Adam Sandler’s Classic ‘Hanukkah Song’ (and Updates)
by Best Classic Bands Staff
We’ve got several updated versions of a holiday favorite. Adam Sandler has performed various editions of his classic “Hanukkah Song” – or Chanukah, if you prefer – since he debuted it on Saturday Night Live in 1994. He even worked in the name of a classic rock star at the 2015 New York Comedy Festival. Enjoy these Classic Videos!
The original, of course, identified famous members of the Jewish faith (plus partial members and non-members). Who could forget some of the rhyme schemes of “a list of people who are Jewish” from the original:
David Lee Roth lights the menorah; so do Kirk Douglas, James Caan and the late Dinah Shore.
Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli? Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzarelli!
It originally aired on December 3, 1994, and the song has been such a holiday staple that it’s surprising how slow the audience is to react to most of Sandler’s creative lyrics. Check it out:
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Sandler performed “Hanukkah Song Part 3” on SNL in 2002, with several more celebs including Ross and Phoebe from Friends, Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon from Little Kosher House on the Prairie, as well as Houdini and David Blaine.
“Hanukkah Song Part 4” cleverly offers:
We’ve got Scarlett Johansson… talk about a Kosher crush; and if you need a higher voice to turn you on, how about Geddy Lee from Rush?!?
Princess Leia cuts the challah with Queen Elsa from Frozen; David Beckham is the king of soccer studs and also a quarter chosen!
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationOne thing that Sandler has not done—and something obvious to some of us—-is mention “Salonika” any version of the song.
It is a natural rhyme, of course. And for those of you who don’t know, it’s the nickname of the second-largest city in Greece. The actual name of the city is
“Thessaloniki”……and the nickname has a certain amount of acceptability….in contrast to its “sister-city” in the USA, where you will get chastised(in some form or another) for saying “Frisco”.
Aside from the rhyme(which Sandler is good at doing), the city has a Jewish historical connection…..much like Brooklyn, Odessa, West Palm Beach, etc.
Up until 1922, when there was an influx of refugees coming into Greece…..about 2/3 of the population of Salonika was Jewish.
And an odd personal coincidence…..I had planned to be in Greece this week…..ended up postponing the trip due to some issues locally……and then came the storms in Atlanta and Western Europe, with all those flight delays and cancellations. So goes the trip.
It was a total coincidence, though, that I (as a Gentile)planned to be in the area, for other reasons…….but it would be interesting to spend Hanukkah in Salonika.
And yes, Mr. Sandler(if you are listening), try to make it over to Salonika for the holiday next year!!
And of course Tom Lehrer spent Hanukkah in Santa Monica…