The Yiddish language, that amalgam of ancient Hebrew spicing a Teutonic soup, is not the first choice I’d have for a smouldering, sexy, romantic tongue to pleasure a love interest with. My opinion has, admittedly, been colored by watching cartoons where some Yiddish songs have been featured, as well as checking out the occasional vaudeville act on YouTube.

Still, Yiddish musicians had a tremendous effect on music during the early part of the Twentieth Century, and it is a bit of a shame that the language has pretty much died out since Hebrew was reintroduced into Israel and accepted, more or less, by the diaspora.

Perhaps the most well-known song with a Yiddish pedigree is Jay Jacob’s and Sholom Secunda’s hit, ‘Bei Mir Bistu Shein (Yiddish: בייַ מיר ביסטו שיין, “To Me You’re Beautiful”)’. The most well-known version of the song, recorded by The Andrews Sisters, features lyrics reworked by legendary songwriter Sammy Cahn. It tooks me years to figure out the romantic angle of the song because I had always associated it with the ridiculous Warner Brothers cartoon character Egghead, replete with the “woopie-doopie” after every line.

Here are a few versions of the song:

The Budapest Klezmer Band (in Yiddish):

Zarah Leander (smouldering in German):

Max Raabe und Palast Orchster (going modern):

Max Raabe – Bei mir bist du schoen
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The Andrews Sisters (the most popular version in the States):

While reading National Review Online, I came across the comment of an Iowa-based reader who left their opinion of the first time they heard Lennon’s legendary anthem:

“When ‘Imagine’ was new, and I was young, I, of course, took it literally as the way the world should work. Since at least partially growing up (being 57 now), I have come to understand John Lennon as one sarcastic SOB who delighted in demonstrations of his superiority over lesser beings. I am thinking that ‘Imagine’ was meant as a send-up of liberal utopia, an insult hidden in the open.”

Another reader who grew up in Soviet Czechoslovakia added this comment:

“That John Lennon song always bothered me. It reminded me of the spoiled children of the ‘West.’ They had everything they could possibly want, and they were free. Yet they complained. And, worse, they promoted ideas and regimes that were senselessly destroying other people’s lives.”

It makes one wonder if John Lennon was taking the piss against the liberals of his day. It’s a theory, of course, but one worth pondering.

We love tango! It’s high time tango was honored as an important part of the heritage of both Argentina and Uruguay, and UNESCO gave the honor today in Abu Dhabi.

A Norwegian singer and violinist of Belarusian descent pulled off the victory at this year’s Eurovision Contest.  It’s usually laced with dreadful competitors singing twee songs, but this year’s winner, Alexander Rybak, actually has a bit of talent.  Next year’s Eurovision will be held in Oslo thanks to the Rybak win.

Here’s a clip from the BBC:

Oh, the quote of the article!:

“We only watch western music. Arabic music is the same, it just copies it. They are wannabee Britney Spears and Pussycat Dolls. I would rather just watch the real Britney Spears,” said Nouran, 16.

If you have teenage Arab boys hot for seeing Britney Spears, your campaign is over.

HT: BBC.