New Passover Song Parody - "There's Someone Hiding my Snack"

Not my first Shawn Mendes Passover song, that would be "Matzah (Stitches)" from two years ago haha. This one is set to his hit "There's Nothing Holding me Back". It's about the afikomen game we play on Passover and it's called "There's Someone Hiding my Snack". This would be a great fit for anyone's Seder when you play the game after the yummy meal! Chag Sameach everybody!
Big thanks to my 7th graders for helping me sing along to the final chorus!

This is a new Passover Song Parody, "Afikomen (There's Someone Hiding my Snack)" set to "There's Nothing Holding me Back" by Shawn Mendes. Original lyrics by Sam Levine featuring students from the SSDS 7th Grade. Happy Pesach everybody!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sLr533cz40

LYRICS:

I wanna tell you ‘bout a game

I play it when we get to Pesach

It’s really easy to explain  

You look around to find some matzah



We hide a piece, we’re told to find it later

I wanna start, but first we have our sederOur seder



Oh, I've been searching

I’m looking around all over

It happens every Passover

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

I’m really hopin’ I’m finding the afikomen

I pray that it won’t get stolen

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack



Think of the Jews from long ago

Didn’t think they were gonna make it

Moses led them out with the dough

But they did not have time to bake it



We talk about the plagues and ask four questions

We find the matzah where? I need suggestions, suggestions



Oh, I've been searching

I’m looking around all over

It happens every Passover

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

I’m really hopin’ I’m finding the afikomen

I pray that it won’t get stolen

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack

I’m gonna find that piece, I really think I can

And I’ll enjoy that piece with cream cheese and some jam

We celebrate eight days, with friends and family

We were slaves in Egypt, but we’re now all free



I’m gonna find that piece, I really think I can

And I’ll enjoy that piece with cream cheese and some jam

We celebrate eight days, with friends and family

We were slaves in Egypt, but we’re now all free



Oh, I've been searching

I’m looking around all over

It happens every Passover

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

I’m really hopin’ I’m finding the afikomen

I pray that it won’t get stolen

Baby, there's someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack

There’s someone hiding my snack

I’m gonna find that piece, I really think I can

And I’ll enjoy that piece with cream cheese and some jam

We celebrate eight days, with friends and family

We were slaves in Egypt, but we’re now all free

Purim Parody - "Booed" Set to "Rude" by Magic!

Hey everyone, working hard on some new songs and also excited about attending my first Hava Nashira at the end of May! Anyway, since the holiday of Purim is coming up I wanted to share a video of me singing an original parody I wrote at 2016 Songleader Boot Camp. It is set to the song "Rude" by Magic! and is the only proper time I will allow someone to boo at my performance. Here are the lyrics below, hope you all enjoy!

BOOED - Set to RUDE by Magic!
Purim is coming that is the deal, I put on my costume
Eat hamentaschen, put on a shpiel. The story I'll tell you.
Vashti is gone, now Esther's the queen to king achashverosh
But then you got Haman he is real mean

Can you count the corners of his really big hat
There's one, there's two, and there's 3 of them.
He wanted everyone to bow to him when he was around
But Mordechai said the answer is no!

Haman's always getting booed, he is just a real mean dude
He better change his attitude, til then I'll eat hamentaschen
Hamentaschen, chocolate and apricot
Hamentaschen, lemon and strawberry
Hamentaschen, poppy and raspberry
Haman's always getting booed!

When Mordechai learned of Haman's plot, he went to tell Esther
To pick the day Haman cast a lot. In Hebrew, that's "Purim".
Esther could run away, but she chose instead to tell the king
She would wait 3 days, and then she told him everything

Can you count the corners of his really big hat
There's one, there's two, and there's 3 of them.
He wanted everyone to bow to him when he was around
But Mordechai said the answer is no!

Haman's always getting booed, he is just a real mean dude
He better change his attitude, til then I'll eat hamentaschen
Hamentaschen, chocolate and apricot
Hamentaschen, lemon and strawberry
Hamentaschen, poppy and raspberry
Haman's always getting booed!

