Songs After the War with Nir Gurly

What happens to songs during wartime, and when does a song become a commemorative song? This lecture traces the unique connection formed in Israel between music, radio, war, and memory—from “We’re Both from the Same Village” to “At Our Kindergarten,” from “Nasser Is Waiting for Rabin” to “Harbu Darbu.” We will follow how the Israeli soundtrack changed alongside the wars and Israeli society: from the victory songs of the Six-Day War, through the rupture of Yom Kippur, to October 7 and the most recent war.

Through stories, archival clips, and familiar songs, we will examine how radio and music not only reflect the national mood but also shape it; how songs that were not written about bereavement acquire new meaning over the years; who actually decides which songs will enter our collective memory; and what happens to their original meaning along the way.

Nir Gurley is a podcast creator, journalist, and music editor. He edits and hosts the successful podcast and television series “One Song,” and is a music editor at Kan 88.

Image credit: Courtesy of the production team