War poetry and song is a well established and important genre.
War Songs of my Youth
From Wilfred Owen's WWI poetry, compulsory reading during my 1980s Australian education, to the Vietnam War songs like Cold Chisel's Khe San and Redgum's I was only 19 that were familiar refrains during my own military service in the 1990s, war songs are powerful reflections on a society's experience of war.
Every new major war brings its own music which reflects the mood of the society which makes it.
And so it is with the Oct 7 War.
Israel Oct 7 War Songs
October Rain - Eden Golan
First, the pain of Eden Golan's October Rain, the original version, before she was shamefully forced to change its name and lyrics for EuroVision 2024 because it was "too political". The original song was released in March 2024 and the modified version placed 5th in Eurovision 2024 and 2nd in the popular vote.
The Eurovision versions have over 15M views on YouTube.
Harbu Darbu (Swords & Strikes) - Stilla & Nes
Second, the late 2023 anger, fire, determination & policy statement of Harbu Darbu by Stilla & Nes. This is Israel's Number 1 Song of 2024 with 33M Youtube views in this Hebrew version alone.
It was released on 14 November 2023 and states that "all who planned, supported, murdered or executed" the Oct 7 attacks on Israel are "dogs that will get what is coming to them". It specifically names three terrorist leaders: Nasrallah, Mohammed Deif, Haniyeh as well as an "Abu Baklawa" which is not a person but a Hebrew mashup of Arabic names meaning: all who support Hamas. All three are now dead, along with the entire terrorist leadership and officer corps of Hamas and Hizbollah and much of their rank and file.
So you might say that this song represents Israeli national policy. Indeed Bibi and many other government Ministers have promised to eliminate every single person that participated in the planning or execution of the Oct 7 attacks. The job is 95% done now.
Giborei Al (Israeli Superheros) - Hatikva 6
This song, with almost 10M Youtube views, was released a little later in the war on 19 Feb 2024 and is less aggressive but represents even more determined national will to defeat our enemies and survive in our ancient homeland. It is a testament to the reservist based military model which Israel uses and its effect on the national character.
While Israel's regular land combat forces are not small (7 infantry, 4 Armour, 4 Artillery & 15 Territorial Brigades) they are supplemented by much larger reserve forces (17 reserve infantry, 7 reserve armour, 4 reserve artillery Brigades) which is highly trained, well equipped and available on 24-48 hours notice. These reserves normally serve up to one month a year while maintaining normal civilian occupations and family life. Early in the Oct 7 war Israel called up 300,000 reserves and over 350,000 turned up to serve. This is their story.
Original Hebrew Version
With English subtitles
Showing footage of the Israeli soldiers mentioned in the song in all their true diversity
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Am Israeli Chai (The People of Israel Live!) - Eyal Golan
One of Israel's most famous, long standing artists, Eyal Golan created a new post Oct 7 song based on the classic Jewish chant of "Am Israeli Chai". It is the most played song on Israeli radio and this Youtube version has 31M views.
This song reflects the unity, commitment and war experience of Israeli society as a whole.
Original Hebrew Version
With English subtitles and different video
More Israeli War Songs
The above is obviously not a complete list of Israeli songs inspired by or relating to the Oct 7 War.
A more complete list can be found here but these are my personal favourites, the biggest hits and the ones for which English subtitles can be found on Youtube.