Top 10 Chanukah Rock/Rap/Folk Songs – Thursday’s Top Ten List

Created by Matthew J. Goldberg, tipofthegoldberg.com

As Chanukah is less than one week away, I thought it appropriate for this week’s list to celebrate the Festival of Lights with a musical concert of classics and much newer songs alike.

In many cases, this is not your Mom or Dad’s—or even yours truly’s—  Chanukah playlist, but it is an appealing, eclectic sampling of rock, pop and folk styles.

One note; These lists are designed to be fun, and most of them are highly subjective in nature. This one is more subjective than most, as I am not an expert on recorded Chanukah music. Per my own tastes, I tried to rank the songs based on originality, lyrics, “catchiness” and other fun stuff. I also love a good dance beat—sometimes—even my feet don’t know the difference between a menorah and a hora.

I’d like to offer a shout-out to Ben Bresky, who introduced me to some of these soon-to-be Chanukah staples via an article on Israelnationalnews.com

It is time to count down the Top 10. Please feel free to comment on what follows, and even offer some of your own favorites with our readers. Please click on the song title links to access the videos.

10. Mi Y’Malel (Who Can Retell) – performed here by Lights’ artist Peter Elyakim Taussig

Mi Y’Malel is a very traditional Chanukah song that I still can recall (and retell,) from my Hebrew School days. It sounds as good as ever here.

Opening lyrics:

Mi yimalel givurot Yisrael / Otan mi yimne
Hen b’khol dor yakum hagibor / Goel ha-am.

Who can retell the things that befell us? / Who can count them?
In every age, a hero or sage / Arose to our aid.

9. Gods of Fire – Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

Gods of Fire is a five-piece metal band from New York City that—per their page on myspace.com—wants to melt your face and bring the fun back to Metal.

Perhaps, their rendition of this traditional holiday classic will do just that. Hopefully not, but I hope that constituted a fair warning.

One Verse:

Hanukkah, oh hanukkah, come light the menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we’ll give you a treat
Dreidels to play with and latkes to eat

If you prefer, here is  an instrumental version by the Meshugga Beach Party

Meshugga gives it the California surf treatment.

8. Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Candles) – Hip Hop Hoodios

This was the first video of a group of Latino-Jewish hip-hop “all-stars.” Perhaps, I should warn you that this clip is a little weird, and was once voted by Vh1 as One of the Top 20 Weirdest Hip-Hop Videos of All Time.’

Key Lyrics:

Uno kandelikas, kandelikas

Dos kandelikas, kandelikas

Tres kandleikas, kandelikas

Chanukah

(No, former Secretary of State Kandelika Rice was not a part of this song.)

7. Dr. Laz – I Wanna Be a Maccabee

Dr. Laz is a Miami-based artist who combines rap, reggae and rock to both entertain and educate. His sense of humor is also evident in this verse:

It took a lot of sweat / it took a lot of toil

Just one problem / there was no kosher oil.

6. Shlock Rock – My Menorah

I almost did not want to like this “shlock-y” song. The music is not original. And no, it doesn’t parody The Knacks’ My Sharona; it is a send-up of Richie Valens’ La Bamba.

But, group founder Lenny Solomon and company’s spirit and rhythm is so infectious, what’s not to like?

Some Lyrics:

My-My-My-My Menorah (2)
Hanerot Halallu Anu Madlikin.

Al Hanisim,  v’al haniflaot / V’al hatshuot v’al hamilchamot?

Sheasita lavoteinu bayamim hahaim,  Bazman hazeh /

Al yeday kohanecha,  Hakidoshim.

5. Yerachmiel (Ziegler) – Days of Light

Expect to start singing this infectious song penned by this talented New York native who now lives in Israel.

Chorus:

Chanukah – these are days of light

Chanukkiah – is burning bright

Reach inside – and you feel the light

And so we begin to light up the world

We can light up the world

4. (I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica – Tom Lehrer

Professor Tom Lehrer is a brilliant musician, lyricist, satirist and Harvard-educated mathematician. His irreverent wit and musicianship is on full display here. More recently, Weird Al Yankovic wrote and performed a lot of great song parodies, but he could not hold a candle (Chanukah, or otherwise) to Mr. Lehrer.

Opening Lyrics:

I’m spending Hanukkah, in Santa Monica,
Wearing sandals lighting candles by the sea.
I spent Shavuos, in East St. Louis,
A charming spot but clearly not the spot for me.

3. Light One Candle – Peter, Paul and Mary

This beautiful song was written in 1993 by Peter Yarrow of this iconic folk-rock trio.

Some Lyrics:

What is the memory that’s valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What’s the commitment to those who have died?
We cry out “they’ve not died in vain,”
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail;
This is the burden, This is the promise,
This is why we will not fail!

2. Adam Sandler – Chanukah Song

This very popular actor/comic/singer performed this song on Saturday Night Live in December, 1994 and it was released the nest year. Sandler has many achievements, but he is at his goofy, outrageous and somewhat witty best here.

A favorite verse:

Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli
Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli
Paul Newman’s half Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s half too
Put them together, what a fine lookin’ Jew

1. Miracle – Matisyahu

Matisyahu (born Matthew Paul Miller) is a highly popular and very eclectic crossover artist who blends elements of rock, reggae, rap and beat-boxing, yet somehow makes it all work.

This is a great version of his hit song, Miracle. In fact, I enjoy this live, soulful, raw rendition much more than his recorded one. It was enough to steal the number one spot on my list. Sorry, Adam, and Veronica.

Song Opening:

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, head 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, so am I seeing you
Eight nights, eight lights and these rites keep me right
Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle

…

That concludes this Thursday’s Top 10 list; if you have any observations or suggestions for future lists, please comment below or email me via Matt@tipofthegoldberg.com.

Matthew J. (call him Matt) Goldberg will be presenting a Jewish-style Top Ten list every Thursday on www.jewocity.com. Please send feedback or suggestions to Matt@tipofthegoldberg.com.

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