Music as a Reflection of Culture: 'Teapacks' sings, "Don't Wanna Go Kaput-Kaboom"

One of Israel's most popular and talented musical groups, Teapacks (or as they are known in Israel Tipp-ex) was picked as Israel's contest competitor to the EuroVision song competition-to be held in Helsinki, Finland in May. They offered up four songs to the telephone-voting Israeli public, which overwhelming chose "Push the Button." Lyrics include, "And I don't wanna die, I wanna see the flowers bloom, don't wanna go kaput-kaboom."
Teapacks was created 19 years ago and they are known for their unique sound, combining oriental/eastern musical styles with more western pop music. They are also known for their satirical and humorous takes on Israeli life and for the biting social criticism in their lyrics. Famous for sampling music from old cultural themes and songs and re-writing them, the band was created in 1988 by Kobi Oz and Gal Peremen in the town of Sderot.
http://www.myspace.com/teapacks
Art, and particularly popular music so often best reflect the mood and times of a culture. In this Israel is no different from anyplace else. "Push the Button" appears to reflect a widespread Israeli view that Iran's nuclear programme is a threat to the Jewish state's very existence.
And small, connected world that it is, guitar player Rami Yosifov was my wife's first enduring love during the last three years of teenagehood in Holon, when she was still Iris Malka!
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Israelis Pick Anti-Nuke Song for Eurovision
Israelis have voted overwhelmingly for a song about nuclear annihilation as their country's entry in this year's Eurovision song contest, in what is considered a response to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's fiery rhetoric. The group Teapacks was picked as Israel's contest competitor earlier, and they offered up four songs to the telephone-voting Israeli public, which overwhelming chose "Push the Button."
Not only does Oz, the group's leader and soloist sing about "demonic" and "crazy rulers" and the threat of being "blown to kingdom come", but he continues with the lyrics: "And I don't wanna die, I wanna see the flowers bloom, don't wanna go kaput-kaboom." The song appears to reflect a widespread Israeli view that Iran's nuclear programme is a threat to the Jewish state's very existence. In October 2004, President Ahmadinejad made a statement in which he envisaged the replacement of Israel with a Palestinian state.
Mr Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state, though Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. "The idea is to do something that crosses the accepted norms," singer Kobi Oz told reporters. Controversial entry The group was picked as Israel's contest competitor earlier, and they offered up four songs to the telephone-voting Israeli public, which overwhelming chose Push the Button. The lyrics are sung in English, French and Hebrew and the music fluctuates between folk, rap and hard rock themes.
View the Song
See also Eurovision Contest May Ban Israeli Entry
Eurovision may ban Israeli entry due to lyrics on nuclear war
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/832315.html
By The Associated Press
HELSINKI, Finland - Eurovision Song Contest organizers said Thursday they might ban this year's Israeli entry, Teapacks' Push the Button, because of what they termed its inappropriate political message.The song, to be performed at the contest in Helsinki in May, overwhelmingly won Israel's competition Wednesday. It is sung in English, French and Hebrew and seemingly refers indirectly to Iran's nuclear ambitions and its hard-line leader, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
.Click here for the official Israeli Eurovision Web site.