Mordechai Ben David’s newly released single, “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” has been more than 23 years in the making — and its surprising history stretches back to Menachem Toker’s wedding, where the song was performed publicly for the first time more than two decades ago.
Composer and arranger Eli Laufer revealed the story during an interview with Toker on the radio program “Zman Avir,” explaining that the song was actually composed jointly by Laufer and MBD in Miami more than 23 years ago. Although MBD considered including it on his album “Efshar Letaken,” the song ultimately remained unreleased until this week.
During the interview, Toker produced a rare recording from his wedding approximately 23 and a half years ago.
“You were there, and you surprised me with a new song, you and Mordechai Ben David on the stage,” Toker reminded Laufer.
Toker recalled that MBD had made a special trip to attend the wedding, which took place approximately a week before Pesach, and that MBD and Laufer performed the newly composed song together.
Laufer initially had difficulty remembering all the details of the evening, although he said he had recently seen footage from the wedding showing himself playing the keyboard. Listening again to the decades-old performance, Toker told him, “I’m listening now to the chords you’re putting in there. You are the gadol hador.”
Laufer then explained how “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” had originally come into existence during a visit to Miami with MBD.
“We were in Miami, and we composed it together with Mordechai. Mordechai said: Now let’s light candles and compose a song. There was a keyboard there,” Laufer recalled.
The two sat together and created “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” and Laufer said they immediately sensed that they had produced something special.
“Mordechai always wanted to release it, and now there was an opportunity to release it,” he said.
The song, however, came close to reaching listeners many years earlier. Laufer revealed that “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” was considered for inclusion on MBD’s “Efshar Letaken” album, but MBD ultimately decided against putting it on the album. The composition consequently remained on the shelf, despite having already been performed at Toker’s wedding.
Now, more than 23 years after that performance, the song has finally received its official release.
Toker asked whether a composition created more than two decades ago could still resonate with today’s listeners. Laufer said the initial reaction to the single indicates that the melody has lost none of its appeal.
“People are very moved and are complimenting me very much about this song. People are very excited,” Laufer said.
Toker jokingly suggested that evaluating the staying power of an MBD song requires a different standard altogether.
“Mordechai Ben David is always relevant. The question is whether a song is relevant 23 years later,” he said.
Laufer also discussed the credits behind the new release, explaining that he and MBD jointly composed the melody, while Laufer handled the arrangement.
When Toker pressed him to identify which portions of the song had been composed by each of them, Laufer replied, “I don’t remember, together. I think I did most of it.”
After Toker teased him about taking credit, Laufer quickly added, “G-d forbid. Mordechai is a great composer.”
Laufer went even further in praising MBD’s abilities as a composer, saying, “I think he is no less talented as a composer than he is as a singer… There’s nothing you can do, he is the king.”
Shmuel Stern, Laufer noted during the conversation, was responsible for the vocal arrangements on the newly released song.
For Toker, the release brought the story full circle: a song written more than 23 years ago and unveiled at one of the most important moments of his own life has finally become an official MBD release.
“It was released in honor of my wedding 23 years ago,” Toker joked, before offering Laufer the blessing, “A faithful home for me and for you.”
{Matzav.com}
