L ifestyles /C ulture
a Grammy Award-winning
artist who catapulted to fame
after placing second in the
1983 Eurovision Song Contest.

Haza may have recorded more
popular numbers, but “Tfila,”
which translates to “prayer,” is
a must-play New Year’s ballad.

Both because of its synth-pop
beat and memorable lyrics,
you’re going to want to put this
one on loop.

Ten is a good Jewish number,
but 13 also works. Here are
three more honorable mentions:
A historic Jewish New Year’s postcard
From The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, University of California, Berkeley (magnes.berkeley.edu)
good when covered by Rod
Stewart. Why Rod Stewart? Why
not? Pre-pandemic, the septua-
genarian rocked 20,000 fans in
Tel Aviv. Post-pandemic, here’s
hoping he does it again.

on the Chronicle’s playlist and
faster tempos to come, “New
Year’s Day” hits a fitting chord.

In a COVID-19 world, certain
lyrics ring true: “Tomorrow
morning when we wake/ This
town will be a different place/
“Happy New Year,” ABBA
And the past will wash away like
If you have a karaoke coffee stains.”
machine, now’s the time to use
it. Apart from a sweeping chorus “New Year’s Day,” Bon Jovi
you’ll be singing the next three
Jon Bon Jovi isn’t Jewish. His
weeks, this song probably has keyboardist, and fellow Rock
the best video accompaniment to and Roll Hall of Fame inductee,
boot. Search “ABBA Happy New David Bryan is a member of
Year 1980.” Until the camera the tribe. Bon Jovi’s “New Year’s
pans out around the two-minute Day” is fantastic both because
mark, you too may believe that it invites what will certainly be
Agnetha, Björn, Benny and awful dancing from many and
Anni-Frid are celebrating the also because the New Year’s
fourth night of Chanukah.

Day” 2016 video weirdly looks
like social distancing restric-
“My Dear Acquaintance,” or tions were in place. It’s probably
“New Year,” Regina Spektor
safe to assume that all that livin’
For those who like to on a prayer granted the band
Spektify, either one of these some type of foresight.

ditties from proud Jewish
mom Regina Spektor works. “Raise Your Glass,” Pink
Born in Moscow and educated
Like a bizarrely large braided
in American Jewish day challah, you’ll probably find this
schools, Spektor is a Grammy- chart-topping single at most
nominated singer-songwriter b’nai mitzvah parties. That’s for
and HIAS supporter.

good reason. Released in 2010
by Doylestown native Alecia
“New Year’s Day,” Pentatonix Beth Moore, aka Pink, “Raise
Before founding member Avi Your Glass” celebrates under-
Kaplan left the a cappella group dogs while championing those
in 2017, Pentatonix recorded this who don’t always fit in (see:
catchy number. As a transitional most memories of adolescence).

piece between slower numbers
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “One More Time,” Daft Punk
Lest one think this song
recalls the monotony of quaran-
tining, “One More Time” is
about continuing to dance and
celebrate without end. Hence, if
you have a strobe light, plug it
in. For those who don’t, your cell
phone will do. While gyrating to
blinking flashes, keep in mind
some relevant Daft Punk history:
Daniel Vangarde, the Jewish
father of Thomas Bangalter (one
half of French duo Daft Punk),
has worked to ensure WWII-era
French Jewish musicians receive
compensation they were denied
under Vichy rule.

“Opposites Attract,” Paula Abdul
Remember what was life like
before the pandemic? Now try
remembering what life was like
decades before the pandemic. Let
us help you: It was a time when
a suspender-clad cartoon cat
bopped step for step with Syrian
Jewish descendant Paula Abdul.

“This Is What it Feels Like,”
Armin Van Buuren feat.

Trevor Guthrie
This song is a roller coaster
in the best way. It starts off
really slowly, pulls you in with
sorrowful lyrics — “Nobody
here knocking at my door/ The
sound of silence I can’t take
anymore/ Nobody ringing my
telephone now/ Oh how I miss
such a beautiful sound” —
then jolts your body with an
electronic beat that will keep you
moving until the snow melts. l
“No More Tears (Enough Is
Enough),” Barbra Streisand
and Donna Summer
If you thought 2020 was
going to be great but ended up
being totally duped, this song
is for you (as long as you’re
willing to imagine that Babs
and the Queen of Disco were
referencing a bad year and not Adam Reinherz is a staff writer with
a bad boyfriend).

Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.

Name: Elana Collection
Width: 3.625 in
Depth: 5.5 in
Color: Black plus one
Comment: JE - Frequent Flyer
Ad Number: 00091796
“Sabotage,” Beastie Boys
Naysayers may argue this
song has nothing to do with
New Year’s. Au contraire. This
epic tune has everything to do
with 2020 and the path to 2021.

Looking back on the past year,
there’s a lot to lower your spirits.

Don’t fall prey to the “mirage”
— you have to stay optimistic.

It’s like what three hideously
mustachioed Jewish police
officers told us almost 25 years
ago: “’Cause what you see, you
might not get/ And we can bet,
so don’t you get souped yet.”
“Tfila,” Ofra Haza
Forty years before Gal
Gadot, Israel had a different
Wonder Woman: Ofra Haza,
JEWISH EXPONENT
DECEMBER 31, 2020
15