Haman's always getting booed, he is just a real mean dude
He better change his attitude, til then I'll eat hamentaschen
Hamentaschen, chocolate and apricot
Hamentaschen, lemon and strawberry
Hamentaschen, poppy and raspberry
Haman's always getting booed!

The CD is online and ready for sale

The CD "Bagels on the Wall" is now available for downloads on the following sites. You will now be able to download individual tracks as well as the full album, or order them if you like a physical copy. It has been such an exciting week sharing the CD with all of you and stay tuned on this blog for more news about live performances and places to experience the album!

ITUNES
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bagels-on-the-wall/id1192605689

CDBABY
cdbaby.com/cd/samlevine22

SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/album/2scSGAAI4f3n3HkFGsOn6X

The CDs have arrived!

Happy New Years everyone!!! 

Back in February I traveled to St. Louis to attend Songleader Boot Camp and was inspired by all the music I heard and the talented musicians and song leaders I met over the weekend. Excited to record a CD of my own songs, I worked on original music and lyrics with my classes and performed them for a Rock Hashanah service. After my students and family members could not stop asking me to sing them again, I went ahead and recorded them with my producer in East Windsor on two very warm October days. After my talented mom designed the cover and label using bagels that she painted on the walls of our kitchen more than 15 years ago, we created the CD using Disc Makers. Yesterday, the package was sitting by the front door! 

All the songs will soon be available on CDBaby and iTunes.  With several copies of the CD already requested, a hard copy of the album is also available for you. Check out my 'Contact Me' tab at the top of this site for purchase options. I can't wait to share my songs with everyone in 2017!

TRACK 12 - LET'S DO THIS AGAIN

The final song on the CD is a personal one. This was also written for the 2016 Rock Hashanah service as a setting to the prayer R'tzeih. The prayer talks about the spirit behind God's return to Zion. Whenever I do anything exciting or meet great people for the first time, or even go out on a date and enjoy it, I always think about wanting to go back and do it again. This song is about those feelings of wanting to go back to the things we love and the hopes that those people we shared the experience with want the same thing. I had so much fun making the CD, it's really been a dream of mine for a long time to do to this, and I hope you all enjoy the songs and I can do this again sometime!

12. LET'S DO THIS AGAIN

I thought I was dreaming, and in my dreams there are lessons to learn

We were all cheering, we were back God made our return

The other nations stopped to say Adonai has done a great thing today

Now whenever I feel this way, I’ll call us all together to pray I say

Let’s do this again, let’s do this another time and then

We’ll have the memories to share of our time there

We’ll make it a promise let’s say

Let’s do this again, we’ll talk about the where and when

I’ll call upon you before we’re gone to see another day my friend

Let’s do this again

Oh hear my call, let’s come together in song as one

We’re close to all the beautiful things in life we’ve done

We found our way so let’s make a plan, I see my passion I understand

Don’t give up in spirit, in joy, in song, receive our voice we stand here strong and say

Let’s do this again, let’s do this another time and then

We’ll have the memories to share of our time there

We’ll make it a promise let’s say

Let’s do this again, we’ll talk about the where and when

I’ll call upon you before we’re gone to see another day my friend

Let’s do this again

Baruch atah adonai hamachazir, sh’chinato l’tzion

Baruch atah adonai hamachazir, sh’chinato l’tzion

Let’s do this again, let’s do this another time and then

We’ll have the memories to share of our time there

We’ll make it a promise let’s say

Let’s do this again, we’ll talk about the where and when

I’ll call upon you before we’re gone to see another day my friend

Let’s do this again

TRACK 11 - A VERY SPICY SONG

Going to Buffalo Wild Wings with one of my best friends from college, I foolishly decide to get the hottest boneless wings they have. I didn't make it past wing five and was unable to taste anything for the next two days...6 years later I write a song about it!!! I was nervous about putting this song on the album until we went into production. It's a fun song to perform with the students, and they like the psych-out of me being upset not about sad things, but because I ate really spicy food. However, I was not sure how it would relate on recorded music when they can't see my facial reaction to eating spicy food. But once we added some cool drum beats, shakers, and created a fun refrain for kids to dance along to, I am now very happy to make this part of the CD too. (Side note: My dad and brother are huge Jets fans, but if you want to sing this for your friends, you can make it about any NFL team you want)

11. A VERY SPICY SONG

Not feeling good today, and I don’t know what to say

Happy is not how I feel, this bad feeling is real

I’ll tell you the problem that I got, I ate a pepper it was hot!!!

