{"id":322,"date":"2015-11-06T07:06:27","date_gmt":"2015-11-06T07:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oortcloudreviews.wordpress.com\/?p=208"},"modified":"2015-11-06T07:06:27","modified_gmt":"2015-11-06T07:06:27","slug":"uzziah-the-general","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/llimeworks.com\/oortcloudreviews.com\/uzziah-the-general\/","title":{"rendered":"Uzziah &amp; the General"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"width: 300px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-322-1\" width=\"300\" height=\"183\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vertlime.org\/video\/Uzi.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vertlime.org\/video\/Uzi.mp4\">http:\/\/www.vertlime.org\/video\/Uzi.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">I am not sure exactly how I can express what I feel every time I hear this kid sing this song. There are hard things that come to mind, so before I say them, let me start by saying that I have only respect and the best of wishes for someone who has this kind of beauty inside.<\/p>\n<p><em>First the song itself.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">There are some doubts about the authors, but the best research indicates that it was written in 1945 by Ephraim Weinstein <!--more-->in an attempt to impress his fianc\u00e9. The melody was written by his brother in law Haim Corbin. Apparently it worked because she married him later that year.<\/p>\n<p>The lyrics: (My translation \u2013 I didn\u2019t like the one on the web)<\/p>\n<p>The Shade of a Date Palm<br \/>\nWords: Ephraim Weinstein<br \/>\nMusic: Haim Corbin<\/p>\n<p>Shade of a date palm and the moonlight<br \/>\nA fiddle\u2019s tune that bewitches the heart<br \/>\nThe trembling sound splits the air<br \/>\nPain spills out of your strings<br \/>\nPlease play my fiddle, play your songs<br \/>\nThere\u2019s quiet darkness and a hush all around<br \/>\nYour magic tunes will soon ease my suffering<\/p>\n<p>Play, play I beg you<br \/>\nThe dream turns pleasant at the sound of your tune<br \/>\nPlay, play I beg you<br \/>\nAnd let the moon hear my voice there in the sky<br \/>\nWhy, oh why did you bewitch me with your lips?<br \/>\nYou took my heart and left me<br \/>\nWith the love, the suffering, and the pain<\/p>\n<p>The fiddle\u2019s silent &#8211; moon went missing<br \/>\nBut echo of the song is still heard<br \/>\nAnd why, oh why I have no inkling<br \/>\nWhy is the world so cruel and low?<br \/>\nOut of the ashen darkness rises<br \/>\nBeloved shape with a familiar face<br \/>\nA present sheaf of old pleasant memories<\/p>\n<p>Play, play I beg you<br \/>\nThe dream turns pleasant at the sound of your tune<br \/>\nPlay, play I beg you<br \/>\nAnd let the moon hear my voice in the sky<br \/>\nWhy, oh why did you bewitch me with your lips?<br \/>\nYou took my heart and left me<br \/>\nWith the love, the suffering, and the pain<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">Sounds simple so far, but it is not. For one thing, Hebrew verbs and possessive pronouns are gender specific and based on that, the song is sung by a male to a male lover. The original lyrics seemed to have been written to a female but the gender has somehow gotten twisted somewhere, because the three versions that I have listened to are all making the same error. The other interesting thing is that from the name of the lyricist we know that he was an Ashkenazy Jew. For someone who is not familiar with Israeli culture, that may mean absolutely nothing. This is however one of the most classic Sephardic songs ever, so it surprised me. I have previously heard 8-9 other versions before this one and I always thought it was a very good song. Definitely an excellent example of a song that manages to meld the Spanish and Arabic musical traditions to perfection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">But that was as of two days ago, before I heard Uzziah Tzdok sing it. I have since listened to it at least 20 more times and I can\u2019t get over it. The first time I heard it, I was absolutely stunned and I still have a hard time not breaking into tears every time I listen to it again. My four year old granddaughter was here today and she heard the song while I was listening to it and made me play 5 more times. In addition to it being a really great interpretation this kid\u2019s version is changing my outlook on some things that used to be a part of my basic makeup.