New York – If you can smell sufganiyot frying in the air, it means Hanukka is almost here. And if you needed another sign – that’s here too: A new music video from the Maccabeats.
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The wildly popular Jewish a capella group, which originated at Yeshiva University, brought a personal touch to this year’s video, discussing their incredible 10-year journey. Eight members of the original group appear in “Candles on the Sill,” most of whom are now married and have children.
“Ten years ago we played our first set/ We were singing for just family and our friends,” they sing to the tune of Ed Sheeran’s hit Castle on the Hill. “And our hearts beat with the rush that comes from a cheering crowd/ We were younger then.”
The video splices in clips of past songs as well as the group’s shows over the years, from TV appearances to stadiums and concerts and yes, even singing at the White House.
The song was uploaded on Monday and already has more than 36,000 views in just over 12 hours. But it’s bound to follow the smashing success of their earlier Hanukka tunes: Candlelight from 2010 has more than 13 million views, while 2011’s Miracle has over 3 million and Burn from 2013 has almost 2 million.
Many more of the band’s music videos have topped one million views on YouTube since they set out 10 years ago. They have four holiday concerts slated for Hanukka around the New York area, and are scheduled to perform in London’s Trafalgar Square on Tuesday night, the first night of the holiday, alongside Mayor Sadiq Khan.
“Don’t know what we did to deserve this light/ Hoping we learn to use it right,” they sing in their most recent offering. “But we were younger then/ Take us back to when/ We found our voice despite our fears/ Through ups and downs over the years/ We never dreamed of being here for so long/ And as we grow/ We just hope you come along.”
Remember when they used to be good?