Matisyahu: Next year in Jerusalem
Matisyahu has no problem singing with Sting about Roxanne the prostitute, and he is even willing to give up hockey for living in the Holy City
Sagi Ben Nun
What do you think an internationally-acclaimed rapper does at the end of a show at a smoky rock club, just after entering the green room, dripping with sweat? Screws around with groupies? Downs some shots? Sniffs up some cocaine? The reality is much geekier as far as Hassidic rapper Matisyahu is concerned.
At the end of his hit performance at the Barbie Club in Tel Aviv, the wildest thing he did was eat a glatt kosher salad out of a plastic box that was prepared in advance.
According to Matisyahu, people want to turn him into a fantasy or a hero, but he's neither a superhero nor a rabbi. He is an ordinary, music-loving genuine person with a wife and kids.
At the peak of his greatest international success he visited Israel again and was the warm-up artist for Sting at Ramat Gan Stadium, where he sang “Roxanne.” Even as someone who keeps the Jewish traditions, he had no problem performing a song written about a prostitute.
According to Matisyahu, the classic song deals with much more than a prostitute: The idea behind the song is that every person can be a prostitute in a certain sense, and certainly the entire Jewish people can act like a prostitute and sell itself short.
In his first album he mentioned the word “Mashiach” in Hebrew (Messiah), and on the second album, which came out on the Sony label, he preferred to use the word “redemption,” which appeals to a wide Christian audience.
Jerusalem, here I come
In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth Matisyahu mentioned that "It’s true that in the new album there isn’t a lot of Hebrew, unlike the first album. I actually wanted more Hebrew, but Sony was pressuring us to finish the album as fast as possible."
When asked what’s the most surprising thing that people don’t know about him, Matisyahu answered that he enjoys hockey and even used to play. He insists that he will immigrate within a year or two, despite the fact that ice-hockey is almost non-existent in Israel.
"If you hear of a nice house in Jerusalem, let me know," he told the reporter. "My move to Israel depends on a few things: If I make enough money to buy a good place to live in, if my family can come and visit me often and if it will work out as far as my career is concerned.”
1. Yes - there is ice hockey in Israel!
Hey Matisyahu! There's good news for you - ice hockey is alive and well and very existent in Israel.
Bring your gear with you and join the Israel Recreational Hockey Association! There are lots of players in Jerusalem.
Contact me for details.
Paul Shindman , Israel (07.04.06)
pshindman@yahoo.com
2. "The reality is far geekier"
i feel that the guys who are downing shots and snorting cocaine are the geekier ones. This guy is real - he doesn't have to try and impress his peers - you call that geeky?
Martin (07.04.06)
3. matisiyahu-stay in the states
To Matisiyahu,
I think that what you are doing with your music is great. I admire you for using your musical talent in a positive way and earn a living. You are a good influence on young people of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff teenagers are listening to now-a-days is very damaging. You are teaching them positive values. They need you there. It's your part of teaching people about the 7 Universal Commandments. I think you can reach a wider audience in America and so you should stay there, at least as long as your career is going well.
aline , kfar saba (07.04.06)
Sagi Ben Nun
What do you think an internationally-acclaimed rapper does at the end of a show at a smoky rock club, just after entering the green room, dripping with sweat? Screws around with groupies? Downs some shots? Sniffs up some cocaine? The reality is much geekier as far as Hassidic rapper Matisyahu is concerned.
At the end of his hit performance at the Barbie Club in Tel Aviv, the wildest thing he did was eat a glatt kosher salad out of a plastic box that was prepared in advance.
According to Matisyahu, people want to turn him into a fantasy or a hero, but he's neither a superhero nor a rabbi. He is an ordinary, music-loving genuine person with a wife and kids.
At the peak of his greatest international success he visited Israel again and was the warm-up artist for Sting at Ramat Gan Stadium, where he sang “Roxanne.” Even as someone who keeps the Jewish traditions, he had no problem performing a song written about a prostitute.
According to Matisyahu, the classic song deals with much more than a prostitute: The idea behind the song is that every person can be a prostitute in a certain sense, and certainly the entire Jewish people can act like a prostitute and sell itself short.
In his first album he mentioned the word “Mashiach” in Hebrew (Messiah), and on the second album, which came out on the Sony label, he preferred to use the word “redemption,” which appeals to a wide Christian audience.
Jerusalem, here I come
In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth Matisyahu mentioned that "It’s true that in the new album there isn’t a lot of Hebrew, unlike the first album. I actually wanted more Hebrew, but Sony was pressuring us to finish the album as fast as possible."
When asked what’s the most surprising thing that people don’t know about him, Matisyahu answered that he enjoys hockey and even used to play. He insists that he will immigrate within a year or two, despite the fact that ice-hockey is almost non-existent in Israel.
"If you hear of a nice house in Jerusalem, let me know," he told the reporter. "My move to Israel depends on a few things: If I make enough money to buy a good place to live in, if my family can come and visit me often and if it will work out as far as my career is concerned.”
1. Yes - there is ice hockey in Israel!
Hey Matisyahu! There's good news for you - ice hockey is alive and well and very existent in Israel.
Bring your gear with you and join the Israel Recreational Hockey Association! There are lots of players in Jerusalem.
Contact me for details.
Paul Shindman , Israel (07.04.06)
pshindman@yahoo.com
2. "The reality is far geekier"
i feel that the guys who are downing shots and snorting cocaine are the geekier ones. This guy is real - he doesn't have to try and impress his peers - you call that geeky?
Martin (07.04.06)
3. matisiyahu-stay in the states
To Matisiyahu,
I think that what you are doing with your music is great. I admire you for using your musical talent in a positive way and earn a living. You are a good influence on young people of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff teenagers are listening to now-a-days is very damaging. You are teaching them positive values. They need you there. It's your part of teaching people about the 7 Universal Commandments. I think you can reach a wider audience in America and so you should stay there, at least as long as your career is going well.
aline , kfar saba (07.04.06)
posted by Editor at 1:34 PM
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