Playlist for Hurricane/Nor’Easter Sandy

1. Bruce Springsteen – 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

2. Randy Newman – I Think It’s Going to Rain Today

3. Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane

4. Moyshe Oysher – Geshem

5. Regina Spektor – On The Radio

הכבש השישה עשר – ברקים ורעמים
6. The Sixteenth Lamb – Lightning & Thunder

7. Eurythmics – Here Comes the Rain Again

8. Gene Kelly – Singin’ in the Rain

9. Barry Manilow – I Made it Through the Rain

10. Carpenters – Rainy Days and Mondays

11. Lena Horne – Stormy Weather (h/t @theatreWashDC)

12. Lonely Island/SNL – I Wish it Would Rain

13. Barbra Streisand – Don’t Rain On My Parade (via @gloejcc)

14. Judy Garland – Come Rain or Come Shine (also via @gloejcc)

Media Monday: Yael Meyer

Yael Meyer’s unique brand of indie-pop is gentle and heartfelt, a flush of lilting melodies, airy vocals, and frequent humming that evokes all of the innocent joy of napping beside a softly babbling stream under a sleepy elm in July. The above video, part of a podcast she ran last year, offers a nice introduction into the Chilean singer-songwriter’s musical world.  Get accustomed to her music and then come see her on May 16th as part of the Washington Jewish Music Festival. Click here for a full line-up.

On SOPA

Today, many of the biggest sites on the Internet are “blacking out” to protest SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill in the House) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) in the Senate.

The protest is based around the idea that online piracy is certainly a problem that needs to be addressed, but that these bills won’t actually impact the pirate websites, and instead only hurt everyone else, through censorship.

We use this space to share what we think is interesting and thought-provoking and entertaining. Sometimes we want to share the latest music from upcoming performers at Music Fest, present trailers from the hot new film we’ll screen, and show you that hilarious bit from our favorite comedian. On this blog and our website, we make every attempt to use creative content respectfully, legally, and with permission/attribution.

We love artists, and want you to love them, too! We wonder about all the wonderful ideas, work and performances we’ll be too afraid to share.

We hope you will take today to think about the ways you use the Internet, what sites you use and enjoy, and learn about this legislation.

What We’re Listening To: Yemen Blues

In case you weren’t at globalFEST in New York City last night to catch Yemen Blues, we’ve got the next best thing.

Started by Yemeni Jew Ravid Kahalani, Yemen Blues is jazz and funk and West African and bluesy. With only a few hundred Jews believed to be left in Yemen, this music keeps alive the beautiful melodies, not simply for preservation’s sake, but because it’s just a lot of fun.

He says, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, your language is my language.” Apparently our language makes me want to dance.

What We’re Listening To: Stereo Sinai Sings Mi Yimalel

Stereo Sinai is a “Biblegum Pop” band that fuses traditional gospel, rock, and pop music with modern themes. They created this fantastic re-imagining of the Hanukkah classic Mi Yimalel  (Who Can Retell) for MyJewishLearning.com. You can even download a copy to keep!

What We’re Listening To: The Maccabeats & Matisyahu

Like chocolate and peanut butter, Matisyahu and The Maccabeats are two great (Jewish musical) tastes that taste great together. Check out the Mayim Bialik cameo–by the way I love that Mayim is as geeked out by The Maccabeats as I am. (Totally appropriate for a 30-something mother of two, right? right???)

All three encourage you to give to Miracle Match for the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation and be someone’s miracle this season. Help them raise $10,000 for each night of Hanukkah. All $18 donors get a Miracle mp3 and are entered into a drawing to win some really fun prizes.

I love it when celebrities use their power for good!

What We’re Listening To: Ocho Kandelikas

This is a video shot at the Jewish Club for Children and Youth Moadon in Warsaw. Amazingly, they’re dancing to an awesome version of the Ladino classic Ocho Kandelikas by the Hip-Hop Hoodios.

What We’re Listening To: Light Is in the Air

This Bible Raps video is amazing, fun, hip and inspirational. A great way to kick off the Chanukah season. Enjoy!

What We’re Listening To: Jazz Talmud by Jake Marmer

We had Jake Marmer here a few years ago, and I’m still thinking about his riveting spoken word performance. Learn more about him–and check out his band Frantic Turtle–at Jake Marmer’s Bop Apocalypse.

What We’re Listening To: Tania Katan at TEDx

Check out a clip from humorist, author and activist Tania Kata’s riveting TEDx talk The Power of Voice: Survivability, Sustainability and Nudity. Come to the DCJCC tomorrow night to see her perform an excerpt from her award-winning memoir My One-Night Stand With Cancer. The performance is followed by a low-key creative workshop open to everyone, of all experiences.