Tony and Grammy award-winner Daveed Diggs, known for his roles as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, in the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” released a new Hanukkah song just in time for the holiday.
Titled “Puppy for Hanukkah,” the Klezmer-meets-hip-hop-inspired song premiered on Disney Channel on Dec. 4. It was also written and produced by Diggs’ fellow Clipping bandmates William Huston and Jonathan Snipes. Diggs performs the song about a child wanting a puppy for Hanukkah. It’s the Jewish “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” we didn’t know we needed.
“I was honored when Disney Channel approached me to come up with a fresh Hanukkah tune and embraced the opportunity to share my love of music and a little piece of my culture,” Diggs said in a statement to the Journal.
Hanukkah songs are rare as is but Diggs, who was raised by his African-American father and his Jewish mother, combines music and diversity in a Hanukkah song music video that was made for this moment.
Diggs, who was raised by his African-American father and his Jewish mother, combines music and diversity in a Hanukkah song music video that was made for this moment.
“Daveed, William and Jonathan created a Hanukkah song for the ages that’s inventive, humorous and relevant as it celebrates the Miracle of Lights, the diverse world we live in, and the universal joy when a family adopts a pet into a child’s life,” Steven Vincent, vice president of music and soundtracks for Disney Branded Television, said in a statement.
The music video features a diverse cast of kids showing there is no one way to look Jewish, an upbeat melody, catchy lyrics that include the candle-lighting prayer —and puppies. What more could you ask for in a Hanukkah tune?
Check out “Puppy for Hanukkah” video below:
