Since its foundation in 1996 by saxophone player Job Chajes, the band has evolved rapidly. In no time the band became famous in Amsterdam for its many vibrant performances on the streets, in the parks and in the pubs. Soon the rest of The Netherlands followed: the band performed at the Oerol Festival in 1999, 2000 and 2001 to great acclaim and was invited to the Noorderslagfestival in January 2001 (the media describing their performance as 'the great surprise of the festival'), followed by the Lowlands Festival in August 2001. During the same period the band toured in Slovenia, Switzerland and Italy and completed three successful tours of Turkey.
The third CD of Amsterdam Klezmer Band, Limonchiki, was released on the New York label Knitting Factory label and the band had a grand tour of the Dutch club scene in the autumn of 2001, with as its highpoint the presentation of Limonchiki in Paradiso, Amsterdam .
In September 2003 the cd Katakofti was released. It's the result of a collaborative effort of Amsterdam Klezmer Band and the Galata Gypsy Band from Turkey . The cd was released on the Turkish world music label Kalan Records.
In january 2005 the new cd SON (Russian for ‘dream') is released, containing a veritable treasure-trove of new Amsterdam Klezmer and Balkan music.
Nowadays only part of Amsterdam Klezmer Band repertory consists of traditionals from the Balkan and Klezmer traditions. Most of the repertory has been created by the band members themselves, who all without exception contribute musically to an ever-growing melting-pot of infectious Balkan/Gypsy/Klezmer cross-overs. In this manner the band endeavours to breathe new life into the Eastern European Balkan, Klezmer and Gypsy music tradition.
The members of Amsterdam Klezmer Band are passionate musicians and well-versed in a wide range of styles. They have made their musical mark on the Dutch and European club and festival scene and are well known for their parts in various other remarkable pop, jazz and world music projects in the Netherlands , past and present, such as: Jammah Tammah, De Jongens Driest, Mendoza Dance Parti, Parels en de Funky Reddingsbrigade, Traffic Jam, Allez mama, Noujoum Raï, Cousin-x, Rickshaw Chase, Bernie's Lounge.
The wind section of the De Amsterdam Klezmer Band have participated in several studio projects, including ones by Arling & Cameron, Postmen, Normaal and Daryll Ann (two-meter sessions).
A Chassid in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Klezmer Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drink de sjabbes wijn,
Eet gefilte fisj,
Maar nooit eet ik geen zwijn,
Ga dan naar de markt,
Haal kip voor in de soep.
Voer de joodse handel,
Oi! ik voel me goed.
Die sjikse is wel mooi,
Heel goed toch voor een goj,
Maar een meidelech voor mij,
Abi gezint zo zij aan zij,
Ga dan naar de sjoel,
Trek een grote smoel,
Smeigel met den beigel,
Begrijp wat ik bedoel?
Toch zie je mij wel lernen,
Geheel uit de torah,
Ontwikkel en verwikkel
Mijzelf als een gabber,
S′avonds aan de koning dovid,
Sjikker wordt ik dan,
Ik voel mij heel goed als een
Chassid in amsterdam.
Ik ben geen mesjikkene,
Maar freilich ben ik wel,
In de sjnoge is een goppe,
Ik trek hard aan de bel,
Mijn jatten zijn zo koud,
De hele dag gesjouwd,
Tonnetjes met pekelharing
En veel zout.
De misjpoge is compleet
En daarmee gelijk het drama,
Roddels heen en weer
'K stort op de kesekoege neer,
Jongetjes met peijes,
Rebbes met een baard,
Toges met fruitschalen,
En meisjes met een taart.
De kalle heeft een goser aan de
Haak geslagen,
Als ze zijn getrouwd
Dan begint al snel het klagen;
"Zeg mosje, die lever is niet
Kosher en zorg je dat je
Pak gestreken is voor de
Lewaje van morgen.
En hou nou toch eens op
Met dat sjnorren rond het plein,
Je weet dat ik met pesach in
Jerusalem wil zijn"
Maar he wij hebben geen
Ragmones met die man,
Want hij leeft als een gelukkige
Chassid in amsterdam.
The song "A Chassid in Amsterdam" by the Amsterdam Klezmer Band is about a Chassidic Jew living in Amsterdam. The lyrics are a mix of Yiddish and Dutch, and the song expresses the joy the singer feels in living a traditional Jewish lifestyle in a foreign city. The first verse talks about the things the Chassidic Jew loves; coffee, Shabbat wine, and gefilte fish, and how he never eats pork. He then talks about going to the market to buy chicken for soup and doing "Jewish business". The chorus talks about the Chassidic Jew's attraction to a non-Jewish woman and how she would be perfect for a non-Jewish man. The singer then talks about going to synagogue and studying the Torah, and how it makes him feel like a good friend. He talks about getting drunk at the end of the day and feeling great as a Chassidic Jew in Amsterdam.
The second verse talks about the singer's work, selling pickled herring and dealing with the drama in his family. He talks about his cold hands and how he has to work hard all day. He then describes the different members of his family he deals with, such as the boys with their peyos (side locks), the rabbis with their beards, the women with their fruit bowls, and the girls with their cakes. The verse ends with the singer talking about a wedding that is taking place and the stress he has to deal with because of the bride and the other people involved. The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing the singer's love for his Chassidic lifestyle and his strong connection to his community.