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">I am an agnostic and I have always had a very low opinion of people who follow any kind of religion. I hate the ones who are at the top leading all the other fools by the nose, and I pity the ones who are the bottom and cannot free themselves from the shackles that were tightened around them by well-meaning but uneducated parents and teachers. Uzziah is a 13 year old boy with a most amazing voice. He also happens to be a religious Jew with a yarmulke, sidewinders and that fringed garment that sticks out of your pants. Because he is allowed to sing, I assume that is a Chasidic Jew, but I can\u2019t be sure. Anyway, these are small details. The first thought that went through my mind after hearing him sing, was that it is amazing that the most beautiful flowers can grow out the smelliest garbage. Following that thought I was forced to admit to myself that thinking these kind of things, contradicts some part of my inner nature. As an agnostic I need to be a lot more understanding as well as open to all possibilities. The fact that I am repulsed by all forms of religion does not negate the possibility that in some kind of world order these things may have an acceptable role. It does not necessarily have to be the role that they believe they are destined to play. Made me think of some novels that I have read in the early 70\u2019s. They were all written by Gordon R, Dickson and were a part of something that he called The Childe Cycle. The very first one was called Dorsai or sometimes The Genetic General. There were some others that I am going to skip over because I forgot their names and because I am trying to keep this thing shorter than 2,000 words (and even that might be way too much.) The point that I am borrowing from Mr. Dickson is based on his postulated future humanity that was fractured by necessity and shaped by different environments into groups with similar traits. They were all products of the planets they had settles on and Dorsai was the one on which the most militaristic humans developed. They were mercenaries who never lost a war and of course as I was so much younger then, those were the kind of stories that appealed to me. One of the other splinters was the Fanatics. They were, of course, religious Fanatics and they almost won a war against the Dorsai soldiers because they were driven by faith and not by logic. Anyway, I loved the concept of The Childe Cycle even though I was not too crazy about some of the stories, especially if they involved the Fanatics. As a matter of fact, to this day I flip out when Bible thumpers set shop on my street corner or when they start preaching in a subway car I\u2019m in. I do not have any problems with the ones who stay in their church or synagogue or whatever. Sometimes, I even go and visit them in their own habitat, but then again I also go to the zoo once in a while.<br \/>\nIntermediate line: I highly recommend The Childe Cycle and will dig out my old copies \u2013 I need to read them again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">So now, back to the song. Here are some other things that went through my mind while listening to it.<br \/>\n1. At his age I was probably that good, but I didn\u2019t get anywhere with it. I also did not find \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a song that was this powerful or any kind of support frame.<br \/>\n2. Very strangely, looking at this frail 13 year old, I could totally see how David could slay \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Goliath.<br \/>\n3. Religions are composed of people and a lot of them are rotten, but if something like this \u00a0 \u00a0 can come out of them, perhaps they are not all bad.<br \/>\n4. When I was studying the Song of Solomon in eighth grade, I was too critical of the \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0teacher who tried to explain that some of the verses were attempting to explain the love \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0of \u00a0God through the love of a man for a woman. Hearing this song I actually understood \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0that in a flash.<br \/>\n5. Seeing the video of the performance and the reactions of the faces and bodies of the \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0listeners is something that I need to elaborate on. There is no way these people will \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0admit to what happened, but it is all there, pay attention.<\/p>\n<p>This is the part that might piss everybody off. I am just going to tell it as I see it.<br \/>\nTo start with, let us keep in mind that this is a 13 year old boy and that according to his tradition, he is not a boy anymore, but a man. He is singing a song of love, passion, suffering and pain and though everyone might claim that they are reacting to the purity of his voice, they are totally reacting to the raw intensity of his passion. Please replay the video while reading this part and tell me that I am wrong. I will point out some highlights.