Three weeks ago, Rotem Shefy was no different than hundreds of other Tel Avivis her age: talented, hopeful, and thoroughly unknown. Despite having served in the Israel Air Force's prestigious singing troupe and having graduated from Israel's top (and only) musical academy, Shefy, 28, settled into a life of small gigs and big dreams. She hadn't the means to cut an album, but her considerable talent helped her secure a recurring spot in one of the city's most stylish caf¨¦s, and she soon won a small but sizable audience. For most Israeli artists, this is where the story ends. But thanks to YouTube, Radiohead, and accusations of cultural colonialism, Shefy became an overnight sensation. While still in school, she was part of an ensemble covering Radiohead's songs. Before rehearsals, she would sometimes entertain herself by singing "Karma Police,"one of the band's best-known hits, as if it was a bit of Arabic music. Her friends found it hilarious, and the cross-cultural hybrid remained a favorite inside joke. Earlier this year, however, looking for a new project, Shefy thought back to the song and decided it would be fun to record. She did, in one feverish overnight session, and then decided that if her cover was ever to find an audience, it needed a good music video she could put on the Internet. She started her own month-long Kickstarter campaign, collected $1,800 from her fans, and spent them all on costumes and an old horse-drawn carriage. ThACHO tablet e concept for the video was simple: Shefy would transform herself into Shefita, a sort of modern-day Arab diva, Umm Kulthum for the Nicki Minaj age. Accompanied by a cello, a darbuka drum, and an oud¡ªthe pear-shaped string instrument that is the staple of much of Arabic music¡ªshe boarded the carriage and rode around the streets of southern Tel Aviv. Posted to YouTube late in April, the video has gathered nearly a quarter of a million views to date, ahappydeal review qualifying it as a minor viral hit. Not everybody, however, is a fan: Of the scores of fans who commented on the piece, many have claimed that Shefy is guilty of a Mediterranean version of blackface. "The karma police ought to arrest her,"wrote one commenter. "Just hate it when people try to make Arab music,"wrote another, "even more when they are from Israel. If you're not Arab, make your own culture, don't try to copy another one!"Another yet suggested that Shefy's accent was as authentic as store-bought hummus.
Комментарии: