‘A Jewish Star‘ alum Baruch Sholom Blesofsky presents his new song influenced by recent tragedies. 

Speaking to COLlive Editor Yehuda Ceitlin, he explains why he used auto-tune and his composing for MBD.

When Baruch Sholom Blesofsky auditioned for the COLlive ‘A Jewish Star‘ Jewish singing competition with a quirky rendition of the song ‘Im Atem Meshamerim,’ it was not his first foray into the music field.

Born to a Lubavitch family in Crown Heights which boasts 4 generations of musical talent and love for Chazzanus, Baruch Sholom has played guitar and sang on various occasions.

But it was through the competition that he quickly gained an avid fan base that rooted for him even after the 3 judges lowered the critical hatchet on his daring style. A star was indeed born.

In a conversation with Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive.com, Blesofsky tells how recent tragedies in the community led to him composing his new song “Tell It To Them.”

• How’s life?
It’s cool, Baruch Hashem.

• Then why such a sad song?
I was not crying about my life.

• Not even about ‘A Jewish Star‘?
I’m glad I did it. It gave me an insight into what people like, I got to hear criticism and feel the market.

• Any mention of you on COLlive.com draws comments. Is it the same in real life?
Yes. Baruch Hashem I have a lot of people approach me with opinions on how to sing and play. It’s all good…

• Did any of that influence your new song?
What inspired this song was the idea that we are always told about Emuna in Hashem, but how can we not feel hurt when we see someone crying, going through pain and suffering? It’s hard not to react and just say ‘it’s all fine.’

• Are you referring to a specific tragedy?
The song started when I heard about a boy who was run over by a bus in Boro Park, and I recorded the final version after reading about the special life of Nosson Deitsch. It really hurt me that they will not have a future and I was thinking to myself what their mothers are going through.

• The clip features photos from the Holocaust and Mumbai.
I don’t want to sound too morbid, but all pain has a similarity to it. Whether it makes the headlines or not.

• How did you go about recording it?
2 weeks after Lag BaOmer I called a wonderful friend of mine, Sholom Lieberman, and we sat down and did the song from 1am until 7am. It was an awesome experience. I felt like I got a lot off my chest.

• For a bochur in his early 20’s you carry a heavy burden…
A lot of people are mistaken about my age. But you’re forgetting that most people feel like this – I just have a way to express it in music.

• Why did you use Auto-Tune (an audio processor used to correct off-key vocals)?
The Jewish music industry is very stubborn in seeing music. Everyone is a singer, but few are musicians. I used auto-tune because I felt it suited the style of the song.

• So are you a singer or a musician?
I might be a Shliach one day.

• But would you rather be backstage than on the stage itself?
I am into getting my song presented well. So either I sing or I have someone that would sing it the way I liked.

• I hear you have something going on with Mordechai Ben David.
That is true. I started writing music for them a few months ago.

• Who is “them”?
The Werdygers. I sent a song to Yeedle and he showed it to his father and since then they took interest in my compositions.

• So are the Werdygers singers or musicians?
Musicians. No doubt. MBD and Yeedle are more than singers, they are artists. MBD not only has a great voice, he also gives a lot in his song. There’s a story. You can tell what he is going through when he sings. Shlomo Carlebach was the same in his own way.

• Are you working with them on other things too?
Yes. All I can say is that I am privileged to be working with them.

• How about your own album?
I’m not doing my own per se. Our family is working on a Blesofsky brothers album.

• What’s in store?
My brothers and I will be contributing songs to this album. We won’t be singing as a group. Each will bring his own songs. But there will be a ‘Blesofsky sound’ to it. We’re going for very cool sounds.

• Auto-tune?
Not at all. It’s going to be a very conservative sound. I might even be doing Chazzanus. We’ll have more details for you when the time comes.

(reposted from: JMR – source: collive)

When I ask myself "Who am I"?
I’m a little Sphardi, a little Ashkenazi
A little Israeli, a tiny drop of galuti (exile),
maybe I’m religious, maybe secular
But to myself,
I am a Jew and that’ special.
Not better than another, not worse,
Simply a Jew.

