Hadag Nahash
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| Hadag Nahash | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Jerusalem, Israel |
| Genre(s) | Funk, Hip Hop, Funk Rock |
| Years active | 1999 – present |
| Website | hadag.co.il |
| Members | |
| Sha'anan Streett Guy Mar Dudush Kalmas Moshe "Atraf" Asraf Yaya Cohen Aharonov Amir Ben Ami Shlomi Alon |
|
Hadag Nahash (Hebrew: הדג נחש) is an Israeli hip hop and funk group. The group is known for its leftist political statements in many of its songs.[citation needed] Four albums have been recorded to date, and a fifth is rumored to be in progress[citation needed]. It has seven members; its lead singer and founder is Shaanan Streett.
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[edit] Name and symbols
The group's name literally means the fish-snake, which means an eel in Hebrew ("Ha" meaning the, "dag"' meaning fish, and "nachash" meaning snake). It is also, however, a Hebrew spoonerism. In Israel, people who have only recently gotten their driver's licenses place a tag on their back window with the words "Nahag Chadash" Hebrew: נהג חדש (" A New Driver"). The anagram "HaDag Nachash" therefore indicates the group's ambitions: a voice for the youth in Israel[citation needed]. Band members have also claimed that signs that look similar to Nahag Chadash with the band's name would be placed in cars to confuse police officers. [1]
The band's icon, depicting a child urinating, comes from a Hebrew idiom loosely translated as from where the fish pisses (מאיפה משתין הדג) meaning something akin to how it's done. (As in, "That amateur thinks he can beat me—I'll show him from where the fish pisses!").
[edit] Musical style and hit songs
Like many Israeli pop musicians such as Teapacks and the Idan Raichel project, HaDag Nahash blends Western pop music and ethnic music to create a unique sound tapestry somewhere between funk and world music. The band notes that although its style is hip-hop-oriented, its music is placed in that section in Israel because marketing executives at the group’s label did not know how to classify the band’s style, although it is closer to groups such as the Brand New Heavies than Wu-Tang Clan or A Tribe Called Quest.
Hadag Nachash is known for its flexibility in music types, and has songs ranging to funk, hip-hop, jazz, ska, and even several electronic numbers, such as “Hine Ani Ba” ("הנה אני בא", Here I Come). "Hine Ani Ba" is also an example of a song with a political or cultural message, as it depicts a cultural struggle between Jerusalem, a symbol of Israel's heritage, and Tel Aviv, a hub for young people and night life. One marker of its success is that this song is also featured in the Adam Sandler movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan.
Hadag Nahash also uses music to display cynicism, as can be seen in a song from its latest album, Lotus. This song, despite having an upbeat rhythm and tune, contains very depressing and pessimistic lyrics.
One of its most famous hits is "Shirat Hasticker" ("שירת הסטיקר", "The Sticker Song" in English), written by Israeli novelist David Grossman. The lines of the song are all slogans seen on Israeli bumper stickers. The opposing political slogans are juxtaposed to create an angry and ironic portrait of political life in Israel.
Hadag Nachash has a minor rivalry with the Israeli hip-hop star Subliminal, probably because Subliminal is politically right-wing while Hadag Nahash is left-wing. The rivalry is purpotedly shown in the lyrics of the song "Gabi V'Debi" ("Gabby and Debby"), and in its more recent song "Teraga" ("Calm Down"), which speaks with great criticism of the manner in which hip-hop stars act, and the manner with which the music industry is run in general.
"Gabi V'Debi" is also notable for its political message. Hadag Nachash sings about meeting Gabby and Debby, characters from a children's show which was part of the Let's Learn English series, who, in the show, had a magic stick that could transport them to any time and place. They offer to take the narrator wherever he wants—as long as it has a positive Zionistic message for the children. The three visit first Herzl and then Trumpeldor, two famous promoters of Zionism, and find each to be a far cry from their idealized images. Most notably they see Herzl taking drugs, something that is unimaginable for most of his supporters. This audacious and controversial song is typical of HaDag Nachash.
[edit] Group members
- Sha'anan Streett - Vocals
- Guy Mar - DJ, Vocals
- David (Dudush) Klemes - Keyboards
- Moshe "Atraf" Asraf - Drums
- Yair (Yaya) Cohen Aharonov - Bass
- Amir Ben Ami - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
- Shlomi Alon - Saxophone, Flute, Vocals
- Stephen Hyde - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Band Manager, Electric Triangle
[edit] Performance partners
- Yair Selotzki - Trombone
- Yaron Mohar - Saxophone
- Matan Gov Ari - Trumpet
[edit] Discography
- Ha Mechona Shel Ha Groove (The Groove Machine, 2000)
- LaZuz (To Move, 2003)
- Homer Mekomi (Local Material, 2004)
- Be'ezrat Ha'Jam (With the help of Jam, 2006)
