I downloaded this as a Podcast a couple of days ago, and listened to it while driving home from work today... By the title, I thought it might be a comedy routine. In the vein of "Two Rabbis enter a bar..." I was intrigued to hear about a Chasidic Jew who didn't make a living singing something more traditionally conservative - ya'know... chanting niggunim. Anyway, I'm tooling along the road and find myself being drawn into this young man's story and music. I believe that the music would be of interest to Christians and Jews, but I believe that it may resonate more with the Jews in the audience. I know, it did with me (found Matisyahu's website and ordered the CD). I give this presentation five Chai's out of five. Excellent!
Great content. Grea connection with the interviewee. Allin all a great peice that would enice me to check out another installation of this musicians piece.
[redacted]
Posted on January 21, 2005 at 10:43 AM
| Permalink
This piece is about the match of a cultural and religious identity with an unlikely musical form. The interview with Matisyahu is the more compelling bit of this piece alongside his music. I love the transition from the narrator to the live music ("what happened next was) and I think it could use even less of the narrator. This piece could be shorter if cut down to the interview and music.
Matisyahu's talent would surface in any community; he's committed, he's gifted; his values are rooted in his heart. That he raps Hassidic content from a Reggae container makes him a standout.
This piece could inspire youth, immigrants, Hasidim, minorities, shy musicians, the religiously insecure, to greater confidence and courage.
We knew him when. You don't have to be Jewish...
I felt I lost touch with the narrator's guiding hand halfway through. A touch more structure would have enhanced the piece.
Simply a sweet, intriguing and truly unique feature. Thank you Aaron Henkin and public radio. Without you, where would we be. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to hear more! Lo and behold, I found www.hasidicreggae.com. I'll be darned, Matthew "Matisyahu" Miller has a site! This is too cool. Thanks for the fun experience, Aaron.
I found this piece intriguing, possibly because I'm sitting here in southwestern Oklahoma, with the nearest synagogue 70 miles away in Oklahoma City, and because the prevalent music in this part of the world is country-western. But, even in southwest Oklahoma, there is reggae and steel drum bands, courtesy of college students from the Caribbean countries, St. Kitts and St. Lucia, so I am familiar with reggae. One of the things this piece brings out is the universality of music. Music speaks to each person in a different way and this young man has plugged his life experiences into the reggae outlet. The result is fantastic. I'm dancing at the keyboard.
It's just a great piece of radio when it is as it's best. The concert sound could have been better (maybe real audio makes it weeker than in reality) but the personal positive but informative tone suits me.
I would like very much to hear this on the radio. I'm not jewish, but find the culture and the people to be very interesting.
The story about the linkages between Reggae and Judism and the inspirations this young man found in the music where facinating.
This is the kind of story that, if I heard it while scanning through stations, I would stop on and listen to, very likely through to the end if it where under 15 minutes (as this pieces is).
Born Again Jewish Teen Dons Dancehall, Dub Style to Spread Da Word. Matisyahu is a great subject for a radio profile. He's earnest and sweet; he's got a great story to tell and he has some serious talent. You heard it here on PRX from Aaron Henkin first though. I'd suggest running the piece a bit shorter and bringing in the music a lot sooner. The recording of the Johns Hopkins concert isn't the greatest: the music sounds too far away and some of the cuts are too short. The interview is a good one; why not mix in some music from a cd so we can hear it more clearly?
What a fascinating subject. This piece offers listeners an example of the ways in which young people have learned to blend cultures to fit their needs: reggae music making Judaism accessible to young Jews. The non-narrated middle section, alternating clips of the (very good) music with the singers' opinions on the subject is especially revealing.
Comments for Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
Produced by Aaron Henkin
Other pieces by Aaron Henkin
Rating Summary
10 comments
Theresa Verity
Posted on March 15, 2005 at 05:12 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
I downloaded this as a Podcast a couple of days ago, and listened to it while driving home from work today... By the title, I thought it might be a comedy routine. In the vein of "Two Rabbis enter a bar..." I was intrigued to hear about a Chasidic Jew who didn't make a living singing something more traditionally conservative - ya'know... chanting niggunim. Anyway, I'm tooling along the road and find myself being drawn into this young man's story and music. I believe that the music would be of interest to Christians and Jews, but I believe that it may resonate more with the Jews in the audience. I know, it did with me (found Matisyahu's website and ordered the CD). I give this presentation five Chai's out of five. Excellent!
