ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH......

NOT MRS. KATZ

Pretty much every year, we try to honor the celebration of Hanukkah with eight nights of Hanukkah music and videos.  Trying, as hard as we can, to point towards new releases (or at least newly discovered ones).  Somewhere along the way, Hanukkah seems to have become a season of parody videos.  Some are very good and I'm sure we'll share some, but my first choice is always Hanukkah music that you can either purchase or download free and preferably music that is not intended as a goof.  There are plenty of folks out there who construct their own seasonal/Christmas mixes for the season.  But there's no reason that people so inclined shouldn't be able to put together equally entertaining and fascinating Hanukkah mixes.  At one time, doing so wasn't easy, as Christmas music is released in floods and Hanukkah music....isn't.  But there's plenty available now to construct one or several.  Kwanzaa remains difficult (but possible). I honestly haven't investigated music for Ramadan, but I'm open to it.  Music, to me, is just music.  And I like music.

​Anyway, the sun is down and it is the first night of Hanukkah 2015.  Light your candles and start up your turntables (but do not light your candles on the turntables, lest you light your turntables with the candles).  Onward.

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Of the new Hanukkah music I've scouted this year, "Hanukkah In The Village" by Rachael Sage is the best of the season.  The song is a multi-faceted love song, a sweet tune almost shyly delivered, laying silliness side by side with major life events with the point being (I think) that all of those moments are equally significant to a life.  There's some subtle humor, but she also reveals insecurities.  In short, it's a song about being human and making the most of it all.  The City That Never Sleeps is both the landscape and conduit for the love story (and, in some ways, the object of affection).  And there's definitely a visual of the city decked out in Christmas lights that, after a bit, comes to resemble a menorah, that I really feel like I get.  When you look out on New York from an apartment or condo several floors up, especially when its decked out in holiday finery, what you see is a city of possibilities and dreams that can take your breath away and transport you anywhere you want to go.  But, if all you take away from the song is a visual of Hello Kitty pajamas, that's OK, too.  Musically, "Hanukkah In The Village" is the kind of song that you won't tire of listening to (and that's saying something for any holiday tune).

Rachael Sage is a singer/songwriter who is largely thought of as a Folk Pop or Alt Folk Pop artist; I find her music to be a cross between Tori Amos, Carly Simon and Broadway.  It is both cinematic and human.  Whether I'm right or wrong, hopefully "Hanukkah In The Village" will inspire you to check out more music from Rachael Sage.  It's good stuff.

"Hanukkah In The Village" is available through iTunes and Amazon.

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Now I know somebody jumped out of their chair when I said Rachael Sage had the best new Hanukkah song of the season.  "Sharon Jones!  How could you forget about Sharon Jones?  SHE has the best new Hanukkah song of the year!"  Well, maybe I should have said the best Hanukkah song you don't already know about.  Because, yes, Sharon Jones delivered unto us a wonderful Hanukkah song of Soul, which has been and will continue to be a new staple of the season.  Look for the album and the 45 on our LIST.  At the risk of "its all downhill from here", we give you a double shot of Hanukkah music on Night One.  Here is Sharon Jones, with the Dap Kings, and "8 Days of Hanukkah".