Duty or Intrusion?

I was at the local Judaica store the other day and as always, I headed to the music section of the store. I browsed all the new titles and all the old ones. Looked at sales. Played the "guess which covers were designed by Sruly Meyer" game (it's usually the good ones). And just zoned out in that section for a while. It was like, my section of the store. My sacred place.

Anyway, another customer was browsing at the albums with the store counterperson and was asking for a good album to buy, being that they are just starting to listen to Jewish music. I think the customer wanted a good "fast" album. The counterperson admitted that they didn't know which was the best per say, but they pointed them in the direction of two albums, which, if I were a newcomer to Jewish music, would turn me off. The customer then proceeded to buy the albums and walked off with some terrible music.

Here's the question. As a Jewish music reviewer and someone who has some taste when it comes to knowing what to buy and what to avoid, should I have interfered and suggested a different, better album? Think about it, if you have a question about taxes, you go to your accountant, so if you have a question about Jewish music, wouldn't you like to here advice from an avid Jewish music fan and writer?

So here's what I came up with. Let's do this gemara (talmud) style.

If I were to intrude on the conversation, yes, I would be saving that customer money and the frustration of a bad album. However, by telling them that one album is better than the other, and then they go and buy the "better" album, aren't I taking possible earnings away from the original album the customer picked up?

What do I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Time for a new year

You may have noticed I have been gone for a while. If you didn't, you probably don't read this blog. In that case, why am I even mentioning it if you're not reading this! It has been a crazy whirlwind from the summer until now, and the whirlwind isn't over, but the thick of the storm is.

Since the summer, I've had a baby boy, my first child. Helped run a day camp. Had some of the toughest college courses to date and now, moved to Chicago from New York. And now, the job hunt begins. Must...get...out...of...the...house. Plus, I have to make a whole new set of friends here in Chicago, because I don't know anyone. Finally, I'm stuck in the middle of golus-ville with my in-laws for the time being, where there are only a minyan of frum jews. Why? Because I have to find a parnassah before I find an apartment. Oy, lets hope Yom Kippur davening worked.

Back to music. Apparently Chicago is a little hefker this year for sukkos time. The only concert this sukkos is the chabad concert featuring Mendy and Sruly Werdyger. Really? That's the only concert in a huge city of frum yidden? Skokie is having there first ever simcha beis hashoeiva with hometown orchestra, Evan Shisea. I'm not sure what else is going on, because I'm not familiar with the area.

Shalsheles 5 is very very good. I'm going to try to find the time to write a review for it. Mizumen is definitely not for me, but I'm sure there are people out there who will appreciate the music and lyrics on that cd. Mendy Werdyger I'm not going to even touch, because I know that I don't appreciate that genre of music. I'm trying to stay away from the typical chassidishe music, because the horn instruments give me headaches.

I know that Michoel Pruzansky's third album should be out sometime this year. It's called MP3 (clever). Personally, I would like to here some more Aryeh Kunstler styled music out there. A little change of pace would be nice.

Stay with me here on this blog for unbiased reviews and less advertisement posts.

Journal Entry 3: Absence

I do apologize to my readers for my lack of posts, but let's face it... there's nothing to post about right now. Sure, I can post random videos and pictures like other blogs or sites, but why should you have to see them here too?

I want new material!

I don't want another picture of some random singer or a video of a chassunah filmed with a cheapy camera! Can you hear that? I want some news... Sadly, there's not much news happening.

I'm going to post 2 more free acapella songs soon, so look forward to that. Other than that, I'll be here scratching my sefira beard and playing A.K.A. Pella Platinum...

sigh...

Journal Entry 2: Dual Roles

You ever wonder why you were put in certain situations and then all of a sudden it just hits you like a ton of bricks?

It took me a little while to catch on, but in the end I managed to learn something very disturbing that hit me in the gut.

I'll try to catch you up.

