Esther Kustanowitz: May 2008 Archives

Jamie Lynn's been under the radar as her belly's been expanding with the promise of new life, staying out of the eye of stalkerazzi, so we don't have to be subjected to photos of her scarfing down Arby's. But according to PerezHilton, the imminently maternal Spears did emerge from deep cover to attend church on Mother's Day.

"Jamie Lynn Spears and babydaddy Casey Aldridge spent Mother's Day at a local church service in Gloster, Mississippi, on Sunday," the site reported, noting that "Jamie's momma, Lynne Spears, is still in California. After spending about an hour inside the church, the family left and went for lunch."

No mention of what Britney did with her kids (or mom) for Mother's Day, but that's ok--Britney has been busy with another maternally themed project: another episode on "How I Met Your Mother." So at least it's related to Mother's Day, sort of.

In a movie, whenever there's a song associated with Israel or Jews, it's automatically "Hava Nagila," and I'm here to tell you it's enough already. (It's also enough with the Manischewitz jokes, but we'll get to that at some future point...) Israel is a center of technology and medical breakthroughs, among other contributions to world culture, and that's before you get to any of the "birthplace of three religions" stuff. But there's been a thriving music scene for years that started with folk-style music and dancing in the early days of the state, and has been rocking the country ever since, evolving to include musical styles of the day and containing myriad international influences.

So here's 6 songs in honor of Israel's 60th, that prove this country's more than just "Hava Nagila." (Videos with Hebrew or English lyrics provided where possible.)

"Yiheyeh Tov," by David Broza and Yonatan Gefen. Written after the Camp David Accords with Egypt, this slightly mournful song still closes every stanza with hope--the song's reigning assurance is in its title: "It Will Be All Right" (alternately, "It Will Be Better"). "It will be all right, it will be all right, yes...sometimes I am shattered, but tonight, oh, tonight, with you I remain." Transliterated here.

"Hafla," by Itzik Shamly. Itzik is one of the artists in the TACT Family, a stable of singers and performers who call themselves "the Israeli architects of hip-hop" and are led by hip-hop artist Subliminal. Shamly's new album shows that it's not all about rap in the TACT Family...Shamly's got serious pipes. This party song ("Hafla" means a festival or celebration), and this song--with the others on Shamly's album--points to the substantial influence of Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) sound in the contemporary Israeli music scene. Sample lyric: "What a celebration, this state of mind, and my head in the clouds, there's no one who won't flow here, because in the street they're dancing."

When people think of Tim Gunn, they most often think of Project Runway, the popular reality TV show featuring aspiring designers in competition with each other to earn coveted spots with the fashion industry. On the other hand, when people think about polygamist sects, they may think of "Big Love"'s Chloe Sevigny -- a fashion plate outside the role and anything but in her role on the show -- but seldom picture anything resembling fashion. Leave it to Mo Rocca to unite these two seemingly opposing forces for an AOL video segment he calls "Tim Gunn's Guide to Polygamist Style."

The piece, as you might imagine, is creating some controversy in the comments section. While many appreciate the humor involved, it's sparking some sensitivity among other readers, who understand that the reason for the lack of fashion sense is a strict moral code and absolute devotion to the group's faith/leader.

There are a lot of love songs out there. Some of them I love, no matter what my romantic status. And others make you want to re-enact all those scenes you see in movies, when the protagonist looks at himself in the mirror and is filled with such self-loathing that he punches the mirror and it shatters. (I'm just saying.)

But there are some songs that may not be traditional love songs that you'd hear at weddings, but still evoke the power of love and the helplessness you feel at its loss. And even though many people are at their most annoying when they're in couples, sometimes musical pairs are just what the love doctor ordered. So here are my top five pairs of songs--call them "couples" if you must--about the highs and lows of love.

5. "Miss You In a Heartbeat" and "Two Steps Behind," by Def Leppard. That's right, I said "Def Leppard." What, just because a band doesn't need your photograph, or wants you to pour some sugar on it, doesn't mean that they don't have a soul that's made of heartache and heartbreak, just like everyone else's. Listen to either of these after a breakup or a love-based disappointment, and you'll feel it become part of you on a cellular level. You'll know you've recovered from said disappointment when you listen to "Miss You..." and call it cheesy, and when you hear "Two Steps Behind" and pronounce it "stalkerish."