We Jews don't agree on many subjects, even on how to spell Chanukah. Or is that Hanukkah? Still, I think whatever our faith, we can all agree on this: Christians have much better holiday music -- like, say, "White Christmas" a beautiful song supposedly written poolside at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix by a Jewish man named Irving Berlin.
I first realized that we Jews were somewhat holiday music-challenged when I was talking to my lifelong hero Neil Diamond some years ago, and teasing this fine looking Jew for releasing two Christmas albums without a single Chanukah tune. "Let's face the facts, David," I remember my Jewish Elvis telling me, "they have better songs."
Imagine my overwhelming Semitic pride then that Neil's fine new Christmas album A Cherry Cherry Christmas features a fantastic new version of Adam Sandler's pride and laughter-inducing seasonal classic "The Chanukah Song." In fact, do yourself a favor and go to neildiamond.com and check out the brilliant animated video for Neil's cover version as soon as you can. In the meantime, here are some songs that will go down easy for just about anybody along with a few latkes and an extra serving of holiday spirit.
HANUKKAH ROCKS - Gefilte Joe & The Fish
THE CHANUKAH SONG - Neil Diamond
LIGHTING UP THE WORLD - Peter Himmelman & David Broza
HANNUKAH DANCE - Woody Guthrie
DREIDEL SONG - Don Byron
GIVE THE JEW GIRL TOYS - Sarah Silverman
DREIDEL - Don McLean
ROCK OF AGES - MA'OZ TZUR - Marc Cohn
HANUKKAH BLESSINGS - Barenaked Ladies
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - They Might Be Giants
THE SOUTH PARK DREIDEL SONG - South Park
LIGHT ONE CANDLE - Peter, Paul & Mary
THE ROCKIN' DREIDEL SONG - Sha Na Na
THE CHANUKAH SONG - Adam Sandler
Okay, now please put your own spin on this whole Dreidel-palooza mishegas, and add to this playlist! It couldn't hurt!
Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic
Rabbi David Wolpe: Rededication of Hanukkah: The Importance of Doing Things More Than Once
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpYZIktK2Yg
Heaven Isn't For The Angels - The Ditty Bops
Let There Be More Light - Pink Floyd
Burning Of The Midnight Lamp - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Till The Morning Comes - The Grateful Dead
A Light That Does Not Dim - O'death
Ancient Love - Anoushka Shankar
Wholy Holy - Marvin Gaye
Several years ago, the Capitol Steps did a song about Monica Lewinsky to the tune of "The Chanukah Song" (Adam Sandler). It was on a non-holiday album.
Thanks for the tip on Light Up the World. That rocked!
I've loved David Broza since I went to Israel in the early 80's, and Pete Himmelman is awesome (did you know he won't perform on Sats until after sundown?)
Chag Sameach!
Bashanah Haba'ah is gorgeous. Hanerot Halalu is ...interesting for the men's part, but it's a neat song too.
Your list is fab!
Not sure if you're a member of Rhapsody, but if you are or if you join, it would be great if you created and shared and linked to them.
And thank you for not including the new Orren Hatch song!!
wannabe -- he's butchered a few patriotic and religious
tunes in his time both on and off Capitol Hill.
Doesn't Alan Sherman have a Hanukkah song somewhere?
Thanks for that, and happy holiday.
I grew up thru the 60's, we had "My Son the Folk Singer", I wore it out. Too bad Alan couldn't afford to or didn't have the ability to buy rights to non-public dominion songs.
Unfortunately only recently "discovered" the Smiths and Morrissey.
Happy holidays
Thanks
DW