JEWISH MUSIC: WHY IT AINT UP TO SNUFF. {PART 1}

By DBK

I have a problem. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran, the Beatles, the Smiths, Beastie Boys, J.S. Bach, the Stones, Ray Charles, Run DMC, Ella Fitzgerald, Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt... you get the idea.

Ever since I've become more observant, I've had to grapple with the fact that Jewish music (overtly Jewish themed music) forgive me - sucks. I realize that's a subjective statement, but it's an opinion shared by many who have had exposure to secular music.

Why is this? First lets look at the lyrics.

At first glance, what seems to be missing in most religious Jewish music (in terms of the lyrical content) is the lack of expression of a full range of emotions that are a part of real, Man-to-God relationship & Man-to-Man relationships.


THE MAN-TO-GOD RELATIONSHIP
Most religious Jewish songwriters are afraid to venture beyond the basic "Praise God" theme in the Man-to-God relationship.

Granted, it's valid that a "Praise God" song can be created as a badge or showpiece representing the artist's dedication to God. And yes, there's value in the fact that they are often used by listeners as tools to deepen their relationship with God.

But, while this is true and valuable, we miss being given a song which communicates and validates a wide array of other real emotions: feelings of confusion, frustration, awe, fear, skepticism and the entire range of pleasant and uncomfortable emotions that come with any real relationship, even between Man and God.

An artist may have an obligation to help direct their listener to a productive, positive end - but how much more so will they be effective in this if they can identify with and validate their listener's experience?

King David's psalms relate his rich emotional relationship with Hashem, Who he often referred to in musical terms - the Conductor, the Choirmaster. "Why, O Lord, do You stand afar, do You hide Yourself in times of distress?"

The fact is, most of us feel that from time to time - it's a valid emotional response to tragedy and hardship. Yet, most religious songwriters won't allow themselves to express this.

THE MAN-TO-MAN RELATIONSHIP
I almost never hear religious Jewish songs where the subject of the lyric is one of a relationship between two people, certainly not a romantic one. There must be a reason for this, and it's probably in the realm of tzniut or modesty.

But I have trouble with this as a Neosemite. Love between two people, certainly a romantic love, is quite possibly the most powerful experience one can have on God's green earth. Its been said that love between two people is the closest you can come to God.

Why then, do we not hear more Jewish music with these themes? Does the song become indistinguishable from a secular song at that point? Maybe, but of course, one can write such a song in a Jewish context.