As some of you may remember, several years ago I wrote a weekly blog post for a series I called “80s Music Video Sunday“. Having grown up in the 80s, the music of that decade was the background music of my teen years – the theme music for my teenage angst, if you will. Each week I chose a different song and wrote about the memories behind the choice, waxing nostalgically about everything from my first slow dance to the music I listened to on a loop when I was confined to a hospital bed in Jerusalem after shattering my ankle, to my student activist days in university.
I managed to keep that series going for about a year before I felt that I’d run out of things to write about, and I regretted it. I enjoyed being able to share the stories and experiences of my past alongside the songs that had played such a dominant role in my life, but it was becoming harder to come up with new ideas and the songs were becoming increasingly more obscure. With a heavy heart and a touch of relief, I put an end to the series, while at the same time wondering how I’d be able to resurrect it – or something like it – later on.
And I think I’ve figured it out. Israeli Music Monday. As much as my infrequent political posts sometimes showcase the worst that Israel has to offer, I believe that I can show you the best that Israel has to offer through its music. I love Israeli music. I love the songs from the pre-state era and the songs of today; the songs of hope, of love, of loss, of peace… And just as the music of the 80s played such an integral role in my angst-ridden youth, the music of Israel is also woven into so many memories from different times of my life, whether it be my years in Young Judaea, my time at Boston University or the 20 years that I’ve been living in Israel. So what better way to carry on the music posts than this?
Watch this space…
I, for one, am looking forward to this with glee. (Small g.) Yay!
Looking forward!