STREAM Nani's Dutch tv show
Building up to the release of Nani’s new album of original songs in Ladino which she wrote & composed herself, she had the pleasure to play on the Dutch TV show Vrije Geluiden (free sounds) on VPRO. Scroll down for 5 videos from the show.
1. Fada de mi corazon
Lyrics & Music by Nani Noam Vazana
The Sephardic Jews define themselves as Orthodox but they also believe in magic. This song describes the “Las Fadas” custom, a ceremony thrown for newborn girls. A week after the birth, all the women of the community are gathered and pass the new born girl hand in hand in a circle. Each woman blesses her and on that night the blessings are considered twice as potent. This is done to “confuse” the bad fairies that might be lurking around, and make them think the baby is being protected by the good fairies, embodies by the women of the community.
2. Una Segunda Piel
Lyrics & Music by Nani Noam Vazana
I wrote this song about a Sephardic alternative passing-away ceremony. When you reach golden age, you throw a big party, where your friends and family sow around you the shroud of the dead. It takes about 2 hours to make and during this cocooned state, you’re suppose to meditate and think about all the things you want to leave behind in this world. When the cloth is done, it goes into the cupboard, symbolising all these things you want to break free of. You are now reborn, free from worries and cares, and can continue your life in a better way.
3. Sin dingun hijo varon
Lyrics & Music by Nani Noam Vazana
This song is based on an ancient text, depicting a transgender transformation, one of the earliest in human history, from the 11th century. The song consists of 3 characters: a mother, a father and daughter as well as a choir of 7 daughters. The father begins with cursing the mother’s womb, for not giving him any sons, only 7 daughters. The mother replies with “please don’t curse us father”. Then the daughter steps in and declares she has the making of a man, and therefore she will be the son her father never had. At the end of the song the dramatic climax is achieved when the mother accepts her daughter as a son.
4. No Kero Madre
Lyrics & Music by Nani Noam Vazana
A mother-daughter dialogue about prospective grooms. The mother suggests a tall man, a jealous man and a rich man but the daughter refuses them all. Eventually, the mother despairs and tells her daughter “there is no hope for you, you might as well marry the drunk”. The daughter reasons that she’s already in love with the drunk, and explains why it’s important to marry out of love and not out of obligation.
5. No tiene hija, no tiene amiga
Lyrics & Music by Nani Noam Vazana
A mother-daughter dialogue about prospective grooms. The mother suggests a tall man, a jealous man and a rich man but the daughter refuses them all. Eventually, the mother despairs and tells her daughter “there is no hope for you, you might as well marry the drunk”. The daughter reasons that she’s already in love with the drunk, and explains why it’s important to marry out of love and not out of obligation.