Israel Party in Washington Square Park

Come one, come all to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day!!
Where: Washington Square Park
When: Thursday 08 May 4-7 PM
FREE to all!!

Musical Gala at Radio City Celebrates Israel@60

New York City will celebrate the State of Israel’s 60th Anniversary on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day on Wednesday, May 7th at Radio City Music Hall at 8 PM. The musical gala will feature Yael Naim, (”New Soul,” featured in Apple’s MacBook commercial), reggae superstar Matisyahu, Paul Shaffer of the David Letterman Show, MacArthur “genius” composer/performer John Zorn and four of Israel’s top artists - Idan Raichel, Rami Kleinstein, David Broza and Habanot Nechama.

The evening will also feature remarks from Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman and Consul General Asaf Sharif.

The historic cultural gathering will be the largest such celebration of its kind, and is supported by over 100 Jewish organizations including the UJA Federation of New York, Consulate General of Israel, Jewish Community Relations Council, Dor Chadash and other key groups representing a majority of the organized American Jewish community.

“An unprecedented number of Jewish organizations have come together for this celebration,” says David Borowich, founder and honorary chairman of Dor Chadash, which is hosting the concert.

“The show will be quite an undertaking,” says producer Michael Dorf of Downtown Arts Development. “Attendees will be participating in a historical moment.”

All net proceeds of the event will benefit three leading Israeli organizations helping children in need—Ahava orphanage in the North, Gvanim in Sderot, and Beit Issie Shapiro in the center of Israel. Information on general and VIP tickets along with associated receptions and parties is available at www.60at60.org

Hatikva with a French Twist

Check out this take on Israel’s national anthem.
(For a translation of the French rap, see the “About This Video” section on the YouTube page.)

Yael Naim Gets Some Good Ink

We’ve been on a little Yael Naim kick lately, but we’re cool with that.

From the Daily News:

Apple ad creates recognition for Yael Naim

Yael Naim hopes her Hebrew lyrics will cross musical borders.

Score another sonic bull’s-eye for Apple.

First, the company shot the career of the singer Feist into the stratosphere by featuring her song “1 2 3 4″ in an ad campaign.

Now another artist has found an instant audience by getting a smidgen of her music into a Mac spot.

“New Soul,” the debut single from Yael Naim, has shot to the top of the download charts and sold hundreds of thousands of copies in the last few weeks, all based on a 30-second snippet of her song in the Apple campaign for its groovy new superthin notebook.

Admittedly, it’s an arresting snippet.

“New Soul” sounds very much like its title: something freshly born. Given Naim’s sprightly voice, and the airy instrumentation around it, the recording sounds carbonated. It’s a fizzy splash of a thing.

Continue reading Yael Naim Gets Some Good Ink…

Israeli Singer Storms American Charts

When this blog last covered Yael Naim, we weren’t sure how many of you had heard of her (don’t worry, we hadn’t either).
Since then, she’s taken Israeli music to a new level of popularity in the United States. As this JPost article points out, her song made it to #1(!) on iTunes and cracked the Billboard top 10.
All that success has earned her a publicity tour to the US. We’ll keep you posted.
(By the way, here’s the YouTube video of her hit song “New Soul.”)

Don’t Mess with the Zohan Theme Song

Click the pic and select the live performance of Hadag Nachash to see the Isrealli hip-hop band perform the theme song for the new Adam Sandler movie about the kick-butt commando turned hair stylist on Chicago TV.

Apple Uses Israeli Song

The song featured in this popular Apple commercial is by a French-Israeli singer named Yael Naim. Enjoy!

PBS Masada Sunrise Concert

PBS will be broadcasting an awesome sunrise concert at Masada this December. Check your local listings…

Teapacks in NYC

Good news all, our fav not so controversial but caused lots of controversy rock/punk band from embattled Israeli city Sderot is in NYC to rock the house. Details below:

Kobi Oz/Teapacks & Izabo

Oct 21, 8pm @ Highline Ballroom

Details Part of the 2007 Oyhoo Festival
Two great Israeli bands on one bill: Kobi Oz & Teapacks with their song “Push the Button” was Israel’s entry for the Eurovision contest. It raised a Brou-Ha-Ha by the European organizers, as it referred indirectly to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The YouTube video featuring the hit song instantly was viewed by over a million people.

Izabo’s music has been described as a “Brilliant, action packed combination of Psychedelic Rock, Disco, Punk and Arabic spices”, or, if we are to name-drop, like an unlikely cross between Led Zeppelin, the Talking Heads, and Om Koltom.

$30.00. Highline Ballroom - 431 W 16th St, (btwn 9th and 10th Ave.). For more information please call:212-414-5994
visit:www.oyhoo.com
www.highlineballroom.com

A Guitarists Tour of Israel

Danny is an Israeli guitarist who works with Kelly Clarkson.

He wanted to show his L.A friends some sights from Israel beyond CNN.

Check out the video.