Well I’m on fire and the tears are streaming down from my face

I need some oxygen, I’m jumping up all over the place

My tongue starts panting, I’m scrunching up my nose

I’m pounding on the floor, and here it goes!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Aahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! And stop!!

Watching football with my pets, I am rooting for the jets (or the giants, or whatever team you prefer)

I want them to win so bad, so do my brother and my dad

And as they fall short from the goal, I eat some chili from this bowl

Well I’m on fire and the tears are streaming down from my face

I need some oxygen, I’m jumping up all over the place

My tongue starts panting, I’m scrunching up my nose

I’m pounding on the floor, and here it goes!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Aahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! And stop!!

With my friends the time moves fast, always thinking about the past

So many memories from long ago, when will we meet I do not know

What a sad sad thing, hey let me try that chicken wing

Well I’m on fire and the tears are streaming down from my face

I need some oxygen, I’m jumping up all over the place

My tongue starts panting, I’m scrunching up my nose

I’m pounding on the floor, and here it goes!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Aahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

So if you’re eating something really hot and your friends ask what is wrong

Save up the words you need to speak, and sing this really spicy song

Well I’m on fire and the tears are streaming down from my face

I need some oxygen, I’m jumping up all over the place

My tongue starts panting, I’m scrunching up my nose

I’m pounding on the floor, and here it goes!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Aahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Aahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! And stop!!

TRACK 10 - PLEASE DON'T TURN ME INTO A PIE

So a little more background. Besides original family songs, my absolute favorite thing to sing is jazz music. I got hooked on Frank Sinatra when I was 16 in high school, and I couldn't stop listening to him, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, and so many more great singers. Scat is so much fun to sing because you can completely make it up as you go along with any syllables you would like. I really wanted to write a song that could include some scat for students of any age to sing along to and contribute their own unique lines. 

The first Saturday morning of fall, while I was in a diner on my way to work, I took out a notebook and started writing about apples. I made up this story of apples that can sing scat music and don't want to be picked off of a tree this boy kept trying to climb. Once he finally reaches the top of the tree, he is not upset about no apples to pick, but amazed at the view from the top and all of the other trees in the world he can see. Not only do I get jazz in the song, I can include some opera/theater in the bridge as well! When you listen to this track, look for a subtle McDonald's reference in the third set of scat haha. 

10. PLEASE DON'T TURN ME INTO A PIE
There’s a real fresh apple that I can see

Hanging at the bottom of the orchard tree

I reached out to grab it, then how about that

The first red apple started to scat

Scee-ba-doo-bah, bop-ba-dee-moo

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah you’re making me cry, please don’t turn me into a pie!

Please don’t turn me into a pie!

So I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed

I found a second red apple that I could see

Just a little higher on the orchard tree

I reached out to grab it, then how about that

The second red apple started to scat

Scee-ba-doo-bah, bop-ba-dee-moo

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah you’re making a mistake, please don’t turn me into a cake!

Please don’t turn me into a cake!

So I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed

I found a third red apple that I could see

Hanging even higher on that orchard tree

I reached out to grab it, then how about that

The third red apple started to scat

Scee-ba-doo-bah, bop-ba-dee-moo

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah listen to me boss, please don’t turn me into apple sauce!

Please don’t turn me into apple sauce!

So I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed

I found a fourth red apple that I could see

Getting really high up in this orchard tree

I reached out to grab it, then how about that

The fourth red apple started to scat

Scee-ba-doo-bah, bop-ba-dee-moo

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah and yankee doodle, please don’t turn me into a strudel!

Please don’t turn me into a strudel!

So I climbed, and I climbed, and I climbed, and I…

Wait, how long have I been climbing?

I’m at the top! I’m at the top of the tree!

I can see forever!!!!!! I can see forever!!!!!!!!

The stars in LA, the beach in Cape May

The villages in Mexico

Israel’s Dead Sea, the canals of Italy

So many places to go!!!

