“Ekh Lyuli Lyuli” by The Unternationale (Daniel Kahn, Psoy Korolenko, & Oy Division)
Performed in Tel Aviv, 2008.

The first part of it is the nigun (Jewish religious song/tune) of Jews recruited to the Russian Army under Nicholas I. It was learned from Michael Alpert. Apparently, “the musical style is Russian ‘chastushka’ that on occasion found its way into the Jewish folk songs (i.e. Chabad version of ehod miyodea).” The rap is by Psoy Korolenko.

Lyrics (in Russian and translated into English)

I’ve posted this song before. I named both this tumblr and my radio show after it.

Ekh Lyuli Lyuli #5: Catching Up
Air date: August 30, 2011 - 4pm EST

A show catching up on a bunch of different things: reflecting on a couple summer Russian-Jewish weddings; ranting about feeling insecure and inauthentic about language in Russian circles; and kvetching about how often Russian-Jewish projects and initiatives, particularly for youth, are reduced to Israel advocacy. Oh, and an introduction to RussianGirlProblems (check out their facebook page, too!).

Those in/around Toronto, check out The Koffler @ IFOA (International Festival of Authors) on October 23, 2011, exploring Russian-Jewish narratives and featuring events with Gal Beckerman, David Bezmozgis, Gary Shteyngart, and others.

Music:
“Memory Song” by Psoy Korolenko, Frank London, & others
“Disko Partizani” (Shantel cover) by Filipp Kirkorov
“Hava Nagila” by Filipp Kirkorov
“To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof
“Ich Hob Dich Zifeel Lieb” (I Love You Much Too Much) by The Barry Sisters
“Chiribim Chiribom” by The Barry Sisters 

Download the podcast.

Ekh Lyuli Lyuli #2: Exploring Identity
Air date: July 5, 2011 - 4pm EST

A show that digs a little deeper into questions of Jewish and Russian-Jewish identity. Featuring readings of Lara Vapnyar’s essay “On Becoming a Russian Jewish American” from the anthology Who We Are: On Being (and Not Being) a Jewish American Writer (edited by Derek Rubin) and an excerpt from Alicia Suskin Ostriker’s “Entering the Tents” from her book The Nakedness of the Fathers: Biblical Visions and Revisions. I also introduce Alina Simone, Russian-Jewish indie rock star, and her Russian music project Everyone is Crying Out To Me, Beware! Rounding out a short discussion about assimilated Jewish identity is audio from a live performance of Kevin Coval’s poem “What Will I Tell My Jewish Kids.” 

*Note: The first few seconds in the above recording are from the show just before.

Check out Kevin Coval’s free digital album of What I Will Tell My Jewish Kids: And Other Poems on Palestine and buy the chapbook ($7!).

Music:
“Inner Emigration” by Daniel Kahn & the Painted Bird
“Chunk” by BELL
“Borsht” by Mikveh
“Half My Kingdom” (Yanka Dyagileva cover) by Alina Simone
“Lucky Goddamn Jew” by Geoff Berner
“Ekh Lyuli Lyuli” by Daniel Kahn, Psoy Korolenko, and Oy Division

Download the podcast.

Psoy Korolenko and Daniel Kahn perform “Глупые сионисты” (Narishe Zionisten/Foolish Zionists) in Fishka, Tel Aviv, March 23, 2011. (via r0adsideservice)

I’ve posted this song before, but this is a great (new!) performance video.

zoom

theslavofiles:

Дэниел Кан & Псой Короленко

Wish I had been there…

vladislava:

“Глупые Cионисты” (Foolish Zionists) by Daniel Kahn, Psoy Korolenko, and Oy Division

The first part is in Yiddish, then translated into English, and then Russian (with some slight changes).

You want to take us to Jerusalem
So we can die as a nation
We’d rather stay in the diaspora
And fight for our liberation
We’d rather stay in the diaspora
And work for our liberation

“Ekh Lyuli Lyuli” by Psoy Korolenko, Daniel Kahn, and Oy Division

Where the title of this tumblr came from! See here for a translation.