Hava Nagila
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"The Hebrew folk song "Hava Nagila" is the ultimate world music classic, a song everyone knows but no one can remember where it originates."--Sholem Stein |
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"Hava Nagila" is a Hebrew folk song, the title meaning "Let us rejoice".
It is a song of celebration, especially popular amongst Jewish and Roma communities. In popular culture, it is used as a metonym for Judaism, and is a staple of band performers at Jewish festivals. As the jewish faith is celebrated all thoughout the world, this song is connected internationally.
The melody is a Hassidic melody of uncertain origin.
In 1963, American actress and singer Lena Horne was increasingly concerned by issues of racism in the United States and she left RCA Victor and signed to 20th Century Fox, to record the civil rights anthem "Now!," a song based on "Hava Nagila", with lyrics by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green. The song was used as the backdrop for the political film Now!.
