Way back in the day, I was introduced to the music of Safam. It was their beautiful melodies that hooked me.
Recently I discovered that their music has finally been uploaded to YouTube. Not only are the melodies heart-warming, but the lyrics are very uplifting. While the band members may not be fully observant, their music conveys a strong cultural tie to the land of Israel and other Jewish themes.
World of our Fathers depicts the story of an immigrant family chasing the American Dream. Leaving Mother Russia tells the story of the Russian Refusenik Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky. Natan was incarcerated from 1977-1986 in a Siberian Labor Camp before an international group secured his freedom. Natan went on to serve in the Israeli Knesset in several capacities.
When Natan heard the song that was dedicated to his struggle and written in his honor, in the days before Glasnost and Perestroika, his reaction was somewhat to the effect of “Mother Russia? Why Mother Russia? No mother would treat her children this way.”
Thanks for the memories; these songs were a part of my childhood. I was actually quite disappointed when I learned that they were non-Orthodox.
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of Safam. Yes, there is music outside of Avraham Fried and Mordechai Ben David.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in, Heilege Kurkevan. Please visit and comment regularly. I suppose I owe Bray a Shadchan fee for sending you my way.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the non-Orthodox bent is why they are not so well known in Yeshiva Circles. Whereas some groups have great lyrics or great music, Safam cornered the market on both.
I've actually been following you for quite a while, just never got around to commenting. I guess that means I agree with most of what you say.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up on Safam. Good Stuff!
ReplyDelete