August 25, 2014
Israeli soldiers break out in tension-releasing song
Israeli soldiers break out in tension-releasing song.

IDF reservists are serving up some unlikely but heartening covers of songs by American Authors, Pharrell Williams and Jason Mraz, all recorded and uploaded to YouTube during moments of respite during this summer’s Hamas attacks on Israel.

Breaking out into song during war may seem out of place at first, but scientific studies have shown that singing makes people happier and releases tension.

A group of IDF reservists who just finished 32 days of service made a video to “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors – with a Code Red Siren embedded in the soundtrack – as a thank-you to the Israeli public for its support during the campaign.

Talkbacks to the video of the dancing soldiers highlight their good looks and their crazy attitude for finding fun even in a stressful situation:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153470836932316&fref=nf

Another group of reservists, with far more amateur filming equipment than the guys above, gave a khaki rendition of the super popular hit “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, while still on base.

And then there’s the IDF reservists’ jam session that while not very good in terms of video quality brings home one of the strongest messages. This group of soldiers took a break from fighting to sing Mosh Ben Ari’s “Salaam (Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu)” song of peace.

The upbeat Israeli song, titled “Peace Will Come upon Us” in English, has come to symbolize a call to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. The reservists mix in the Hamas song “Shake Israel’s Security” — an anthem of the Ezz Al Deen Al Qassam Brigades — that was released in Hebrew earlier this summer as a call to war.

In the same vein, sitting atop a tank, an Israeli soldier sings a goosebump-inducing cover to Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” as he sings the lyrics: “Well, open up your mind and see like me, … Look into your heart and you’ll find love, love, love, love. Listen to the music of the moment, people dance and sing, we’re just one big family; And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved, loved, loved.”

 

 

 

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Jason Harris

Jason Harris

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