There was quite the controversy among the Eurovision committee as to whether or not to allow the Israeli band Teapacks (Tipex) to take part in the annual contest, with the scandanavian sector feeling that the song the band would sing was inappropriate and should not be allowed. A couple of weeks ago the committee gave the green light, however, and Tipex will be representing Israel at the contest singing “Push the Button.” I’m including a clip of the song below, along with the video, so you can judge for yourselves:
Tipex is one of my very favourite bands, though I must say I’m not super wild about this particular song –however, I see nothing inappropriate about it. It is just not the sound that I generally associate with Tipex music. Tipex is something of an institution here and for many years has been providing somewhat tongue in cheek social commentary on what goes on Israeli society all set to a very dance-able or humm-along-able melodies. Lately the band has been playing around with incorporating lots of new sounds into their songs, some of which work for me and some don’t. So below, I’m going to include some recent songs of theirs that I really do like much more. So here for your listening pleasure is “Salam Salami” (which makes me giggle every time I hear it on the radio) and “Od Shabbat” (Another Saturday) –my current fav of theirs and that I’ve been listening to incessantly of late.
Salam Salami
Od Shabbat
But, now what do you think about Push the Button –do we have a winner here or a, ahem, bomb?
Hi Yael,
Actually, the spelling “Teapacks” was specifically chosen over the more obvious “Tipex”, as the band didn’t want young people to think that they were promoting the use of tipex for getting high (or something to that effect). In any event, the “Teapacks” spelling is deliberate.
Liza –heh I know but if you want to go searching for their songs online like to download –which of course no one would ever do without paying for –you won’t find much of their stuff searching under teapacks. Israeli uploaders use the tipex spelling
This particular song just didn’t do it for me.
Really? Wow - interesting! I know that whenever I look for Israeli music (or Israeli anything, actually) online, I do multiple searches, using different spellings each time.
I think it’s hysterically funny, but it’s absolutely impossible to dance to and it doesn’t have a modulation after bridge following the third verse. Some might say that this would automatically make it a Eurovision flop, but the Eurovision has certainly produced some surprising (and some surprised) winners in recent years, so who knows?
I love Tipex (the band, not the correction fluid. I have no real opinion on the correction fluid), and they were one of the first bands I got into when I came here too. My favorite song of theirs used to be “vehapa’am shir ahava”; or perhaps “yesh li chavera”.
By the way, Kobi Oz has also written a book which is very cute. I think I might have it somewhere. He’s also fun to read.
Jack –exactly!
Liza –heh I wouldn’t know this of course seeing as I’d never use bitorrent or edonkey or what have you
Nominally challenged –it is really funny. It just feels like they suddenly burst into part of “rock the casba” every so often. Ooooooo Yesh li chavera is one of my favourites too –and their whole 2001 CD totally rocks. The guitar player oh oh oh, the guitar player so totally hot.
Hm, the button song doesn’t push any buttons for me. Salam Salami is definitely better.
Seemed harmless enough. I don’t see what gave the committee hives.