Since it’s a Jewish love holiday, why not songs about love (and sex, and relationships) by Jewish artists?  The rule was that at least one songwriter and the vocalist have to be Jewish, (So, Joey Ramone leading the Ramones covering “Baby, I Love You,” by three Jewish songwriters, qualifies).

The result is sort of… bizarre. Jews hold (and have held) a diverse presence in popular music over the last several decades, in pretty much every genre there is.

And so, this playlist has Drake. And Carole King. And Peaches. And Vanessa Carlton. And Neil Diamond. And P!nk. And Lesley Gore. And Matisyahu. And Paula Abdul. And Haim. And Tom Lehrer. And Amy Winehouse. And more.

You can listen below, but just put it on shuffle.  There’s no way to make the order make any sense.

If any of you are bold enough to smooch a partner to this playlist, let us know how that works out for you.

And if you want to hear a bit of this in a room full of other people, we hope to see you at the party tonight!

We give you, AHAVA:

Image credit: Wikimedia

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A life-sized bronze replica of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse was unveiled in the London neighborhood of Camden on Sunday, on what would have been her 31st birthday. The statue, designed by artist Scott Eaton, features the beloved songstress in a simple, short, strapless dress, with a Star of David necklace around her neck and a (real) red rose in her iconic beehive ‘do.

Winehouse’s parents Mitch and Janis both attended the ceremony, which was observed by hundreds of fans and locals, some of whom had travelled from as far as mainland Europe and the U.S., according to The Guardian. The bustling, eclectic neighborhood of Camden—one of the best places in London to hear live music—was beloved by Winehouse, so it’s fitting that the statue is located there.

“It’s a day of incredibly mixed emotions,” Mitch said to The Guardian. “They don’t put statues up for people who are with us anymore so it reinforces the fact that physically she’s gone but spiritually she’ll never leave us. I feel sad, very, very sad. We shouldn’t be here but we are, this is the reality and we’ve just got to make the most of it. So this statue is part of making the most of it. Getting people to come here, spend some time with Amy and put a flower in her hair and remember her in a very positive way. That for me is wonderful.”

Judging by the photos, the statue is quite realistic and moving. Winehouse’s gaze reflects her determination and loneliness, and her stance—hand on hip, feet turned coyly inward—is equal parts vulnerable and assertive. The Star of David is a particularly poignant inclusion: Winehouse often spoke of her affinity with Judaism, once telling an Australian newspaper, “I love parties and rock ’n’ roll, but secretly I’m never happier than when I’m cleaning. In 10 years’ time I’m gonna be looking after my husband and our seven kids… At the end of the day, I’m a Jewish girl.”

A statue of Amy Winehouse has been unveiled in London http://t.co/GL1SacHByk

— TIME.com (@TIME) September 15, 2014

Related: There’s an Amy Winehouse Documentary in the Works

(Image: Fans pay tribute to Amy Winehouse in front of her house in Camden Square on July 27, 2011. Dutourdumonde Photography / Shutterstock.com)

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2013 is shaping up to be the year of Amy Winehouse. First news of a documentary about the late singer, now a museum exhibit devoted to Winehouse’s Jewish family life. “Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait,” will be on view at The Jewish Museum in Camden, where Winehouse grew up, from July 3 to September 15, and visitors will get to see a decidedly different side of the troubled star’s life.

“We weren’t religious, but we were traditional,” Winehouse’s brother Alex told Vogue U.K. “I hope, in this most fitting of places, that the world gets to see this other side, not just to Amy, but to our typical Jewish family.”

According to the Jewish Museum’s website:

Amy was close to her family and had a strong sense of her Jewish roots and heritage. The exhibition will show many unseen photographs of Amy’s family life – Friday night dinners, Alex’s Barmitzvah and vintage photographs of their beloved grandmother Cynthia.

Will you be dropping by the exhibit?

(Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)

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A documentary based on the life and death of the late, great rebellious soul singer Amy Winehouse is sitting in the film incubator. Asif Kapadia, the award-winning director of Senna, will reportedly weave never-before-seen archival footage into his narrative of Winehouse’s musical ascent and tragic decline.

The Wino doc has yet to be titled, because it has yet to be sold—international buyers will bid at the Cannes Film Festival in May. According to the New York Times‘ ArtsBeat blog, the Winehouse family said that although they had been approached many times by filmmakers interested in telling Amy’s story, they believed Kapadia and the film’s producer, Gay-Rees, would “look at Amy’s story sensitively, honestly and without sensationalizing her.”

Winehouse, a London-born Jew, was found dead at her home from alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27. No doubt the singer’s fans will be waiting with bated breath for a glimpse at the new footage—hopefully the film will bring with it some unreleased Winehouse tracks too.

In other Winehouse news, Beyonce recorded a version of the late artist’s hit song, “Back to Black” for the upcoming blockbuster film, The Great Gatsby, which Winehouse’s father, Mitch, was reportedly not happy about. “I don’t think she brings anything to it,” he told the British press, adding, “I wasn’t asked for my permission if they could record it.”

He has since agreed to its use in the film, but only if the studio pays up: “They have got to pay for the privilege, which is what they are doing. I can’t tell you how much it is but it’s a lot of money.”

