Catching up on the Matisyahu Craze

I've never been one to give in to popular trends when it comes to entertainment. I never liked things like Top 40 music and preferred to listen to stuff that I liked as opposed to that which was commercially popular. So it took me awhile to check out the Matisyahu craze that's been running rampant recently. The other day I finally broke down and bought his "Live at Stubbs" CD when I found it for a good price at Target. That was certainly the first Jewish artist I've seen being sold at Target (Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel don't count). Anyway, so at long last I gave a listen to the Lubavitch reggae star who's getting everyone so excited. By the way, isn't it funny how everyone has such issues with Chabad, but they don't mind listening to Matisyahu? I find that interesting. But that's a side point. I can't say that Matisyahu is one of my all time favorites, but he is talented. Some of his songs I definetly enjoyed. My one criticism would be that the songs tend to all sound very similar to an extent, but I guess hard core fans would say I don't understand.

It's fascinating how Matisyahu has succeeded in gaining crossover appeal, with a lot of fans outside the Orthodox world. I don't recall any Jewish singer having this kind of popularity in the world at large, with his videos being played on MTV and having opening gigs for bands like O.A.R. Perhaps I'm being naive, but I'd like to think that people are interested in the spiritual dimension that Matisyahu so clearly presents in his music. The question is if people are drawn by that or the catchiness of his music. Hopefully it's a little of both. If that's the case, I hope we are seeing an era of greater desire for spirituality that will lead into the coming of Moshiach.

Some criticize Matisyahu for playing concerts in night club and the like. Personally, I think that they are in wrong. Some people will come down hard on anyone who doesn't play things exactly by the book. If Matisyahu succeeds in educating people on some level, his mission is fulfilled. Everyone has a koach in serving Hashem, and his happens to be in music. Why should we begrudge him for that?