadinejad to the Bibles story about a Persian leader that tried to kill all Jews in Persia, Haman. Haman was however not successful and ended up hanged himself on order from the Persian king because of his hateful plan. Hate will never be successful!

The Song:

Well here is the lyrics to the song:

Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict

This is the end of all evil hate to Israel

How the world is in chaos because of a small dwarf

this dwarf reminds us all of Haman

His hatred of us strong and deep

Inshallah we will introduce the smurf to Mecca

Do not say we did not say what will happen

Even your evil end will come you'll see

Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict

This is the end of all evil hate to Israel

Like Saddam before him he threatens with missiles

We have a strong army and the Book of Psalms!

Finally he finds the rope on neck

Like Haman he is going to end up the same way

Do not say we did not say what will happen

Even your evil end will come you'll see

Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict

This is the end of all evil hate to Israel

השנאה שלו אלינו חזקה ועמוקה
אינשאללה לדרדס עוד נכניס את המכה

אל תגיד שלא אמרנו מה יהיה
גם סופך רשע יגיע - עוד תראה.

אחמדינג'אד אחמדינג'אד את עונשו עוד יקבל
זה סופו של כל רשע ששונא את ישראל

כמו סאדם לפניו מאיים הוא עם טילים
לנו יש צבא חזק וגם ספר תהילים!

בסופו הוא ימצא את החבל על צוואר
כמו המן הרשע הוא יגמור אותו דבר

אל תגיד שלא אמרנו מה יהיה
גם סופך רשע יגיע - עוד תראה.

אחמדינג'אד אחמדינג'אד את עונשו עוד יקבל
זה סופו של כל רשע ששונא את ישראל

Ololo - Shlomi Saranga

Shlomi Saranga is an Israeli mizrahi singer (eastern/oriental style) often singing in a greek style. Here he breaks into the old Egyptian style covering one of the Arab Worlds most famous songs and most famous singers, Abdel Halim Hafez. Teh refrain is kept in original arabic while the main lyrics is in hebrew but follows the old arabic way of singing lyrics addressing the singers lover as a male
example "reveal to him, tell him he is the one in my heart". The song is recorded by this israelis artist together with a real arabic orchestra and with some of the musicans that has played with the original singer Abdel Halim Hafez whose love life was as as sad as this song since he could never marry the love of his life due to the family of the girl he loved did not accept him. When they finally did accept him she was already ill and died very quickly.

This song is not entirely new to the Israelis as it was featured in an israeli comedy show, performed in arabic. I will give you both of the clips here

"United" - RUFF, SHI 360 & EVISH (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

three israeli hip hop artists response to the "Freedom Flotilla". And included is the American journalist Helen Thoms now so infamous speech about the Jews in Israel.






Lyrics:
Chorus x 2:
When the world's gone lost
We're gonna help you find the way
Too much drama in my eyes that I can't hide
When the world's gone lost
I don't plan to fall with it

Verse 1 - Ruff:
I'm on the wrong side of the map, activists with knifes got me trapped
Surrounded by hostility, trying not to react
Flotillas of hatred, we're caught in the matrix
I'm trying to survive, they're pulling the same tricks
This international hypocrisy won't get us far
One-sided media puts us behind bars
Nations with no minorities, judging with no authority
They're gonna tell me how to deal with what's in front of me
What about Sudan and North Korea? Could they care less?!
They wanna boycott us, they're gonna share less
We're lying on the fence for the rest of the world
Provide a buffer zone while overseas they get us sold
I know my people can be divided at times
Got too many opinions with too much shit on our minds
You can hate us now, we ain't gonna fight it
You're only making us stronger and more united

Chorus:
When the world's gone lost
We're gonna help you find the way
Too much drama in my eyes that I can't hide
When the world's gone lost
I don't plan to fall with it

Verse 2 - SHI 360:
‏But I ' m already home and the media distorts your vision
‏Got blind followers here in full submission
‏Provocateurs,‬ they just wanna instigate
‏And create the image you love to hate
‏You can talk about humanitarian aid
‏Politically affiliated IHH
‏Guess who's more popular? Erodgan
‏Fuck left and right , we should all stand as one
‏You really thought we were gonna let 'e m in?
‏When yesterday they tried to bring Karine
‏A - was that aid or to arm Jihad?
‏Wanna talk about aid ? What about Gilad ?
‏Because the horse is trojan, doors not open
‏I gotta do whatever to protect my home and
‏I ' m a peace dealer, my flow killa
‏But no peace came at me on the flotilla

Chorus x 2:
When the world's gone lost
We're gonna help you find the way
Too much drama in my eyes that I can't hide
When the world's gone lost
I don't plan to fall with it

עם ישראל חי

Soulico feat Axum: A new guy comes to the neighborhood

Hip hop reaggae duo Axum is doing a cover produced by Soulico. The israeli duo has yemenite and etiopian jewish roots and is one of the leading israeli hip hop/rap/reaggae groups in Israel.
The story in the song is about a new guy who is moving into the neighborhood originally sung by composer Alon Olearchik even though he meant it to be sung by Ofra Haza.

