The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries

Lorde performs at Lollapalooza in 2014. (Liliane Callegari/CC BY 2.0)

This Israeli urges Lorde: Play Palestine instead

Instead of simply canceling your show in Tel Aviv, cross the checkpoints and the separation wall and do what most pop icons have yet to do: perform in the West Bank. An open letter to Lorde. Dear Lorde, You may have stumbled upon my words before. Three years ago, your art and public persona inspired…

By Yuval Ben-Ami December 24, 2017

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Project

Putting together an homage to your favorite singer is a trivial thing — if you live in a normal country. It started off as a simple enough idea: let’s make a musical tribute to Lorde, New Zealand’s young and upbeat singer-songwriter. I’m crazy about Lorde’s music, despite being nearly 40 years old and usually more…

By Yuval Ben-Ami April 27, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 15: The love club

The final chapter, in which we make music. Part 15 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. “Yuval, what is your time limit?” Khader asked me online. There was a time limit. The spring’s succession of guided tours was supposed kick off in two weeks. Once that happened, I would have no…

By Yuval Ben-Ami March 5, 2015

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The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 14: Not alone

What can bring hope in times of weak spirit? How about a teardrop, a social network, a Russian soprano and a faithful ex-lover. Part 14 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. The war never broke out in earnest, but my mood was not quick to recover. One thing did brighten things…

By Yuval Ben-Ami March 2, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde diaries, chapter 13: Overwhelmed

In this country, looking at things differently can really get your head spinning. Part 13 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. And so the project took a real conceptual shift. There was no denying it: this was the same shift my own political views took in recent years. Once I strongly…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 26, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 12: Never be Royals?

When the going gets tough, the only way to move forward is to think differently. Following the disheartening drive from the South, the Lorde tribute project picks a new direction. Part 12 of 15. To read the rest of the series, click here. Friday was the last day of the rainy spell. The brave editor of…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 23, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 11: The lift

It’s cease or desist for the Lorde project, as Yuval gets a rare opportunity for a long nocturnal drive with a great musician. Part 11 of 15. For more, click here. We all packed up into a seven-seater Suburban: Mira Awad, three other actors and myself. Yigal Ezrati, Jaffa Theater’s director, was the driver. Clearly I…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 19, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde diaries, chapter 10: Law of desire

The story takes a southern turn, as Yuval heads into the desert for a possible rendezvous with an elusive star, and has disturbing thoughts on the way. Click here to read the previous chapters of the ‘Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries’ And so I was left with no choice. I had to travel to a freezing desert plateau, where…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 15, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 9: The Arab Lorde

Two nights in Jerusalem bring many a new acquaintance, and make things seem so much simpler— or complicated. Click here to read the previous chapters of the ‘Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries’ Winter was only getting more severe, which presented a dilemma. Being a poetry lover, I head south each year for a poetry festival held in the heart of…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 12, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 8: Mizrahi vibrations

There’s more to Israeli music than your typical Do-Re-Mi, but as our heroes try to explore new scales, they run into a false note. Click here to read the previous chapters of the ‘Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries’ The storm was beating relentlessly at our shutters. It was too cold to go out to Nehama, too rainy…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 9, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 7: Bus jammin’

Ironically, it’s a break from music-making and partner-searching that produces a first duet, and with a very special musician, too. Read the previous chapters of The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries here. On the fifth morning of the tour, after having breakfast at the group’s Jerusalem hotel, I climbed aboard the bus and found that we had a…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 6, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde diaries, Chapter 6: Crossing over

It’s time for the local Lorde tribute to go over the Line, in more than one way. Read the previous chapters of The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries here. On Boxing Day we traveled down to Bethlehem. We were five: my girlfriend Ruthie, three members of her research team (she is a doctoral student of social psychology)…

By Yuval Ben-Ami February 1, 2015

The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries, chapter 5: The future

The team gets the hottest recruit this side of the separation barrier. Read the previous chapters of The Israel-Palestine Lorde Diaries here. “He who wishes to fly must first learn to walk,” said Nietzsche, and I say: before teaming up with Palestinians, an Israeli Lorde fan must find Israeli partners. Yaron surprised me with snobbery,…

By Yuval Ben-Ami January 29, 2015