Last night I was on Ben Yehuda to check out the Independence Day celebrations as I was told a big concert would take place there.
Well, Ben Yehuda was absolutely packed and there was barely any room to move, but I managed to get a good view of the stage. Not more than half of the public was religious, so I was thinking who would be singing to such diverse crowd - Avraham Fried, MBD, Shwekey or Lipa would surely be booed. I was thinking Eyal Golan or Gad Elbaz. Wrong, wrong. My man Yishai Lapidot stormed in the stage and the crowd was instantly carried by his energy and charisma – you can see what I’m talking about in the video above. Everyone went wild and the result was the best concert I’ve ever been to.
Separate entrance? Separate seating? Nochum Segal as the MC? No, no and no. What the Gedolim have to say about this concert, which by the way took place on Yom Hatzmaut? I have no clue. All I know is that this concert was Jewish Music at its best, with songs that inspired people from the most diverse backgrounds to come together and sing songs like Ma’aminim, Moshiach and Am Israel Chai. Who else is able to do that? No one. Yishai Lapidot is the only artist in JM today who’s able to cross the partisan lines and sing for everyone. He is the John Mccain of Jewish Music (not an official endorsement).
A few Yishai Lapidot facts:
1) Reb Shlomo once said that Lapidot is a very talented composer and arranger.
2) He is a star – “There is no 'ctrl' button on Lapidot's computer. He is always in control.”
3) He doesn’t care about what you think – Yishai does what he thinks is right. Period.
Exagerations aside, Lapidot is a great composer, a star and he really doesn't care about what people think. And specifically #3 is what I admire most in him. I just hate the idea of all singers having to be same, being afraid to Chas Veshalom stick out from what’s "accepted".
Lapidot is an exception to the rule and that’s why he has the guts to sing on Israel’s 60th birthday, even if he is the only Chassidic JM singer to do that. Well done.
Click here to read a guest post on Lapidot’s latest album.
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6 comments:
YK, this post clearly tells us a lot about your true identity, because no student of the mainstream right-wing yeshivas in America would be caught dead eating a blue and white cookie on Yom Hatzmaut, and for sure they wouldn't be at a concert!
Always in control? Sounds a lot like Chuck Norris to me....
But seriously, Yishai is pretty cool. The concert looked like fun, also.
McCain '08!
Seemed like a great show im jealous! YL is an elite performer. Did you pick up his last ablum? If so what do you think of it?
YK, just want to compliment you on a well-written piece. I espacilly liked your joke about Nachum Segal...
Keep it up!
Joel,
Unfortunately didn't get it yet, I'm saving my bucks for albums of greater appeal so I can write reviews. But I will get it sometime, I have all his albums.
Joeflix,
Tks so much
YK
Mordka,
If someone leaks my identity to the papers I will know that it was you then.
I'm happy you finally gave up on Rudy - it's the first time I hear you campaigning for Mccain!
YK
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