Bring on the comments

1. William Martin says:

   February 8, 2010 at 1:02 am

   the sounds are very pretty and the melodies sound very well done. the only problem that i have with it is that i unfortunatly don’t understand the words. i love how this album sounds and i give it three stars.
   Rating: 3 / 5
2. D. Katz says:

   February 8, 2010 at 3:57 am

   Was I surprised…So good…very enjoyable….WISH I KNEW what the artists name for each song…ENJOY!!!!!!!
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. Silverfox229 says:

   February 8, 2010 at 5:33 am

   I have listened to most of the Free Samplers from Amazon and this is one of the better ones.

   How disappointing they didn’t include the artist names – You’d think a Sampler, in particular, would do that. Thanks to the previous poster who included the artists.

   Five Stars
   
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Myra Schjelderup says:

   February 8, 2010 at 5:49 am

   I liked the whole album the first time I listened to it. Only two songs really stuck out:
   
   Gachliliot (Fireflies)
   
   B’osher Ve’Be’Oni (In Wealth And In Poverty)
   
   But I suspect with more times listening to it the rest of the album will grow on me more.

   I’m not familiar with Israeli music, but I found it a good variety in sounds (with an upbeat folk feel, or light pop). Pleasant to listen to, and catchy.

   I got the album as a free sampler, but if that option isn’t available to you, I still recommend buying it.
   Rating: 4 / 5
5. Mrs. Calabash says:

   February 8, 2010 at 7:07 am

   I am glad that people who don’t understand Hebrew were willing to download this sampler and give it a spin. I appreciate that they are interested in reaching out to other cultures even if they can only take away a part of it for now. And maybe other reviewers will come along and fill in more of the picture as time goes by.

   I think Israeli pop music is special because often the lyrics are taken verbatim from Israeli poetry of the modern era, not to mention an entire genre of songs by religious performers, for the religious sector of Israeli society, who have produced some majorly rockin’ vibes of Biblical verses and passages. As a more secular listener, I especially love the songs that bring to life the words of such poets as Leah Goldberg, Natan Alterman, Yehuda Amichai, Chaim Nachman Bialik, Rachel, Natan Zach, and others. In fact, one of my favorite albums is called “An Evening of Poets’ Songs” (Erev Shirei Meshorerim).

   One of the loveliest songs in this little sampler is Asthar Shamir’s Gachliliyot (Fireflies), music and lyrics both written by the singer. I found a translation of the lyrics online and am posting them here, maybe those who don’t speak Hebrew will enjoy the song more once they know what it’s about.

   All credit and appreciation for the translation goes to Ayelet Bukai of Sunnyvale, California, who is listed on the website [...] as the translator.

   I’m returning to the forest to gather fireflies
   
   Tiny lights I have left behind
   
   Words heavy from grief
   
   that couldn’t fly
   
   Songs I didn’t gather when I left.
   
   I’m returning to the past to gather fireflies
   
   To build with them a ladder of stars
   
   Pathways I didn’t take, which could not have been there
   
   Maybe they are still waiting there for me

   If you will go there, my heart
   
   Come to the past without stopping
   
   We will gather all the good
   
   We will gather all the innocence
   
   We will gather fireflies and return

   A girl is there waiting, she falls in love without seeing
   
   Fireflies surround her with bright light
   
   Come back to me, I will keep you from harm
   
   Together we will grow stronger

   I go back to the past, with no fear of the time
   
   I can tell right from wrong
   
   We will gather all the good, the light and the innocence
   
   And bring them back here

   If you will go there, my heart
   
   Come to the past without stopping
   
   We will gather all the good
   
   We will gather all the innocence
   
   We will gather fireflies and return
   
   
   Rating: 5 / 5