The Hanukkah Sessions came to a close last night, Sunday, December 5th, with what was the eighth musical installment in the project. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and producer/musician Greg Kurstin close the 2021 edition of this holiday project with their version of the KISS classic “Rock and Roll all Nite.”
Watch the video below!
We covered some of the releases of this project but not all so in case you missed any, here is a recap of all of the Hanukkah gifts from Dave and Greg:
Night 1 – Tuesday, November 28th
The first entry for this year’s series is the below cover of Lisa Loeb‘s gold-certified 1994 single “Stay (I Missed You).”
The pair commented:
“Welcome back to the menorah, y’all. Let’s kick it this year’s Hanukkah sessions with one of Dallas, Texas’s favorite Jewish daughters. So put on your coffee shop spectacles and your Betsey Johnson dress and HAVA listen to this… “Stay” by Lisa Loeb.”
Night 2 – Wednesday, November 29th
The duo recreated the classic punk anthem “Blitzkreig Bop.”
“Once upon a time, two nice Jewish boys from Queens named Jeffery Hyman and Thomas Erdelyi changed the world forever with their music….. as Joey and Tommy Ramone!
GABBAI GABBAI HEY!
Ladies and gentlemen….It’s the Ramones! Blitzkreig Bop!”
Night 3 – Thursday, November 30th
A cover of Barry Manilow‘s 1978 single “Copacabana“.
Grohl and Kurstin commented:
“Barry Pincus – not only one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th (or any) century, but a mega-mensch to boot!
So, like a good neighbor, you deserve a break today. So grab a bucket of chicken and let’s get stuck on…..
Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana’!”
Night 4 – Friday, December 1st
Van Halen‘s hit single “Jump” was the fourth enty.
The pair commented:
“Quite possibly the loudest and proudest of hard rocking Jews, David Lee Roth has gone on record crediting his Bar Mitzvah preparation as his earliest vocal training. He became a rockstar the day he became a man: Diamond Dreidel DLR and Van Halen…with ‘Jump.'”
Night 5 – Thursday, December 2nd
The fifth night, Amy Winehouse‘s “Take The Box,” featuring Grohl‘s own daughter Violet.
Grohl and Kurstin offered:
“Despite this song’s mention of a “Moschino bra you bought me last Christmas,” it’s common knowledge that the amazing woman behind the song was actually Jewish. Gone far too soon…Ms. Amy Winehouse and “Take The Box.””
Night 6 – Friday, December 3rd
The guys covered Billy Joel’s “Big Shot” to celebrate night six of this annual Hanukkah Sessions series.
“While he claims a secular Long Island upbringing (and has songs full of Catholic and Italian imagery), Billy Joel remains one of the great Jews of musical scripture—here’s his ultimate ode to a true Macher: “Big Shot!””
Night 7 – Saturday, December 4th
Dave and Greg took on The Clash‘s “Train In Vain” for night 7.
Here is what they had to say:
“Michael Geoffrey Jones, born to Russian Jewish mother Renee Zagansky, would come to be known as punk rock legend Mick Jones, co-founder of The Clash. It’s London Calling Jerusalem as we take a “Train In Vain.””
Grohl set up his four piece drum kit next to a wall of silver tinsel. Producer Greg Kurstin played keyboard with a traditional menorah atop. The minimalist approach is working for these two consummate professionals. Happy Holidays everyone!