So I was a choir director for an orthdox school, from which I developed a mentor type of relationship with the boys in my choir. Therefore, I could tell when something was amiss with one of them. It was Friday night and maariv was being said in the shul but I had to be outside of the shul in the hallway because there were no seats left (no I was not late, I gave up my seat for an elderly man). When I got out there, what caught my attention hurt me. A number of boys were standing outside the shul chatting. Boys who were old enough to daven and surely knew how to, yet they stood "shmoozing" as if they were at a friends house, completely neglecting the davening. I nudged one of the boys and asked him if he would say the paragraph "Vayichulu" with me and he did without looking in. He knew it "by heart". I then asked him if he knew what the paragraph meant, he replied in the affirmative, but when I asked him if he could translate it for me, he said to me "translate? I don't do English".

Ouch. Could it be? Could it be that there's not a focus on making sure the children understand what they are saying?

And we wonder why so many children/adolescents lose their identity? Now that I think of it, I was not given an explanation of the davening as well. It was something I had to self-teach myself and I struggle with the explanation to many paragraphs to this very day!

Think about it, he's davening three times a day out of habit and he doesn't know what he's saying the whole time? No wonder he's not interested in davening and would rather chat with his friends!

It was like the whole world was crashing in on me at once, like one big understanding swept over me. I'm sure the rebbeim do their best, but if they don't or even if they do, the chinuch (education) has to continue at home or these kids just won't care. Think about how many adults you see at shul who are on their blackberry's or are fiddling with something. If adults cant concentrate on their davening (which may be because they don't understand the significance) then with children, all the more so!

Something is very very wrong with this picture...

I'm sure the gedolim are aware of such situations, there are just so many distractions out there now that it's nearly impossible to keep one interested in davening. Even if it's only a half hour...

So here's the big question. Why is this on a music blog? What am I ranting about?

I found a way that to connect myself to the pesukim (verses) of the siddur (prayer book). Through song of course! So many contemporary songs take famous pesukim and use them as songs. Sure, they don't really make sense most of the time with the tune but they are catchy! For instance, Lecha Hashem Hagedula from The Chevra doesn't fit with the meaning of the words at all. I'm pretty sure G-d doesn't need us praising his great powers in the style of a rock song. However, the song is catchy and it led me to the next step, which was to find the meaning. So now, whenever that phrase is mentioned in davening (prayers) I think of the song, which in turn leads me to thinking about the meaning of the verse, which subsequently lead to a more inspirational davening for myself.

So next time you hear a song, open up the booklet that came with the album and most of the time it says the source of the passuk. Find that passuk and read the meaning and every subsequent time you read that passuk it will give you a better understanding of your religion and ultimately bring you closer to G-d. Which in my opinion, is a good place to be. :)

Passion - Journal Entry 1

It's interesting, I went through the normal course of my day once again, which usually has some music playing in the background at random intervals. I listened to two albums today. Menucha 2 and Oorah 2010. There were some songs which really made me happy. I'm talking smile on my face, positive thinking, happy. I truly feel blessed that I have a passion for something. Although it is not the only thing I have a passion for, Jewish music really gets me going and is constantly flowing through my head.

I want to take that thought a step further.

To be passionate about something is so important. Many find passion in their work or their hobbies. If you can direct that drive, that passion towards learning - great! If you can direct that passion towards being with and taking care of your family - even better! The important thing is to find that passion and cling to it and build on it.

I was reading through the new Country Yossi magazine, which I picked up at the Judaica store yesterday. No, I did not go to the Judaica store just for a free magazine! I needed a new yarmulke :). Anyway, the magazine had an article on A.K.A Pella 4, entitled "Platinum Collection" (I think). I was reading how the author described how he loved certain songs, such as Yofyafisa and Anovim. I could tell he was excited about it and that got me excited!

Excitement and happiness is contagious; so is depression and sadness. You have to pick how you feel and how you react. Try to go into your day remembering that you're in control of your reactions and when that slap in the face hits you and you want to get down on yourself... remember that you're in control! For me, I think of a great song and that cheers me up. If that doesn't work, dig deeper! Think about your loved ones (and a good song while you are at it!) :)

Be well,

JMDerech