Overall, this song is a celebration of traditional Jewish life and the joy it brings to those who live it. It is also a snapshot of Amsterdam's unique Jewish community, which, despite being small and sometimes fraught with drama, is full of people who are happy and proud to be Jewish.
Line by Line Meaning
K hou heel veel van koffie,
I am very fond of drinking coffee,
Drink de sjabbes wijn,
I drink the Sabbath wine,
Eet gefilte fisj,
I eat gefilte fish,
Maar nooit eet ik geen zwijn,
But I never eat pork,
Ga dan naar de markt,
Then I go to the market,
Haal kip voor in de soep.
Get chicken for the soup,
Voer de joodse handel,
Engage in Jewish trading,
Oi! ik voel me goed.
Oh! I feel good.
Die sjikse is wel mooi,
That Gentile girl is quite beautiful,
Heel goed toch voor een goj,
Very good for a Gentile,
Maar een meidelech voor mij,
But a Jewish girl for me,
Abi gezint zo zij aan zij,
My father would agree,
Ga dan naar de sjoel,
Then I go to the synagogue,
Trek een grote smoel,
Put on a great smile,
Smeigel met den beigel,
A nickname for a Jewish boy,
Begrijp wat ik bedoel?
Do you understand what I mean?
Toch zie je mij wel lernen,
However, you still see me learn,
Geheel uit de torah,
Completely from the Torah,
Ontwikkel en verwikkel
Develop and entangle,
Mijzelf als een gabber,
Myself as a friend,
S′avonds aan de koning dovid,
At night, I turn to King David,
Sjikker wordt ik dan,
I get drunk,
Ik voel mij heel goed als een
And I feel really good as a
Chassid in amsterdam.
Chassid in Amsterdam.
Ik ben geen mesjikkene,
I am not a fanatic,
Maar freilich ben ik wel,
But of course, I am,
In de sjnoge is een goppe,
There is a gossip in the synagogue,
Ik trek hard aan de bel,
I pull the bell hard,
Mijn jatten zijn zo koud,
My hands are so cold,
De hele dag gesjouwd,
They have been carrying all day,
Tonnetjes met pekelharing
Barrels of pickled herring
En veel zout.
And lots of salt.
De misjpoge is compleet
The family is complete
En daarmee gelijk het drama,
And with it, the drama begins,
Roddels heen en weer
Gossip goes back and forth,
'K stort op de kesekoege neer,
I collapse on the cake table,
Jongetjes met peijes,
Boys with sidelocks,
Rebbes met een baard,
Rabbis with beards,
Toges met fruitschalen,
Tables with fruit bowls,
En meisjes met een taart.
And girls with a cake.
De kalle heeft een goser aan de
The bride has found a guy,
Haak geslagen,
Whom she wants to marry,
Als ze zijn getrouwd
Once they are married,
Dan begint al snel het klagen;
Then the complaining begins,
"Zeg mosje, die lever is niet
"Hey Moshe, that liver is not
Kosher en zorg je dat je
Kosher, and make sure your
Pak gestreken is voor de
Suit is ironed for the
Lewaje van morgen.
Funeral tomorrow morning.
En hou nou toch eens op
And please stop
Met dat sjnorren rond het plein,
With that strolling around the square,
Je weet dat ik met pesach in
You know that I want to be in Jerusalem for Passover,
Jerusalem wil zijn"
So, stop bothering me."
Maar he wij hebben geen
But hey, we don't hold
Ragmones met die man,
Grudges against that man,
Want hij leeft als een gelukkige
Because he lives as a happy
Chassid in amsterdam.
Chassid in Amsterdam.
Writer(s): Job David Chajes
Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vermeervanbremen3306
Amsterdam Klezmer Band, jamais rien entendu de meilleur sur scène. Le top du top toutes catégories.
@albertohernandez3803
These guys are fucking awesome, i want to see them live... too bad i'm far away in mexico and they probably wont come here
@I713TO
De hecho vinieron a México en el 2012 a un festival allá en el bosque de tlalpan.
@toonhannink2648
Fantastisch ik zag jullie net op tv ik had nooit van jullie gehoord ,wat geweldige muziek Riky Hannink
@user-me5mg3kp7d
познакомились в саду эдемовом
@duffault05
The language here is Amsterdam Jewish dialect - sort of Jewish-Dutch similar to what Yiddish is to German. Fabulous group.
@jonathanpgill
Actually it's mostly standard Yiddish mixed in with Dutch--but this is complicated, because Amsterdam Yiddish cross-pollinated with Dutch, a working-class dialect called Plat-Nederlands, and a sort of underworld dialect called Bargoens. But the music is simply lovely. By the way, is this the same Sighet that was Elie Weisel's birthplace? The irony...
@duffault05
thanks for the details. I love the sound of that language ! I think that Sziget is different from Wiesel's Sighet.
@DowtawnAppartment
супер!
@Natascha68900
Fantastisch!!