Sometimes a soldier, sometimes a student,
I have a lot of past and I see the future.
Sometimes a Mitnaged, and sometimes a Chasid,
Maybe materialistic, maybe spiritual, but always, always
I am a Jew and that is special.
Not worse, not better, a bit different,
Simply a Jew

Suddenly I came back from a afar, so we can be here together.
I will be secure, I’ll return to laugh,
live comfortably without fear.
I am a Jew and that is special.
Not worse, not better, a bit different,
Just a Jew.

Nothing will break me my brother,
My soul is a part of Eternal Light Above.
To repair the world – that’s my motto,
I was born this way. I am a Jew.

Basically, Jews, just like other religions,
have festivals, Shabbatot, customs and Mitzvot.
Even though everyone says that He is right
In the end we are all Jews before the Heavenly Throne.

I am very afraid of baseless hatred,
Love my land and love my nation.
I was here and there all over the world,
I have two opinions on what to ask and a third opinion,
Because I am a Jew and that is unique.
Not worse, not better, a bit different,

Simply a Jew

כששואל את עצמי "מי אני" ?
אני קצת ספרדי, קצת אשכנזי,
קצת ישראלי, טיפ טיפה גלותי,
אני אולי דתי ואולי חילוני אבל ביני לביני,
אני יהודי וזה ייחודי.
לא טוב יותר מהאחר לא רע יותר
פשוט יהודי.
לפעמים חייל, לפעמים תלמיד,
יש לי המון עבר וגם רואה עתיד.
לפעמים מתנגד, ולפעמים חסיד,
אולי גשמי, אולי רוחני, אבל תמיד תמיד
אני יהודי וזה ייחודי.
לא רע יותר, לא טוב יותר, טיפה אחר,
פשוט יהודי.
פתאום חזרתי מרחוק, שנוכל להיות כאן ביחד.
שיהיה לי בטוח, שאחזור לצחוק, שאוכל לחיות בנחת ללא פחד.
כי אני יהודי, וזה ייחודי.
לא טוב יותר מהאחר, לא רע יותר
פשוט יהודי.
שום דבר לא יצליח לשבור אותי אחי,
הנשמה שלי היא חלק מאור עליון נצחי.
לתקן את העולם – זוהי מהותי,
נולדתי ככה אני יהודי.
פשוט יהודי כמו בשאר הדתות
יש לי חגים, שבתות, מנהגים ומצוות.
למרות שכל אחד בטוח בצדקתו
בסוף כולנו יהודים, לפני כסא כבודו.

אני מאוד פוחד משנאת חינם,
אוהב את ארצי ואוהב את העם.
הייתי פה ושם ובכל העולם,
יש לי שתי דעות על מה שתשאל וגם דעה שלישית,
כי אני יהודי, וזה ייחודי.
לא רע יותר, לא טוב יותר, טיפה אחר,
פשוט יהודי.

(originally seen here)

originally posted here at JMR.

Silently awaiting for so long
Silently awaiting and trying to keep strong
Silently awaiting for someone to care
Silently, silently ‘cuz everything is bare
Silently I sit among my friends
I wonder will this hunger inside me ever end
Silently I watch all their eyes filled with joy
While I’m silently crying ‘cuz I’m a hungry little boy
Baraich alainu Hashem Elokainu
Uzrainu Hashem Elokeinu, Tishma koleinu
Ima I know it’s hard for you
Preparing one lunch I know that’s all you can do
There’s never enough to give to more than one
You gave me lunch yesterday, today I get none
I can see that my Rebbi’s drawing near
Knowing what I must answer I am holding back the tears
Can I explain the way the shame in me burns,
I have nothing to eat today; it is my brother’s turn
Baraich alainu Hashem Elokainu
Uzrainu Hashem Elokeinu, Tishma koleinu
I stand here before you; I look into your eyes,
Please don’t turn away, please don’t turn aside
So think of me when you’re feeling satisfied
Think of me think of me and this pain I feel inside
Baraich alainu Hashem Elokainu
Uzrainu Hashem Elokeinu Tishma koleinu…

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