This coming season 2 of Avoda Aravit ("Arabic Labor") will feature the song. Maybe the clip tells something about what will happen in the first episode? Anyway exciting. On July 17 is the release date for season 2 in Israeli Channel 2. Prime time!
The series is the first arabic sitcom on mainstream Israeli TV and last season even made the US chief of Foreign Affairs mrs Hillary Clinton ask for a copy during a visit to Israel. On July 28 the arab-israeli writer of the show, Sayed Kashua, will receive "San Fransisco Jewish Film Festivals Freedom of Expression Award", SFJFF reporting on their website.

The 3 tenors?

Ahmedido Domingo (aka Ahmadinejad), Erdogano Pavarotti (aka Erdogan) and Assad Carreras (aka Bashar Assad) singing about the benefits of terrorism.



Lyrics:

Based on Funiculi Funicula
Sung by the Three Terrors:
Erdogano Pavarotti, Assad Carreras and Ahmedido Domingo


Erdogan: I say -- it's time that I restore the Empire
Let's get to work (let's get to work!)
Because in Europe everybody knows that
I'm just a jerk (he's just a jerk!)
Assad: And I , the serial killer who should spend all
his life in jail (oy vey oy vey)
To reach the hearts of all the world media
We found the trail (hurray hurray)

Erdogan: Terror, Terror, that's my cup of tea
Terror gains us love and sympathy
To beat the West, to be the one
From Tripoli to Teheran
Yalla yalla, ya -- Jihad is sweet, Jihad is fun

All: Terror, Terror, that's how you convince
That you're cool and charming as a prince
To beat the West, to be the one
For Hezbullah and Erdogan
Yalla yalla, ya -- Jihad is sweet, Jihad is fun

B.
Ahmedi: So now, the UN has imposed the sanctions
(Ironically) Oh my, oh my... (oh my, oh my)
Together here we stand, no opposition,
I hung them high (he hung them high)
I wish to thank Obama for his patience,
For playing dumb (for playing dumb)
Coz now I got the peace of mind to build me
The nuclear bomb (The nuclear bomb)

Terror, terror, that's my cup of tea
Assad: Terror gains us love and sympathy
Erdogan: To beat the West, to be the one
From Tennessee to Teheran
Yalla, yalla ya, Jihad is sweet, Jihad is fun

All: Terror, Terror, gets us all the grants
Terror makes you all piss in your pants
To beat the West, to be the one
From Tennessee to Teheran
Yalla yalla, ya -- I hit the switch and you are gone!

Ayala - I hurry

Ayala is an israeli soul singer with Etiopian jewish roots.
This is a very lovely video. Very sweet. Check out her album!

The Idan Raichel Project - Home

Habayta is the theme song from "Black on White", a movie directed by Tomer Heiman about the Idan Raichel Project.



Lyrics of "Home"

אתה רואה איך זה מרגיש בבית
אתה חושב שאני לא
אבל בפנים לפעמים נזכרת
שגם אני מפה

You see how it feels at home
Yet you think I don't
But deep inside, I am sometimes reminded
that I'm from here too


אני רואה איך שאתה פורח
אתה חושב שאני לא
אבל גם לי מתחת יש עוד שורש
וגם אני מפה

I see how you're blossoming
Yet you think that I'm not
But I've also got deeper roots underneath...
That I'm from here

CHORUS:

עכשיו נוסעים הביתה הלוך חזור
עכשיו עוצרים בדרך, עכשיו אפשר לבחור
לשאול על סוף, על התחלה
על שיהיה ושהיה
על שהייתי יכולה להיות וגם אתה

Now it's time to go home, back and forth
Now we're stopping along the way, it's possible to decide
To ask about endings, about beginnings
About what will be and what was
About what I could have been...and you too

--

אתה רואה איך זה מרגיש בבית,
אתה חושב שאני לא,
אבל בפנים לפעמים נזכרת
שגם אני מפה

You see how it feels at home
Yet you think I don't
But deep inside, I am sometimes reminded
that I'm from here too

עכשיו נוסעים הביתה...

Now we're on the way home...

Avihu Shabat & Michal Amdurski

The Queen of Israeli dance pop Michal Amdurski joins Avihu Shabat in a pop duett with arabic title "Yallah".
Avihus' self titled album "Avihu" was recently released containing some nice songs including this one produced by HENREE and
also the latino inspired song קחי את ליבי also that one produced by HENREE.



