It’s still the warm, heimishe feel that carries the day
Leading the crowd, and knowing which songs to sing for whom, and when, is the hard part of this job. Even though you discuss the music in advance with the baalei simchah, that essentially gives you just the chuppah songs and a shortlist of their favorites, and then you have the rest of the night to connect to the crowd and figure out what they want.
Reb Yankel Talmud’s “Hallelu Es Hashem,” a beautiful Gerrer waltz, full of joy, which we always sang in the shtibel. When I daven from the amud, I also incorporate the “Chabadsker Niggun” that Beri Weber recorded and gave new life to.
The second track on my album, “Kirvas Elokim.” I sing it every night, and the tune is basically stuck in my head.
I’ve been singing for years, and I can see the incredible thirst for good music out there. Because people are listening to music all the time, they want and need good music that’s enjoyable and geshmak and heimish. The songs are all my own compositions, mostly with original lyrics, which means I’ve really put messages from my heart out there, a lot of messages about unity and loving our fellow Yidden, and even my personal tefillos. I hope they go straight to the hearts of my listeners.
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