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Music Monday: Happy Hanukkah!

by Scott Lydon


Happy Music Monday! Even though Jewish songwriters are responsible for nearly every major breakthrough in modern pop music, there's only like five to seven Hanukkah songs out there! So let's make a deal, readers: if you know a Hanukkah song that Scott couldn't find, put it in the comments.

Eyal Bitton - Rock Me Maccabeus

 

I don't normally let singing YouTubers qualify for Music Mondays, but I gotta make a small exception here. This Falco parody covers the history of the Maccabees and that's pretty important to this time of year, I think. Plus if I gave the top spot to Adam Sandler again I might get throttled by a loyal reader.

More to come after the jump! Happy Hanukkah!

Barenaked Ladies- Hanukkah, O Hanukkah

 

I've attended a few Jewish ceremonies with a dear friend once or twice over the years, and I've always noticed just how CATCHY the music is. This Barenaked Ladies cover is stripped down, but you still feel the need to get up and move, don't you? Take this tune and throw in a solo and you might have a modern rock classic! But keeping it like this, you've just got a beloved holiday song.

They Might Be Giants - Feast Of Lights

 

When has a They Might Be Giants song ever been bad? A nice, stripped down song that approaches Hanukkah from an angle, kinda like how Ben Folds' Brick sneaks up on Christmas. Except this TMBG song seems to end on a slightly more optimistic note.

Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance

 

Trust the man who gave "This Land Is Your Land" to the country he loved to make sure every race, creed and religion got a song of their own. Maybe it's not so traditional, but it's certainly catchy and fun.

Adam Sandler - The Hanukkah Song

 

Adam Sandler made Hanukkah okay for frat boys to love. And he also made a song to help Jewish people understand just how irritating overplayed holiday music can be! See? Our cultures aren't that different after all!

All kidding aside, much love to our Jewish readers this Hanukkah season. Let us also remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week!