This year, we’ve gotten a Six13 “Wicked” parody that mixes the funny with the bitter and stars two delightful Jewish actresses, a “Wicked” take on Adom Olam, and now the most famous Jewish a cappella groups, the Maccabeats, are throwing their hat in the ring with a “Defying Gravity” parody full of Jewish gravitas (metaphorical but no literal gravity, if you will).
“Some things have changed around us/Some things have stayed the same,” the group sings in the video. “Through every change we’ve weathered/Our spirit always burns the same.”
The video transitions between clips of the group’s six vocalists singing and footage from Jewish history — from the Holocaust to the history of Israel (like videos of the Beta Israel community first landing in the country) to Jews in America and the diaspora. They share clips of Jewish icons like the late astronaut Ilan Ramon, Elie Weisel, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Israel’s first prime minister David Ben Gurion. We see celebrations of Jewish holidays and joys from across the world, dancing and reading from the Torah, the lighting of giant menorahs and big Passover meals.
“If your faith is shaken/Pray to the Eastern skies,” they sing, referring to the Jewish tradition of praying facing Jerusalem. “As someone told me lately Od Avinu, Am Yisrael Chai,” they continue, which translates into “our father, the people of Israel live,” a reference to the Shlomo Carlebach Jewish anthem. The group ends their cover of the song, written originally by Jewish composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, with some words for anyone who wants to “ground” the Jewish people, a message stated clearly: “You’re never going to bring us down.”
Watch the video below:
