Mamaloshen

Mandy Patinkin

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 1998)
• Original Release Date: February 24, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005J4T
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,962 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Jewish & Yiddish Music

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mandy Patinkin knew only a few words of Yiddish at the beginning of the '90s, when the late Joe Papp eked a promise from the actor-singer to learn the repertoire. So he did, and this helzapoppin' collection of traditional Yiddish tunes and Yiddish translations of English songs by Jewish composers is the overblown, symphonically orchestrated result. Patinkin plays to the third balcony on "Mamaloshen" ("mother tongue"), squeezing every iota of feeling out of songs you might have heard on Grandma's knee, and turning each guttural consonant into a virtual phlegm fest. Nostalgia can be nice, but things get weird when Patinkin makes with Yiddish versions of such showstoppers as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Paul Simon's "American Tune," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," and--oy vey ist mir!--even "The Hokey Pokey," their inclusion justified on assimilationist principles. --Richard Gehr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Every Goy's Guide to Mamaloshen, November 17, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Seattle) - See all my reviews

I love Yiddish words, though I did not grow up listening to the language, and never heard any Yiddish songs. My limited Yiddish came from my Unitarian father's useage, e.g., my sister was called "Yenta-Kvetch." Thus, I appreciated the booklet with each song in Yiddish and English.

I've been a loyal fan of Mandy Patinkin's singing since his first recording, "Dress Casual." I love to surprise people who only know him from "Chicago Hope" or "The Princess Bride" by playing Mandy's version of "Over the Rainbow" from his 1989 CD, "Mandy Patinkin."

"Mamaloshen" is at its best when Mandy's sweet powerful voice is able to unleash his full emotion. Paul Simon's "American Tune" never sounded better. At the other end, I could have done without the spiced up "White Christmas" with its overbearing cymbals. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" are humorous the first time thru then could be skipped, except in the middle of a silly baseball song is a fantastic, gut wrentching version of "God Bless America."

The most lasting songs are the ones I never heard before. In the middle of the day, my mind will replay the words I don't comprehend to "Rabbi Elimeylekh." Every time I listen to the emotional songs in "Mamaloshen," I have a greater appreciation of the melting pot which is America.

You don't have to be Jewish to appreciated the Yiddish songs. You only have to be alive to appreciate the artistry of Mandy Patinkin.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandy Patinkin has SOUL, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

When I first heard about this CD, I wondered what I would make of it. I know no Yiddish, but I love Mandy's voice. I immediately realized it doesn't take knowledge of the language to understand the meaning of any of the songs. With a word or phrase in English, one can feel the emotion, the pain or pleasure of the story, just by relaxing into the soulfulness of Patinkin's glorious voice. Clearly, the ideas of culture and identity matter to him passionately, and that feeling is easily conveyed to any listener regardless of ethnic or religious background. I defy you to listen to "Motl the Operator" and not be moved. I would give this CD a 6 if I could...really a ten. It's the soul, folks.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise!!!, October 22, 1998

By	Steven Kruger (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though a "Mandy Patinkin" fan, I made TERRIBLE jokes about this album before even hearing it. "Yiddish songs?", I thought. Well, upon hearing this recording at a friend's (who is even hipper than I), I was enchanted. What beautiful, enchanting music! It calms me down even better than a Xanex. Everyone needs one!