There has been no shortage of new Hanukkah music this year, with entries from Macabbeats, a chasid dressed as Santa, and electronica producers from Germany. Getting beyond the novel, the ridiculous, and the avant garde though, most of what’s been sent my way isn’t particularly interesting or kid-friendly. And if you are at all like me, after a weekend of family and kiddie Hanukkah parties, you will poke your eyes out if have to listen to “I Have a Little Dredyl” one more freaking time.
So I was pleasantly surprised to hear a new entry into the fold today, from the one and only King of indie kids music, Dan Zanes. Dan’s cover of Israeli folk favorite Ner Li is raw and sweet, with an immediate payoff.
Dan Zanes: [audio:http://www.danzanes.com/content/media/audio/Ner_Li_.mp3]
While you’re here, I want to share a few more gems. Our friends at MyJewishLearning sponsored the creation of a new Bible Raps song, “Light is in the Air.” While I could certainly do without the auto-tuning myself, it’s a catchy song with some creative visual effects.
Finally, whether you saw it upon its initial premiere in 2005 or not, the classic Sesame Street-inspired video for How do you spell Hanukkah, by JDub’s own LeeVees, is worth a spin or 5.
LeeVees – How Do You Spell Channukkahh? from The LeeVees on Vimeo.
I clearly haven’t covered all un-annoying, non-novelty Hanukkah songs in this post. Please tell me what I’m missing in the comments section!