We Jews don't agree on many subjects, even on how to spell Chanukah. Or is that Hanukkah? Still, I think whatever our faith, we can all agree on this: Christians have much better holiday music -- like, say, "White Christmas" a beautiful song supposedly written poolside at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix by a Jewish man named Irving Berlin.
I first realized that we Jews were somewhat holiday music-challenged when I was talking to my lifelong hero Neil Diamond some years ago, and teasing this fine looking Jew for releasing two Christmas albums without a single Chanukah tune. "Let's face the facts, David," I remember my Jewish Elvis telling me, "they have better songs."
Imagine my overwhelming Semitic pride then that Neil's fine new Christmas album A Cherry Cherry Christmas features a fantastic new version of Adam Sandler's pride and laughter-inducing seasonal classic "The Chanukah Song." In fact, do yourself a favor and go to neildiamond.com and check out the brilliant animated video for Neil's cover version as soon as you can. In the meantime, here are some songs that will go down easy for just about anybody along with a few latkes and an extra serving of holiday spirit.
HANUKKAH ROCKS - Gefilte Joe & The Fish
THE CHANUKAH SONG - Neil Diamond
LIGHTING UP THE WORLD - Peter Himmelman & David Broza
HANNUKAH DANCE - Woody Guthrie
DREIDEL SONG - Don Byron
GIVE THE JEW GIRL TOYS - Sarah Silverman
DREIDEL - Don McLean
ROCK OF AGES - MA'OZ TZUR - Marc Cohn
HANUKKAH BLESSINGS - Barenaked Ladies
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - They Might Be Giants
THE SOUTH PARK DREIDEL SONG - South Park
LIGHT ONE CANDLE - Peter, Paul & Mary
THE ROCKIN' DREIDEL SONG - Sha Na Na
THE CHANUKAH SONG - Adam Sandler
Okay, now please put your own spin on this whole Dreidel-palooza mishegas, and add to this playlist! It couldn't hurt!