Sure, everyone knows Jewish songsters have co-opted Christmas for years (“White Christmas” by Irving Berlin, anyone?) — but now members of the tribe have made spoofing Hanukkah an art form, too.
It’s the kind of notoriety every little Jewish boy dreams of — after all, if you hit it big with a Hanukkah song, no Jewish mother can hold it against her son that he never pursued med school.
Sure, no one can actually agree on the proper spelling of Hanukkah — but there’s no disputing our five favorite tunes that pay homage to the Festival of Lights:
‘Chanukah’ by Six13 (2014)
Having just cracked a million hits with its “Shake it Off” parody, this New York-based a cappella group is poised to become the media darling of the season, having already been spoofed on Comedy Central’s @Midnight.
And hey, if the singing thing doesn’t work out, the guys have a good shot at being Taylor Swift’s backup dancers.
‘Happy Hanukkah’ by Matisyahu (2012)
You may not recognize this Hasidic rapping sensation — and friend of Madonna! — since debuting his new (clean-shaven) look, but the sound is unmistakable: feel good, PG-13 rap lyrics celebrating being Jewish. Guaranteed to make Mom happy.
Aish.com official Hanukkah song (2011)
When you think ‘Rock of Ages,’ you think Hanukkah, right? Well, it’s at least true when it comes to these hunky dudes, who brush up on their footwork when they’re not studying Torah — and landing nearly 3 million views for their inventive parody of the Broadway show.
‘Candlelight’ by The Maccabeats (2010)
The’re the golden boys of Hanukkah with a cheeky name to boot — a takeoff of the Maccabees, who successfully defeated the powerful Greek army in a stunning military victory.
Their parody of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” set the bar high for all Hanukkah songs to come, netting nearly 10 million views — and probably a few people who changed teams to celebrate Hanukkah (we’re looking at you, Gwyneth!)
‘The Hanukkah Song’ by Adam Sandler (1994)
The pioneer for every budding Hanukkah songwriter after him, the “Saturday Night Live” alum made the holiday cool again with this now-20-year-old classic — spawning a beloved seasonal favorite that ranks right up there with the jelly donut.