<\/p>\n<p>00:17 &#8211; Bearded man shaking his head \u2013 surprised by the voice\u2019s purity.<br \/>\n00:21 &#8211; Female judge with hoop earrings \u2013 biting lip at the great voice!<br \/>\n00:24 &#8211; Female judge with purple top \u2013 letting out a long sigh.<br \/>\n00:31 &#8211; Boy\u2019s dad mumbles &#8211; He thinks: you ain\u2019t heard nothing yet.<br \/>\n00:36 &#8211; The only guy I recognized \u2013 Yoram Ga\u2019on one of Israel\u2019s greatest singers, probably \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 around 75 years old \u2013 pleased with the voice gives a nice smile.<br \/>\n00:50 &#8211; Uzziah releases the king that hides in his heart \u2013 the crowd reacts at once.<br \/>\n00:55 &#8211; Purple top \u2013 closes her eyes and shakes her head.<br \/>\n00:58 &#8211; Another bearded guy \u2013 opens his mouth in disbelief.<br \/>\n01:06 &#8211; Bearded man with square framed glasses \u2013 shakes his head<br \/>\n01:07 &#8211; Older clean shaved man \u2013 disbelief.<br \/>\n01:12 &#8211; Hoop earrings \u2013 embarrassed smile \u2013 she hides it by removing her hands from \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0under her chin and tilting her head.<br \/>\n01:18 &#8211; Older woman with curly red hair \u2013 sings with him \u2013 her face is ecstatic<br \/>\n01:20 &#8211; Blonde judge with white jacket \u2013 smiles and turns her head.<br \/>\n01:41 &#8211; Purple top \u2013 closes eyes, shakes head again.<br \/>\n01:51 &#8211; Pretty girl in the audience \u2013 check out the expression<br \/>\n01:59 &#8211; Purple top \u2013 hard time controlling herself \u2013 turns to other judge saying: what?<br \/>\n02:08 &#8211; Another pretty young girl in the audience &#8211; raises her face up \u2013 she says \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0something indecipherable \u2013 I think what she wanted to say was: wow, that note \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0hit me in a most unexpected place \u2013 her smile tells me a lot more.<br \/>\n02:11 &#8211; Purple top \u2013 I\u2019m not sure what is happening.<br \/>\n02:12 &#8211; Square framed beard \u2013 smile says \u2013 are you kidding me?<br \/>\n02:24 &#8211; Dark hair frameless glasses \u2013 totally lost in it.<br \/>\n02:32 &#8211; Stunning old beauty with long white hair \u2013 smiling &amp; nodding her head \u2013 Oh yes!<br \/>\n02:40 &#8211; Hoop earrings \u2013 biting her lower lip.<br \/>\n02:46 &#8211; hand holding couple \u2013 I don\u2019t want to interfere but their joy is most obvious.<br \/>\n02:50 &#8211; Yoram couldn\u2019t sit anymore \u2013 he is standing up clapping.<br \/>\n03:06 &#8211; Uzziah hits a higher note, shaking with passion \u2013 the crowd gets on its feet.<br \/>\n03:13 &#8211; Purple top \u2013 seems to be saying: Oh my God!<br \/>\n03:41 &#8211; Yoram\u2019s smile is threatening to slide off his face.<br \/>\n***** &#8211; I skipped some, but here\u2019s the money shot.<br \/>\n03:50 &#8211; This girl seems to be about 10 or 11 \u2013 She opens her mouth and yells out: woooh! \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2013 She seems to want say: what just happened?<br \/>\n04:09 &#8211; Yoram\u2019s smile could light up an entire town.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify;\">As I said earlier, I have watched this video more than twenty times and I cannot see that I am wrong. This young boy\u2019s G notes have hit a lot of G spots and he seemed to affect a lot of guys in the same manner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am not sure exactly how I can express what I feel every time I hear this kid sing this song. There are hard things that come to mind, so before I say them, let me start by saying that &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/llimeworks.com\/oortcloudreviews.com\/uzziah-the-general\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":82,"url":"https:\/\/llimeworks.com\/oortcloudreviews.com\/elp-1st\/","url_meta":{"origin":322,"position":0},"title":"Emerson, Lake &amp; Palmer","date":"August 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VFsCuj_dVsY&w=300&h=183 Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP for you all) were a great supergoup that got together in 1970. Most people had no idea what hit them, but they liked it a lot. I used that as a secret trivia question and still do sometimes. 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