I often share music files with my close friends, so it was about time I got acquainted with psychedelic trance. And I must say, I’m glad I did, ’cause I never thought I’d like this sort of music but what do you know. A couple of weeks ago, I was in such a musical mood that I actually listened to all the new music my friends sent me and I never got around to try, and so, I stumbled upon what I thought another high-way music (aka trance), the track was named “hush mail” and later on I found out that it was made by Infected Mushroom, a famous Israeli band. I heard about them before, but the new bit of info was where they from, I didn’t know they were Israeli.
After I decided that I like hush mail and infected mushroom, I googled the band’s name to get the names of their other tracks. It was then when I knew they were Israeli.
Now some of you are probably thinking this is yet another emotional Palestinian post, and some are banging their heads on the walls because it’s such an ignorant thing to do, allowing politics to interfere with such a harmless, universal joy which if anything, denounces discrimination through speaking one language - and that is music. I’m not writing this to debate something many people believe to be non debatable, nor to agree with anyone. I’m not writing this to find an answer to some theoretical question. I’m writing this because I think it’s worth writing about. It made me remember things like Israel, a state, an occupation, people like us who make mind-blowing music, people who think we’re terrorists, people who support a criminal-government, people who had no right and no land who took the land of other people and violated their rights, people who were born in what is called Israel, and people who have no electricity, no food, no jobs, no houses, no families, no hopes and no dreams who are murdered and tortured and who were expelled and sieged over the years and still are.
This isn’t about an Israeli band, it isn’t about holding an Israeli passport. It’s about acknowledging Israel as a legitimate country, and possibly acknowledging and supporting people who are pro-Israeli government.
But it’s just music right? I mean the moment I knew they’re Israeli I mentally debated the morality of my small situation, and it was really interesting that I’d even care about where they from, so if it’s just music and politics should be subdued when we’re talking art, why did I automatically think Gaza on flames vs. girl cheering for some “Israeli” band and thought it sounded so wrong? where do we draw the line if ever?
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Infected Mushroom is cool, the crazy mushrooms as in drugs are cool too.
That is an excellent read. interesting thoughts.
well… be grateful that a music group gave u a little joy through their music - no strings attached.
i think it’s so hard to draw lines, cos we’re all fundamentally human. therefore it’s good that the lines are so difficult to draw, so hard to divide.
that goes for cultural lines and geographical lines…
i imagined myself walking in gaza with my headphones on then singing out loud along with an israeli song..
the consequences… will not be good i assure u
nice post *pinches cheeks* mazkaaaki
Moey, thanks for leaving funny comments on my blog
Mazz and Dinos, thanks
John, I didn’t get the gratefulness part but I’m glad we can’t really draw lines and make concrete boundaries when it comes to humanitarian issues such as music and culture.
well, music is a public good. your enjoyment is free, pretty much costless (esp as u downloaded the song ;)). and it’s also costless in the way that u can enjoy it and it doesn’t cost your countrymen’s cause anything…
ok, enough of the blabbering
Here’s my recent beef with “Israeli Music” This Ad comes on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TKlBei8Mr4
The first time i saw it i went and googled the catchy song (my usual insanity)
So it came on again and ..
Him: This is a good song
Maha (Snapping): She’s Israeli!!
Him: So is Amy Winehouse
Maha: No she is just a Jew, English Jew
Yes Amy Winehouse is a drunken druggie but “Rehab” is an awesome song. A Jewish singer is not the same as an Israeli IDF, Yael Naim was in the Israeli airforce orchestra…Israeli Airforce has bombed entertaining music to many Palestinian ears…universal music for the public good
Maha, I totally agree with you! and Amy’s two hits rehab and you know I’m not good are super cool!
check out “love is a losing game” - it rules!
John, I will
Hi Shaden, this isn’t about music, but wanted to let you know I tagged you to post about “Six Things to Do Before You Turn 18″. Or something like that
Waynik, ya helweh?