Ben's Songs

Durian is a large tropical fruit known for its tough, spiky exterior (you don't want to be hit with one), delicate yet unctuous floral taste, and a peculiar and penetrating smell which to some resembles rotting garbage. Some countries where it is popular don't allow it to be carried in enclosed spaces such as subways for this reason. If black tea flavored with bergamot is Earl Grey, would black tea flavored with durian then be Durian Grey? And will drinking it then confer eternal youth? Perhaps... but consider the cost.

lyrics by Benjamin Newman
portions of the melody are borrowed from Leslie Fish's setting of Rudyard Kipling's "Our Fathers of Old" and Cynthia McQuillin's "The Wild Hunt"

listen to this song

Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Temple, and because of the miracle of the oil we celebrate with fried food.  When circumstances permit, I like to invite friends over for a deep-fried party.  I also take the opportunity to rededicate the vessels of the altar with oil, that is, to season my wok, so here is a wok-seasoning song based on the traditional (and problematically triumphalist) Chanukah classic "Ma'oz Tzur".

lyrics by Benjamin Newman, after "Ma'oz Tzur", trad. Hebrew

listen to this song

( Read more... )

A song in praise of soy sauce.

A round/chant about Middle Eastern food

lyrics by Benjamin Newman( Read more... )

a pagan song about stir-frying

lyrics and music by Benjamin Newman

listen to this song

( Read more... )