DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
I did not hearken to music for a very long time after the October 7 assaults and in these first weeks of struggle in Gaza and Israel. I could not abdomen it. However I bear in mind the primary time I heard reside music once more. It was at a resort, and there was a band taking part in Hebrew and Arabic classics.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
ESTRIN: Firstly, many musicians right here weren’t writing, however they had been going across the nation performing for Israelis who had fled their properties out of worry. And so they had been in shock concerning the deadliest day of their nation’s historical past and concerning the tons of of hostages taken to Gaza. Because the struggle dragged on this yr, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has introduced unprecedented loss of life and destruction for Palestinians. The Palestinian and Israeli music worlds have been shaken up dramatically.
EINAV SCHIFF: I did not hearken to music, however I did learn the phrases. Music was simply demoted at that time.
ESTRIN: I reached out to Einav Schiff. He is a music critic for a giant Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Aharonot. And in a while, we’ll hear from a well-liked Palestinian musician. And I requested them to stroll us via this yr in music within the shadow of struggle.
Hello, Einav.
SCHIFF: Hello, Daniel.
ESTRIN: So now it has been greater than a yr, is there a brand new music you suppose captures the spirit of what Israelis are feeling now?
SCHIFF: Yeah, I believe it is referred to as “Even Higher.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALWAYS LOVES ME”)
SASSON IFRAM SHAULOV: (Singing in non-English language).
SCHIFF: It is a cowl music by Israeli pop star referred to as Sasson Ifram Shaulov, and it was written by a rabbi. Mainly, the music says that no matter occurs, God loves you. And also you’re good now, and you can be even higher tomorrow and the following day and the following day.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALWAYS LOVES ME”)
SHAULOV: (Singing in non-English language).
SCHIFF: The phrases, the lyrics, for example, symbolize the way in which that Israelis wish to suppress the ache and belief in God and suppose that it doesn’t matter what occurs, he loves them and offers them higher issues daily.
ESTRIN: It will be higher. It will be higher in the future.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALWAYS LOVES ME”)
SHAULOV: (Singing in non-English language).
ESTRIN: We should always speak about “Harbu Darbu.”
SCHIFF: Effectively, “Harbu Darbu” is complete struggle. We should always unite behind the military and allow them to do the work in Gaza. And I am saying in probably the most delicate method due to the platform, the music is far, a lot, way more. Parental advisory earlier than youngsters listening to the music.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HARBU DARBU”)
NESS AND STILLA: (Rapping in non-English language).
ESTRIN: I imply, let me learn a few of the lyrics.
(Studying) Who do you suppose you might be coming and shouting free Palestine? You youngsters of Amalek.
That is a reference to the Biblical enemy of the folks of Israel.
(Studying) We introduced the entire military on you, and I swear there can be no forgiveness. Everybody who deliberate, everybody who murdered, each canine shall have its day.
That means each unhealthy individual will get their punishment.
(Studying) All of the models of the Israeli Military are prepared for a whole mess in your heads.
SCHIFF: This was the largest music of the yr. That was the sentiment in Israel. It is nonetheless the sentiment in Israel.
ESTRIN: The music is absolutely catchy. And on the similar time, this music is accused of being a battle cry to kill Palestinians.
SCHIFF: I can perceive individuals who see it in that method. Because of this I believe the music is definitely problematic. Folks in Israel has much less consideration and careness (ph) to civilian casualties of what the military calls noninvolved. The atrocities of October 7 was in a magnitude that no person in Israel has ever identified. And their pure react was, OK, so now we’ll do the identical. We do not care now for folks and youngsters. No, no, we simply need our peace again.
ESTRIN: What music speaks to your soul proper now?
SCHIFF: The music that talked to me so much was a music referred to as (non-English language spoken) by Aya Korem.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
AYA KOREM: (Singing in non-English language).
SCHIFF: Once you watch Israeli TV and while you hearken to the radio and also you hearken to a lot of the fashionable songs, everybody expects you to be sturdy, be sturdy for the nation, for the households that misplaced their sons, for the soldier, be sturdy for the hostages. And in some unspecified time in the future, Aya Korem got here and stated, be weak.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
KOREM: (Singing in non-English language).