Roland Ramos
Posted on February 28, 2005 at 05:28 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
Great content. Grea connection with the interviewee. Allin all a great peice that would enice me to check out another installation of this musicians piece.
[redacted]
Posted on January 21, 2005 at 10:43 AM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
This piece is about the match of a cultural and religious identity with an unlikely musical form. The interview with Matisyahu is the more compelling bit of this piece alongside his music. I love the transition from the narrator to the live music ("what happened next was) and I think it could use even less of the narrator. This piece could be shorter if cut down to the interview and music.
Rev. Heng Sure
Posted on December 02, 2004 at 08:52 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
Matisyahu's talent would surface in any community; he's committed, he's gifted; his values are rooted in his heart. That he raps Hassidic content from a Reggae container makes him a standout.
This piece could inspire youth, immigrants, Hasidim, minorities, shy musicians, the religiously insecure, to greater confidence and courage.
We knew him when. You don't have to be Jewish...
I felt I lost touch with the narrator's guiding hand halfway through. A touch more structure would have enhanced the piece.
Robert French
Posted on October 14, 2004 at 06:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
Simply a sweet, intriguing and truly unique feature. Thank you Aaron Henkin and public radio. Without you, where would we be. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to hear more! Lo and behold, I found www.hasidicreggae.com. I'll be darned, Matthew "Matisyahu" Miller has a site! This is too cool. Thanks for the fun experience, Aaron.
Deborah Astley
Posted on October 09, 2004 at 04:39 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
I found this piece intriguing, possibly because I'm sitting here in southwestern Oklahoma, with the nearest synagogue 70 miles away in Oklahoma City, and because the prevalent music in this part of the world is country-western. But, even in southwest Oklahoma, there is reggae and steel drum bands, courtesy of college students from the Caribbean countries, St. Kitts and St. Lucia, so I am familiar with reggae. One of the things this piece brings out is the universality of music. Music speaks to each person in a different way and this young man has plugged his life experiences into the reggae outlet. The result is fantastic. I'm dancing at the keyboard.
Danny Kohn
Posted on October 09, 2004 at 12:15 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
It's just a great piece of radio when it is as it's best. The concert sound could have been better (maybe real audio makes it weeker than in reality) but the personal positive but informative tone suits me.
Monk Theman
Posted on October 06, 2004 at 07:57 PM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
I would like very much to hear this on the radio. I'm not jewish, but find the culture and the people to be very interesting.
The story about the linkages between Reggae and Judism and the inspirations this young man found in the music where facinating.
This is the kind of story that, if I heard it while scanning through stations, I would stop on and listen to, very likely through to the end if it where under 15 minutes (as this pieces is).
Mary McGrath
Posted on September 20, 2004 at 09:48 AM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
Born Again Jewish Teen Dons Dancehall, Dub Style to Spread Da Word. Matisyahu is a great subject for a radio profile. He's earnest and sweet; he's got a great story to tell and he has some serious talent. You heard it here on PRX from Aaron Henkin first though. I'd suggest running the piece a bit shorter and bringing in the music a lot sooner. The recording of the Johns Hopkins concert isn't the greatest: the music sounds too far away and some of the cuts are too short. The interview is a good one; why not mix in some music from a cd so we can hear it more clearly?
Tina Antolini
Posted on September 13, 2004 at 06:05 AM | Permalink
Review of Hassidic (yes, Hassidic) Reggae
What a fascinating subject. This piece offers listeners an example of the ways in which young people have learned to blend cultures to fit their needs: reggae music making Judaism accessible to young Jews. The non-narrated middle section, alternating clips of the (very good) music with the singers' opinions on the subject is especially revealing.
And the beat boxing is UNBELIEVABLE.