Israeli Music Monday #2

I can say, without a doubt, that my love of and knowledge regarding Israeli music is a direct result of my years Young Judaea‘s Camp Tel Yehudah. Every day after lunch we’d have a camp-wide sing-along, working our way through the camp songbook, calling out favorites (often by page number – such was our familiarity with the songbook) and singing song after song at the tops of our lungs.  The songs were taught to us by whomever the music counselor happened to be that summer, and songs ran the gamut. We learned folk songs and relatively contemporary hits, and in the early years, our singing was accompanied by an accordion. This all changed the summer that Jay arrived on the scene, for Jay played an electronic synthesizer. We were wowed by his talents and thrilled by his song choices. His synthesizer not only gave new life to the old songs we loved, but it also provided the gateway that allowed us to enter the world of Israeli rock, for as much as we appreciated the accordion, it simply didn’t do justice to Israeli music from the 80s.
In short, we were hooked! We quickly learned the words to all the new songs, singing loudly at mealtimes and pushing our chairs back so that we could jump up and dance. Of course, everyone had their own favorite song, but there were a few that were loved by everyone. “Yom Shishi” (“Friday”) by the popular Israeli band Benzene (for whom I can’t seem to find a link in English, unfortunately – the Hebrew Wikipedia page can be found here) – led by the talented Yehuda Poliker – was probably the most requested song of the summer one year, and to this day, whenever I hear it, I can’t help but sing along (as long as there’s no one in earshot) and start to dance (again, as long as no one else is around, since I really, really can’t dance…).

“Friday”

Words: Yakov Gilad
Music: Yehuda Poliker

The week begins late as usual
Don’t have the strength to get up
Don’t have the energy for anything
Sunday – depression, Monday – Annoyed
Tuesday – Endless, Wednesday – Not necessary
And on Thursday, I’m in a good mood
It’s already the end of the week
And tomorrow is Friday

Friday, you know
There’s a party in the city
Stay all night
Until the next morning
Friday, you know
Especially this day
It’s just ours

So I call, plan, prepare
Shower for an hour, look in the mirror
Get rid of warts and lift weights
Flexing muscles and stretching springs
When the head is in order, nothing matters
Friday will soon be here
The week is over

Friday, you know
There’s a party in the city
Stay all night
Until the next morning
Friday, you know
Especially this day
It’s just ours

Once Friday passes and time moves slowly
I’m dry again, another new week
Problems, issues, news, newspapers
And everything’s routine, real boredom
So now I’m here, passing the time
I have no way to escape, don’t know where

Friday, you know
There’s a party in the city
Stay all night
Until the next morning
Friday, you know

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