The Appropriative Jewish Musical Tradition Meets Santa
This time of year when I go into stores to buy some groceries, deodorant, etc I am always greeted with that insipid Drummer Boy. When this happens to you, do you wish you could use the music in a Jewish liturgical context? I never had that impulse but LizziRose clearly did and she recorded a version of hallel using Christmas Carols. It’s very well done. She has a beautiful voice. If you like x-mas songs, hallel, or both, check it out.
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For folks who are uncomfortable with the use of overtly culturally Christian music in this context, I have three responses. First, much of our “Jewish music” has been gathered non-Jewish groups around us. Secondly, I am not super up on Christmas carols but I suspect many of them were actually written by Jews if identity politics is your thing. Third, years ago, when I was studying Chassidut I came across the idea that many of the Rebbes took special pride in appropriating Polish/German/Russian tunes because then they could raise up the holy sparks contained in the song and move closer to redemption. Jingle Bells was published in 1857, perhaps it’s taken until now to have it’s sparks raised.
This time of year when I go into stores to buy some groceries, deodorant, etc I am always greeted with that insipid Drummer Boy.
Gristedes at 96th & Broadway (Upper West Side, New York) used to understand their clientele, and while everyone else was playing Christmas music, they’d be tuned to the same oldies station as the rest of the year. But they’ve since backslid to the same Jingle Bells.
The irony is that commercial interests think they’re being more inclusive by playing “secular” “holiday” music rather than the Jesus stuff, but if I had a choice, I’d rather listen to the religious music, since it has far greater artistic merit.
I don’t know that I want to get into a debate of artistic merit, but I will stand up and say that the secular holiday music I love (like Winter Wonderland, for example) has as much merit (if not more) than lots of the religious stuff.
The Shaw’s in Sharon, MA (okay, technically it’s in Canton, but it’s on the border) was playing Chanukkah music yesterday. Possibly only Chanukkah music, but I wasn’t paying such close attention.
I would answer your three-pronged defense as follows:
1. There’s a difference between a samba and a hymn to avodah zarah.
2. Just because some Jews decided to sell out doesn’t mean I (or Jews in general) have to support that decision.
3. Some of us are misnagdim.
Gersh,
1. The tune isn’t avodah zarah; the original lyrics would be avodoah zarah. In this case, i think she skipped the God/Jesus stuff so even the argument that the lyrics are AvZr doesn’t hold up.
2. They literally sold out. It was profitable to write christmas music as the existing options were bleak and someone needed to write stuff that could play at CVS.
3. Touche.
ZT writes:
In this case, i think she skipped the God/Jesus stuff so even the argument that the lyrics are AvZr doesn’t hold up.
It just means that it’s a different kind of avodah zarah.
Truth be told, I’d rather listen to the Jackson 5 rendition of Frosty the Snowman.
This year in particular it seems that there are fewer programs about Chanukah on TV. I’m just plain tired of seeing over and over again the misappropriation of charity, family, mercy, good will, etc. as one big Christian idea.
Would you rather see the misappropriation of charity, family, mercy, good will, etc. as the theme of the Chanukah story?
Jeanne Barrack–
We make up 2% of the US population… why do we feel there should be hanukkah programming on tv?
Fantastic!
Secondly, I am not super up on Christmas carols but I suspect many of them were actually written by Jews if identity politics is your thing.
Yup. See, for example, The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs.