SOUNDTRACK: MATISYAHU-“Chop ‘Em Down” (2004).
Matisyahu was something of a novelty when he appeared in 2004–a Hasid who performed dancehall reggae. And yes, it does look very strange. But he is quite adept at the style. And lyrically it works really well. Reggae is (often) a very spiritual music so Matisyahu’s own spiritualism works with the beats he lays down. Instead of Jah, we hear about Egypt and Pharaoahs. And the “scatting” that he does is like the scatting found in more typical reggae but it has a more Middle Eastern feel. It’s a neat concept and well executed.
This is not a style of music that I like a lot (one song is usually enough for me), but I really like the sound he has conjured. It’s clear that he transcends the novelty and is a genuine fan of the music. It’s an interesting way to expand people’s horizons (on both sides).
Interestingly, in 2011, Matisyahu shaved off his beard and dropped his Orthodoxy. He is still spiritual, but without the trappings of his faith. Fascinating. Here’s a before and after photo.
[READ: January 18, 2012] Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword
I enjoyed the second book in this series quite a lot. So I found the first one to read too. Who can pass up a book subtitled: Yet another troll-fighting 11 year-old Orthodox Jewish girl. I had said that you didn’t need the first one to enjoy the second one. And that’s true, although I now know that the first one would have laid down a foundation for me to enjoy the second one even more.
What is neat about this story is that there isn’t a lot of exposition up front. We learn that Mirka is an 11-year-old Orthodox Jew living with her family (which contains many siblings). She is a little wild and not interested in being “good.” She’s not bad at all, just spirited–she really wants to fight a dragon. It’s not until later in the story that we learn that she has a stepmother (unless that is obvious to Orthodox readers from the way Mirka addresses her) and that there may actually be dragons in this world.
The book presents Orthodox life and its day to day realities. It doesn’t explain or justify the details, it just shows them (with occasional translations of Yiddish terms). Although it must be admitted that Hereville, where the family lives, is a bit unlike other communities. Everyone who lives there is Orthodox and non-Orthodox reading materials are not permitted. And indeed, when a pig shows up, the children don’t know what it is. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 