SCHIFF: The those that settle for that it is a time of weak spot, they’re those who had been sturdy.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
KOREM: (Singing in non-English language).
ESTRIN: Einav Schiff, thanks a lot.
SCHIFF: In fact, thanks a lot.
ESTRIN: In fact, there is a parallel music world in Arabic. Let’s herald Tamer Nafar.
TAMER NAFAR: Salam, how are you?
ESTRIN: You’re a Palestinian artist, rapper, actor, screenwriter.
NAFAR: Yeah, emcee, ADHD – one thing like that, yeah.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
NAFAR: (Rapping in non-English language).
ESTRIN: Can I ask you to return to the start of the struggle? What was the Palestinian and Arabic music scene?
NAFAR: Earlier than the 7 of October, it wasn’t all love and pop in the direction of the Palestinians. They had been beneath siege. We had been having our lands taken. So unhappy songs and political songs had been at all times a part of the backbone of the Palestinian music. And to be sincere, a yr earlier than the 7 of October, I took a call the place I wish to write solely love songs. I get impressed by my spouse, by my youngsters, by folks I really like, so I wish to sing to them. And when issues occurred, I understood that when you’ve got superpowers, you are going to have to hold tremendous tasks.
ESTRIN: So all of these love songs you had written and had been planning to launch, you place these again on the shelf.
NAFAR: The way in which that humanity works is that they put ammunition and weapons beneath the pillows simply in case and struggle occurs. So for example I am doing the other. I am saving love songs simply in case peace will come.
(SOUNDBITE OF TAMER NAFAR SONG, “WHATEVER”)
NAFAR: Took me some time till I launched my first music. I’ve at all times had that keenness of utilizing completely satisfied music and nonetheless ship a message. So the music is known as (non-English language spoken), “No matter.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WHATEVER”)
NAFAR: (Rapping in non-English language).
It was simply that feeling. You wish to arrest me, no matter. I am proudly owning the financial institution some huge cash. I am going to take one other mortgage, no matter. My existence would not matter anyway.
ESTRIN: You sing – typically I quit, and typically I maintain my head up. Typically I run away; typically I stand.
You are not simply giving up.
NAFAR: Even when I am – not giving up is considering, OK, I ought to depart. I ought to have plans. However it’s simply letting go.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WHATEVER”)
NAFAR: (Rapping in non-English language).
ESTRIN: Are you able to inform me about “Legislation Marra Bas” – “If Solely As soon as” – by Massive Sam?
NAFAR: Yeah. Massive Sam is certainly one of my pricey brothers.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IF ONLY ONCE”)
BIG SAM: (Singing in non-English language).
ESTRIN: He is from a Gaza household, proper? His household’s initially from Gaza.
NAFAR: Yeah, yeah. He misplaced numerous buddies in Gaza throughout his lifetime.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IF ONLY ONCE”)
BIG SAM: (Singing in non-English language).
NAFAR: It is simply the way in which – as a result of it’s extremely particular person – he is speaking about Gaza from expertise. When he says, if solely as soon as, you may relaxation in my weary soul. If solely as soon as, the one who slept in your land would discover peace. If solely as soon as, you’d discover aid from the enemy’s brutality. It is like he is residing outdoors.
ESTRIN: It is describing that feeling of watching the struggle from afar.
NAFAR: And he is simply – simply be OK so I can sleep at night time. If solely as soon as, you could be OK.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IF ONLY ONCE”)
BIG SAM: (Singing in non-English language).
ESTRIN: Possibly the very last thing I wish to ask you, Tamer, is – what would you like listeners to remove from listening to your music?
NAFAR: I am sorry, I can’t faux a solution. I do not take a look at music or artwork as a instrument. I am answering how I really feel proper now whereas seeing folks being remoted and being bombed 24/7 and being starved to loss of life. I am doing music now solely as a result of that is what I do know what to do for the final 45 years of my life. If I may have executed one thing else, I’d drop it in a minute and assist folks. I am not making music to make anybody really feel higher, but when it helped you, then thanks. I did not imply to.
ESTRIN: Palestinian musician Tamer Nafar and Israeli music critic Einav Schiff reflecting on this yr in Palestinian and Israeli music amid struggle.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Rapping in non-English language).
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