This evening at sunset begins Hanukkah, an eight-day observance starting on what historically was the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. In recent decades Hanukkah has been marketed to seem like a parallel festivity to Christmas. The only parallel, of course, is in its timing, which changes but still falls within the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Hanukkah (חֲנֻכָּה, also Chanukah) commemorates the hardships and triumphs of the Maccabees when, in 166 BC, a desperate group launched a series of assaults against Hellenistic King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Maccabees’ feisty attacks succeeded, reacquiring and restoring the Second Temple to the Jews. In the most popularly known story from that period, the Jews had scarcely enough oil to burn a lamp for a single day; yet the lamp stayed lit for eight days! From this miracle comes the most immediate symbolism of the Menorah as well as the texts of countless Hanukkah poems and songs.

If you, like me, could use a little “catching up” on your Hanukkah repertoire, here is a mini-songfest hosted by some fine, mostly young, male singers. See what you think!

It took little effort to discovered Shir Soul, an a cappella group out of New York City. Their rendition of the emblematic Hanukkah game song I Have a Little Dreidel features twists that may surprise you, including the shift into Hebrew and their fun labeling of the voice parts “melody, harmony, bass, and beat-box” (drum effects produced by the voice) to show how these parts shift through the ensemble.

Next you might enjoy their version of a now also traditional tune Lift Yourself Up Higher. I found myself wondering why I had never encountered this song, as it speaks beautifully beyond its Hanukkah-specific lyrics.

After that, try this tune Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah, especially if you have teens. I admit that I sighed “Oh dear,” upon first clicking (face paint is not my thing unless on a little kid). But I decided to give it thirty seconds and was glad I did. Remember, it is a mashup—one of those new urban words that means a mixture of disparate elements designed for fun (or irony or surprise or, I suppose, outrage too, but not here). Keep in mind, too, that it takes very, very good singing to do what Shir Soul does here.

As for the fellow in this clip who looks as if he’s chewing gum, your kids may be impressed by the “beat-box” sounds he can make, particularly if they have never heard this kind of a cappella singing. Here, the fun starts with a few oom-pahs but quickly fractures into a rainbow of creative percussive sounds.

You can enjoy other Hanukkah “mashups” by Shir Soul as they imitate famous pop stars, including this soul version that revives the style of Stevie Wonder. No matter which arrangement, Shir Soul’s virtuosity takes center stage, at least for me.

The second equally facile group Six13 hails also from New York City. This ensemble enjoyed quite a boost when they were invited to perform at the White House. They have quite a few video clips posted, including this one with a jovial history lesson on Hanukkah (with admittedly hokey reenactments) in a manner reminiscent of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. This clip might be just the thing to get the kids to ask more about the real history of the Maccabees Revolt.

Ask and ye shall receive! These songs are the tip of the iceberg as to what is out there for modern Hanukkah songs. I love that the singers in these two groups are excelling in difficult a cappella singing, and that they revel in employing old-fashioned comic effects. At the very least, their artistry shows that music for Hanukkah is not stuck in the realm of nursery tunes.