A Chanukah Song

[bnewman]

I wrote this song a long time ago, and never got around to posting it — I think I must have gone "I'll post this around Chanukah", and then "Waa, I'm too busy" (or "Waa, I am not recording another take of this tricky, tricky song"), and then "Oops, Chanukah's over, I'll post it next Chanukah" multiple times. So now I'm posting it, and hey, it's even still Chanukah!

The Real Story of Chanukah (mp3) (possibly an overly ambitious title) covers several key points about the holiday:

• The military history comemmorated by Chanukah, and its political fallout, were more problematic that is usually acknowledged.
• Nevertheless, we (Jews) are still here in part because of those events.
• The whole thing about the miraculous conservation of oil is wholly fictional.
• Nevertheless it is an essential feature of the meaning of the holiday.
• (Not least because it helps tie Chanukah to universal themes that everyone else is also celebrating at this time of year.)
• FRIED FOOD

Mainly, I wanted another Chanukah song because Chanukah songs are supposed to be peppy and festive, and my first attempt (Dedication (mp3)), which uses the Chanukah story as more of a psycho-spiritual metaphor, came out far too contemplative and edgy. My goal for "Real Story" was to create a song that is peppy and festive while still acknowledging the problematic facets of the story.

And speaking of fried food, I am planning to host a deep-fried party, again, finally, some time between Chanukah and Christmas.