I will travel the world and see what each place has

And I know I’ll find an apple who doesn’t know jazz

Scee-ba-doo-bah, bop-ba-dee-moo

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah you’re making me cry, please don’t turn me into a pie!

Skeep-ba-wop-ba-loo-wah, now here’s my goodbye! I won’t turn you into a pie!

TRACK 9 - THE DINOSAUR DINER

I'm a New Jersey man, and I love to eat at diners. I can make another blog right now with all the best diners in the Garden State, but what about a diner that served dinosaurs? I couldn't get the title out of my head once I came up with it and I wrote it over the summer. I think the fact that "brontoSAURUS" rhymed with "CHORUS" was the sell for me. Also kids love dinosaurs. There's a song that I do on Shabbat called "There's a Dinosaur Knocking on my Door" that all of my students love, and they ask for it every day of the week. Since Shabbat is only on Fridays, I decided to create another dinosaur song for the kids to sing during the week. There's another shout out to my family who are big lovers of rice pudding in the bridge as well! Go to your Yelp accounts and review the Dinosaur Diner!

9. DINOSAUR DINER

It’s a celebration, everyone gather round

Make your reservation, for the new hot spot in town

It’s a brand new restaurant, so much food in store

Just gotta ask a question, are you afraid of dinosaurs?

I’m at the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

I’m at the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

Grab your steaks and lamb chops, here comes a T-Rex

They got great table manners, and always tip their checks

In walks a triceratops, so clear that salad bar

For the brontosaurus, the stegosaurus, everybody’s here so can you sing the chorus

At the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

I’m at the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

See them waving their tails, see them stomping their feet

See them bopping their heads, let’s get them something to eat

One dinosaur orders the pasta, it comes out undercooked. Let me hear a roar. Roar)

The second dinosaur orders the chicken with no onions, that chicken comes out covered in onions, let me hear a roar. (ROAR)

And the third dinosaur orders the 5 course dinner. He ends it with some delicious rice pudding, and there is no rice pudding! Let me hear a roar! (ROARRRRRRRR?!?)

I’m at the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

I’m at the dinosaur diner, I’m at the dinosaur diner

I’m at the dinosaur diner and I’m looking for a meal tonight

TRACK 8 - FEEL FALAFEL

After my first meeting with my friend Brandon who recorded the CD in East Windsor, I looked back at the list of songs I chose. This one was a late substitution to a previous song I wrote maybe to place in a later CD, but it has become the most popular song I play in my school for all my grades, not just in early childhood. Falafel is such a well known Israeli delicacy, and combining the phrase "Don't feel awful" with "Feel Falafel" the song came to be more than a food song but a feeling song as well. Kind of like how "Supercalifragilisticexpialidcious" was written as something to say when you don't know what to say, "falafel" is something you can feel when you don't know what to feel. 

Just like "How do you make a Matzah Ball" is also a recipe song, there's some recipe thrown in the bridge of this song too. What's great is that, you can take all your bad and angry feelings and do what the song says "Mash them up, fry them up, and put them in a pita" and they go away with whatever you want to put on top. By the end of this song, you can feel falafel wherever you want!

8. FEEL FALAFEL
Sometimes I wake up with a bright warm sunny day (sameach)

Sometimes I’m in a bad mood and wish it would go away (koes)

It’s ok to feel that way sometimes

If there’s someone feeling that way I find

Here’s what I do to make them feel okay, so I say, so I say, so I say,

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel in your shoulders and knees

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel anywhere that you please

There will be a time when I don’t know what to do (poched)

There will be a rainy day when I’m feeling oh so blue (atzuv)

It’s ok to feel that way sometimes

If there’s someone feeling that way you find

Here’s what you do to make them feel okay, so you say, so you say, so you say

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel in your shoulders and knees

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel anywhere that you please

So if those bad feelings come around

Here’s what you can to bring them down

Mash them up and fry them up and put them in a pita

Add tomato, cucumber, tahini then you eat a

Falafel, feeeeeeeel falafel

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel in your shoulders and knees

Don’t feel awful, feel falafel

Feel falafel anywhere that you please

Feel falafel anywhere that you please

Feel falafel anywhere that you please