Keith Devens .com

Yo, thanks for taking the time to make all those posts on Chanukah songs and patterns and Ashcroft and ENERGY DRINK REVIEW SITES... AND NOT TAKING 30 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME TO READ MY EMAIL AND AT LEAST LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THOSE THREE JACKETS, 'FRIEND'!!!

Geez, tough crowd. You think the Hannuka songs are less enjoyable than Christmas songs, but from what I've read here, I feel safe in assuming you're not Jewish. What's masked by our democratized society is that ethnic Jews (i.e., not converts) may have a different aesthetic. I noticed during a close personal relationship with a number of Jewish friends and their families that they just naturally seemed to prefer certain colors and types of designs that seemed pretty unpleasant or drab to me. The rhythm of Hebrew and Aramaic (there's still some in the shabat service) wasn't something I immediately felt, either, but came to appreciate more, as I learned more. They didn't always think much of my anglo style, either. Jews may, as a racial/genetic and/or cultural matter, hear something in the Hannukah songs you and I don't. I think they do. Learning to hear or see like someone from another race/culture is pretty difficult and may always be only an approximation of what the "other" is experiencing. That's why language is so important.

And people say we need stop pushing medication on the crazies. Ha.

It's hard to be a Jew on Christmas
My friends won't let me join in any games
And I can't sing Christmas songs or decorate a Christmas tree
or leave water out for Rudolph 'cause there's something wrong with me
My people don't believe in Jesus Christ's divinity
I'm a Jew
A lonely Jew
On Christmas

Channukah is nice, but why is it
That Santa passes over my house every year?
And instead of eating ham I have to eat kosher latke
Instead of Silent Night I'm singing huhash dogavish
And what the fuck is up with lighting all these fucking candles, tell me please?
I'm a Jew
A lonely Jew
I'd be merry
But I'm Hebrew
On Christ-maas

Ay, I am Jewish, and trust me, there's no hidden art in "La la la. We spin the dreidel". Not to mention that it seems all lame Chanukah music has the exact same contrived rhythm and music.

I also doubt that most Chanukah songs are actually written by Jews, though I could be wrong.

Eh, Ideoplastos! That poem ROCKS. I don't like its crude in-your-face-ism with heavy words, but it flows. I think you spun it from somewhere, ain't it?
But, it's not hard to be a Jew on Christmas. You don't have to believe in His divinity to eat (Kosher, if you like) chewies, and hope for Santa. Just have the kick the way they do in Japan.

ideoplastos got his little song from a South Park Christmas special cartoon.

Not just any South Park Christmas special...
Episode 110 - A South Park Christmas
Introducing: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo

haha, this is true it wasn't just any christmas special. Excluding the Pilot I believe it is known as THE South Park Christmas special.

The reason y'all think that Hanukah songs suck is that you keep hearing the same 3 all the time and haven't heard any "authentic" ones on the airwaves.

Check out:
Ocho Kandelikas (8 Little Candles), a Ladino (medieval Judeo-Spanish) song recorded last year by the Hip Hop Hoodios.

The Dreidel Variations, settings of "Sevivon Sov Sov Sov" by the Zamir Chorale of Boston (on their CD "Lights", www.zamir.org, yeah I used to sing with them)

Banu Choshech Le-garesh (We came to banish darkness), an early 20th-century secular Palestinian Zionist song recorded by Israeli rappers Subliminal and Ha-Tzel (The Shadow) on their CD "The Light and the Shadow".

There's good stuff out there. I will admit, Passover gets the better songs.

Blessings of light to all!

Alter Rocker

chanukah is a beautiful festival when jews celebrate that despite an imminent massacre (by greeks) g-d saved them (miracle one) and the oil burned for 8 days (ask ur teacher) (miracle 2). so we sing songs.
the grown-up songs are more complex and touching (as mentioned above btw Subliminal vehatzel are sooo cool!!!)and believe it or not there is more than one melody to one particular song. obviously, chanukah is tailored to suit children nowadays so that they don't feel excluded when other boys and girls are writing lists to santa and doing xmas, so there have 2 b cute chanukah songs but don't even try to argue that 'away in a manger' is anyb etter than 'he's judah the maccabbee, he battled for you and me, he got off his tochus and beat antiochus, he's judah the maccabee, yippee!' (to the tune 'i'm popeye the sailor man').
i also think its terrible to mix expletives and religion - i believe in them both very strongly, but not together - its offensive, and south parks was truly bad quality entertainment.
p.s. jesus wasn't related to david, as it was joseph to descended from david, but remember, joseph wasn't the daddy! so if that had been considered earlier, everyone would be singing 'sevivon sov sov sov'!

For those who don't know me, I am Jewish. I still think common Chanukah songs suck [edit: though I did like that Popeye-themed one].

But, one correction. Both Mary and Joseph were descended from David... their genealogies are in Matthew and Luke (I forget which is which, currently).

I have been posting some <em>good</em> Hanukkah songs on my site.

HELL NO
have u ever heard that song havaa nagila its not hannukah but its hebrew its a kool song