Lana Del Rey, BDS, and jamming in Lebanon to Israeli metal
On August 31, pop singer Lana Del Rey cancelled her planned performance in Israel following pressure from the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement, which supports various boycotts against the Jewish state to further pro-Palestinian political goals. The “Summertime Sadness” singer originally stood by her decision to sing in Israel, saying “music is universal,” but ultimately decided to not play the Meteor Festival.
People are subsequently debating the controversial BDS movement and Lana Del Rey’s acquiescence to its demands. I’m a reporter, and my purpose is not to do that here. But I’m also a musician who has jammed with people all over the Middle East, and will share the following story:
I lived in Beirut, Lebanon for much of 2016. One of my friends was a refugee from Syria’s Hasakah province and an avid cook. He invited me over for dinner at his place in Borj Hammoud — a largely Armenian neighborhood of east Beirut. His roommate, a transplant from one of Lebanon’s Druze villages, was a guitarist, and suggested I play some songs on his axe. I played my usual: some Luke Bryan, some Blink-182, and a bit of Drake.
Eventually, he asked me if I knew any Middle Eastern songs. I played the only one I can play well — a riff I adapted from an Orphaned Land song. Orphaned Land is a famous Israeli metal band, and the pioneers of so-called “oriental metal,” which mixes heavy metal with traditional Arab, Jewish, Turkish and other eastern styles of music. This particular bit was from a Yemenite Jewish song they perform. The roommate loved the song, and took a video of me playing it. He was excited an American could play such a Middle Eastern-sounding riff, I guess, and wanted to know more about it.
“Where’s that from?” he asked.
I didn’t know what to say. Israel and Lebanon are technically in a state of war. It was only ten years ago that Israel and Hezbollah fought. I had no idea what this dude thought of Israel, Israelis, or Israeli metal bands. I couldn’t lie, though, so I told him.
“I don’t want to cause any problems, but the band who played the original version of the song is Israeli,” I said.
“Why would that be a problem?” he replied.
“You know, cause of the issues between Israel and Lebanon.”
He looked at me surprised.
“Man, fuck that. Music is universal!” he said.
Lana Del Rey is free to do as she chooses. Israelis are free to be disappointed in her, and BDS is free to praise her. But I can tell you from experience that music does bring people together in the Middle East. On that day, I made a friend through music, and another guy was introduced to a band from a nearby place he could have easily hated in its entirety, but chose not to.
Rock on.
