With so many Jewish singing groups coming up with Chanukah parodies and new lyrics for songs from the hit movie Wicked, we expected one from the Maccabeats and here it is.In 2010 The Maccabeats, an a cappella group from Yeshiva University, released their first Hanukkah music video, Candlelight, and every Hanukkah (and other holidays) since then we've seen many more videos by them and lots of other groups.
Originally
formed in 2007 as Yeshiva University’s student vocal group,
the Maccabeats have recently emerged as both Jewish music and a cappella
phenomena, with a large fan base, more than 20 million views on
YouTube, numerous TV appearances, and proven success with three albums,
2010′s Voices From The Heights, 2012′s Out Of The Box and 2014′s One Day More.
Many of their songs are parodies of pop hits, and this Chanukah they're continuing the tradition withnew lyrics for the movie's signature song Defying Gravity that celebrates the spirit of the Jewish people. The lyrics appear below.
Enjoy!
Lyrics
Some things have changed around us
Some things have stayed the same
Through every change we’ve weathered
Our spirit always burns the same.
When shadows rise to meet us
Our flame will burn through the night
An ancient spark ignites
And fills the void with light.
We’ll rise above, defying gravity
Through every trial defying gravity
And they won’t bring us down.
Our light will continue to shine
this flame is no trick or delusion
Never accepted limits,
Cause someone says they're so
Thousands of years so far
But we’ve still got a ways to go.
No time to be afraid of
Those who’d try to see us gone
They didn’t know the strength that we’ve had all along.
We’ll rise above, defying gravity
Through every trial defying gravity
And they won’t bring us down.
So if your faith is shaken
Pray to the Eastern sky
As someone told me lately
Od Avinu, Am Yisrael Chai
We’re never flying solo
We’re never left alone
To those who’d ground us
Here’s a message of our own
We'll rise above, defying gravity
We’ll shine our light, defying gravity
And we will make our presence known.
In every land that we call home
We’ll say it loud and make it known,
You’re never gonna bring us down.