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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Surprisingly, the best part of last night’s American Idol episode wasn’t when Nicki Minaj called fellow judge Mariah Carey a bitch. It was when Israeli singer Shira Gavrielov, daughter of well-known Israeli musician Miki Gavrielov, auditioned, and Mariah Carey threw out a pretty hilarious—yet impressive—slew of Hebrew words.

“I hear you are from Israel,” Carey said to Gavrielov, “Shalom.” Then she went with a “Shanah tova,” which was confusing but still counts.

Gavrielov sang Amy Winehouse’s cover of “Valerie,” and the judges loved it, voting unanimously to send her on to the next round. Nicki Minaj said Gavrielov had the look, voice, and personality make it all the way on the show, adding, “I just want to say that I love you.” Keith Urban, who is apparently an American Idol judge now, said he loved her vibratto.

“Sababa,” Carey chimed as a beaming Gavrielov left the room. Here’s to hoping for a few ‘mazel tovs’ from Carey as the season progresses.

See the diva’s Hebrew skills for yourself, and follow Gavrielov on Twitter here:

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• Another inquiry into Amy Winehouse’s death confirms the singer died of alcohol poisoning [Access Hollywood]

• There are more Woody Allen movies on the way. Next up: Blue Jasmine [Indie Wire]

• Bette Midler is heading to Broadway this spring after 30 years, playing Hollywood agent Sue Mengers in I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers. [Arts Beat]

• In a made-for-reality-TV (like, her own reality show) turn of events, Bethenny Frankel’s divorce is getting real ugly. [HuffPo]

• Noir swoon: Joseph Gordon-Levitt has signed on for the Sin City sequal. [Deadline]

• Please tell us this is a fake trailer for a fake movie, and not something Adrian Brody is actually in. [Gawker]

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• A London play about Amy Winehouse was canceled after Winehouse’s father refused permission to use the late singer’s music in the show. [L.A. Times]   

• A fleeting, non-revelatory look at the upcoming season of Girls, which hits HBO on January 13, 2013. Get your think pieces ready, people. [Entertainment Weekly]

• It’s official: Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel are playing grown-up Cory and Topanga on the somewhat lazily-named Boy Meets World television sequel, Girl Meets World. [TV Line] 

• Jesse David Fox brings our attention to the important fact that Judd Apatow got duped into a pyramid scheme by fake LeVar Burton. [Vulture]

• Maude Apatow, spawn of Judd, is probably the next Lena Dunham. [Teen Vogue]

• Adam Lambert, diva: [Hollywood Reporter]

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• Two of Amy Winehouse’s dresses—including her wedding dress, which was going to be auctioned for charity—were stolen from her home in London, alleges the Amy Winehouse Foundation. [Access Hollywood]

• Mensches are in short supply in the family depicted off-Broadway in Bad Jews. [NY Observer]

• We’re not sure how we should feel about this, but the ark replica from the upcoming Russell Crowe film Noah was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. [NY Daily News]

• Meet the Jews of Cuyahoga County, OH. [NYT]

• Elijah Wood is starring in a horror film … called Cooties. [Hollywood Reporter]

• What happened when Israeli photographer Noam Galai discovered one of his photographs was being used, without credit or reimbursement, all over the place.

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• The first Hebrew translation of 50 Shades of Grey sold out in one day.

• The upcoming High Holidays are the perfect time to teach your kids how to apologize, Marjorie Ingall says.

• Look, it’s Clueless’ Jeremy Sisto playing Jack in a Titanic screen test. Wait, what?

• Performing in London, Lady Gaga dedicated her new morbid tune, “Princess Die,” to Princess Diana and Amy Winehouse.

• Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that Facebook stock has been a disappointment so far. We’re not mad, Zuck, just disappointed.

• Watch Claire Danes talk about Season 2 of Homeland, and filming for two weeks in Tel Aviv. “I really love Israel,” she says.

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On the first anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s death, her family lit a yahrzeit candle as fans, fellow artists, and media outlets alike paid tribute to the powerhouse singer and her soulful legacy.

In a moving, picture filled article on Winehouse, who died of accidental alcohol poisoning at age 27, The Guardian‘s Tim Jonze writes:

[Bill] Ashton thinks the biggest contributing factor to her talent was the fact that her father, Mitch, was a Jewish taxi driver. “They’ve got the best musical taste of anyone,” he says. “They’re extremely discerning, and their taste runs through very good singers. When NYJO [National Youth Jazz Orchestra] did concerts at the Barbican, accompanying people like Buddy Greco, Rosemary Clooney or Peggy Lee, the entire audience was Jewish taxi drivers.”

In April 2011, three months before Winehouse died, Dvora Meyers wrote presciently about the troubled singer in Tablet Magazine, articulating the strong influence Winehouse’s Jewish upbringing had on her music. “Though she cloaked herself in the style and sound of girl groups from 40 years ago, Winehouse brought a thoroughly modern—and Jewish—sensibility to her lyrics and performances,” Meyers wrote. “She spoke not of love and romance, as her predecessors did, but of addictions, sex, and every Jewish girl’s favorite emotion: guilt.”

Meyers, who once dressed up as Winehouse for Purim, even compared the regretful, if inevitable, lyrics of “You Know I’m No Good” to the intense, methodical chest-pounding of Yom Kippur synagogue-goers:

And for the sin of cheating on my boyfriend.

And for the sin of thinking of you when I’m trying to please a new guy.

And for the sin of cheating. Yet again.

Image credit: Harper Collins

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