December 11th, 2009 at 8:08 AM

Senator Orrin Hatches a Hannukah Song

Hatchpiano-750646Orrin Hatch, 75-year-old Republican Senator from Utah and dedicated Mormon, must have figured that if that Zimmerman kid could put out a Christmas album, the old Hatcher could damn well turn the tables and write himself a little Hannukah song, because that’s just what he did. Teaming up an actual Chosen Person, New York composer Madeline Stone, Hatch penned the lyrics to “Eight Days of Hannukah,” which matches a Semitic-sounding melody with a hip-hop-inflected beat while retelling the holiday’s legend.

So what inspired someone like Hatch to make this kind of contribution to the Hannukah songbook? Was it perhaps Neil Diamond’s recent cover of Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song?” Nope, turns out the guy’s a Jewannabe — “I feel sorry I’m not Jewish sometimes,” said Hatch, who proudly displays the mezuzah he wears around his neck in a video promoting the song. While singer Rasheeda Azar belts out Hatch and Stone’s tune, the Senator can be seen in the studio chilling with a set of cans on like he’s hanging with Dre and Snoop at the session for “Gin and Juice.” In a story about the endeavor, the Times reveals that Hatch is in fact a veteran songsmith, who has written a number of Christian hymns, but according to the Senator, his first foray into Jewish jams “means more to me than most of the songs I have ever written.”

Eight Days of Hanukkah from Tablet Magazine on Vimeo.

By Jim Allen

Filed under Featured Posts, News, Video

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Comments

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  1. December 11th, 2009 at 8:25 AM { # }

    A New York State of Hannukah « i could cry but i don’t have time said:

    [...] and white. Hey, after the tie-dye Grateful Dead lights it seems only fair. And another shout out to Senator Orin Hatch, a mormon, who has gotten some decent press about his writing of Hannukah songs. Way to be [...]

  2. December 11th, 2009 at 8:25 AM { # }

    Evan said:

    Just what we need.
    More holiday kitsch.

  3. December 11th, 2009 at 8:25 AM { # }

    Alban said:

    This is a really great song, passionate and very moving. Thank you. Light is what we are.

  4. December 11th, 2009 at 8:25 AM { # }

    Barbara said:

    I loved it, and yes I am celebrating the 8 days of Hanukkah.

    Thank you Senator for spreading the message and
    spirit which reflects your light and warmth. You truly represent the American Dream of Religious Freedom…..

    Waiting to hear some more of your songs….

March 19th, 2010 at 11:57 PM