Lyrics translated of Yallah

Why did you reveal to me just now
about this guy
about that crazy guy
I would have already told you then - this is not it
You should not be in it
you are tempted, suddenly you become addicted
And this is your time to be different

Say yallah (come on)
You're waving goodbye and moving forward
And it makes your heart jump up
He's not worth it, he's unsuitable
So yallah

I already understood a long time ago - your girl
She only drove you crazy
there are better girls than her
So move on and enough with loosing your mind
Maybe you will stop throwing money on her
when you will understand - there are a thousand girls like her

Tell her: yallah
wave good bye and move on
And your heart will jump
She's no good, she is not suitable
So yallah ...
Say yallah
you wave good bye, and you move on
You cause my heart to jump
You are the most precious there is , so yallah ...

Tell her: yallah
and wave good bye to her and move on
you cause my heart to jump
because you are the most precious there is so yalla!




Say Yallah!
You wave good bye to him and moving on
you cause my heart to jump
because you are the most precious there is so yalla!

‎למה רק עכשיו גילית לי?
‎על הבחור הזה
‎המשוגע הזה
‎הייתי כבר אומר לך אז – זה לא זה
‎ושכדאי לך לא להיות בתוך זה
‎את מתפתה, ברגע מתמכרת
‎וזה הזמן שלך להיות אחרת

‎תגידי יאללה
‎את מנפנפת ועוברת הלאה
‎וזה מקפיץ לך את הלב למעלה
‎הוא לא שווה, הוא לא מתאים
‎אז יאללה

‎כבר מזמן אני הבנתי – הבחורה שלך
‎היא רק שיגעה אותך
‎יש בחורות יותר שוות ממנה
‎אז תתקדם ודי להשתגע
‎אולי תפסיק לזרוק עליה כסף?
‎מתי תבין – כמוה יש עוד אלף

‎תגיד לה יאללה
‎ותנפנף ותעבור כבר הלאה
‎וזה יקפיץ לך ת'לב למעלה
‎היא לא שווה, היא לא מתאימה
‎אז יאללה...
‎תגידי יאללה
‎את מנפנפת ועוברת הלאה
‎אתה מקפיץ לי את הלב למעלה
‎אתה הכי שווה שיש, אז יאללה...

‎תגיד לה יאללה
‎ותנפנף ותעבור כבר הלאה
‎את מקפיצה לי ת'לב למעלה
‎כי את הכי שווה שיש, אז יאללה...

Dudu Aharon - Money & Alcohol

This song has become an instant hit in youtube and is a cover of a Bulgarian song by Krum and has also been released in a greek version. Here is the israeli mizrahi version by Dudu Aharon.




the Bulgarian version:

Tzipi Talking in Gan Meier before the parade and a proud gay parent and son

Israeli europop becoming popular in Israel

It all started a few years back with Hovevey Zion's version of Boten Anna, a Swedish euro pop song with kind of nerdy lyrics in it's original language. Somehow this song travelled over the internet to Israel where it became a hugher hit than ever in its orginal state and original country.

The Israeli duo Hovevey Zion consisting of Noy Alooshe and DJ Dor Dekel formed the " europ pop/dance band "Hovevey Zion" and wrote some funny hebrew lyrics to the song that became "Rotse Banot" ("I want girls"). The hit was on TV-shows and a lot of people copied the song in so many ways.

Now another band has huge success in Israel.The amazing Maze. The song of the summer 2009 must undoubtly have been "After Basdinim" (" a leave from army spent in the sheets"). The song catched the same kind of summery feeling as Rotse Banot did but unlike that song this is an original israeli euro pop hit. And it came with a video (see below). The song generated a gold record for over 100 000 downloads of the song using mobile.

Now the band is soon releasing a new hit video for a duet that has been around for a while. The song is "Nogaat Bi" ("You touch me").

Arab woman finished 4th most popular in Israeli show

Arab-israeli singer and actress Mira Awad lost the chance to win Reshets "Rokdim im Kochavim" last Sunday. But she ended the 4th most popular dancer in the Israeli show Even if the internet poll on the reshet website gave her the 2nd palce right after Moshe Peretz. In the final she danced to a song performed by herself covering a song from famous singer Rita.

Dancing with the stars

Also in Israel , there is "dancing with the stars" "Rokdim im Kochavim". This year, with mizrahi singer Moshe Peretz and arab-israeli singer and actress Mira Awad. Mira Awad has participated in Eurovision 2009 and also starred in Eytan Fox's "The Bubble" and wrote songs for the internationaly known movie "Lemon Tree". In 2009 she released an album in Arabic in Israel "Bahlawan".It became one of the best-selling albums on the internet in Israel in 2009. Now she is immensely popular in the "Rokdim im Kochavim", both by the jury in the program and among the web voters on Reshets website.
Previously, she was one of the pioneers of the Arab actoresses and actors who appeared in the Arab comedy series "Arabic Labor" in which she played an Arab woman who was in love with a jewish man. The entire show can be viewed on the internet from Reshets website. You really can not help but be affected by Mira's contagious positive impression and spontaneous warmth. To understand why there is a conflict between Arabs and Jews is so strange when you see how good the atmosphere is between Mira and her Jewish dance partner Dani Yurtman.


http://reshet.ynet.co.il/11538.aspx