"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

-Maya angelou


Whether you came here intentionally, or stumbled upon this site inadvertently - Welcome.

I'm a musician, I go by the moniker "Screwup" after the two decades of screwed up spinal cord surgeries and the challenging journey that entailed them. The name is also a reference to the eponymous screw that spent a decade pressed up against my spinal cord. This site is where I choose to lay my music and my story bare.

But I am conflicted.

On the one hand, I can't help but strive to somehow distill the myriad of catastrophes abundant with pain, heartbreak and agony I was made to endure into songs, journal entries, and unsolicited advice. An emotional engine hopefully striving to transmogrify decades of horror into something positive.

On the other hand, I don't believe life ever really makes any narrative sense, for anyone, and trying to paint past experiences as "good, useful damage" is a battle that's doomed to begin with. Never mind the fact that each of us has his own set of trials and tribulations to overcome, and I don't feel mine deserve any special spotlight. Is there really any need for more music accompanied by another sob story?

If I side with the second voice, I'd achieve nothing. I'd create nothing. Just face the struggle on my own, in the shadows. I know - I was forced to tread this exact path for the past 3.5 years. Besides, the way I see it, everything I create is just an echo in an already overabundant muddled cacophony of noise.

With this preface considered, I present some melodies and ruminations from a mind that was certain it couldn't, shouldn't and won't survive this long. I hope they'll be of use.

Thanks for sticking around.



MUSIC

TRANSLATIONS


I've been translating songs ever since I first started playing an instrument, developing specific sensitivities and proclivities over time.

I choose to translate specific songs that comforted, bewildered or struck a nerve within me, most of which I would consider masterpieces that deserve a wider audience. Translating them is also my attempt at showing gratitude to the original composers and songwriters.


I aim for my translations to reflect the meaning and spirit of the original songs, while still maintaining the rhyme patterns, syllable count and overall feeling of the original compositions.


all translations are recorded in multiple languages, with the side-by-side translation player allowing to shift between them, and compare lyrics in real time.

JOURNAL

A turn of the screw (idiom)

An additional amount of pressure or hardship applied to a situation that is already extremely difficult to bear.

Trevor Moore

A story I forgot to tell: At the end of 2016, I became addicted to the sketch show “The Whitest Kids You Know”. I binged

Read More »

Hope

After last time’s politically heavy songs, anger and dismay, I planned on trying to release some hopeful, optimistic covers on the 7th of October, one

Read More »

Politics

It’s been a minute. These past 3 months were full of painful moments and awful headlines, but also some amazing, unbelievable experiences, some of which

Read More »

SKETCH CATALOGUE

Hebrew (Original) Cover Version - English (Translation Version) - SBS - Original Artist - Relevant Blog Post

Eli Eli (אלי אלי/הליכה לקיסריה)Eli EliSide by Side Translation PlayerHannah Szeness October 7th, 2023

Ponar (פונאר)Ponar Side by Side Translation PlayerAvraham Shlonsky October 7th, 2023

Perhaps (האמנם/את תלכי בשדה)It BecomesSide by Side Translation PlayerLeah Goldberg October 7th, 2023

Fathers and Sons (אבות ובנים)Fathers and Kin – Side by Side Translation PlayerEviatar Banai  October 7th, 2023

I’ve No Other Country (אין לי ארץ אחרת)Nation Side by Side Translation PlayerEhud ManorOctober 7th, 2023

Molitva (Original Russian)The Prayer of Francois Villion (English)תפילתו של פרנסוואה וילו (עברית) – Side by Side Translation PlayerBulat OkudzhavaOctober 7th, 2023

In The Nights (ובלילות)Every NightSide by Side Translation PlayerAriel Zilber Death of the Author

 I Have a Chance (יש לי סיכוי)Redeemed Side by Side Translation PlayerEviatar Banai Regina

Sweet Water (מים מתוקים)Desert DivineSide by Side Translation PlayerMeir ArielKintsugi

The Flower in My Garden (הפרח בגני)CreedSide by Side Translation PlayerZohar ArgovScars & Tattoos

The Days of Innocence (ימי התום)The Days of OldSide by Side Translation PlayerTzruya LahavSudden Introversion

All the really beautiful things (כל הדברים היפים באמת)Heaven SentSide by Side Translation PlayerDaniela SpectorComfort

Every time I Fall in Love (בכל פעם שאני מתאהב)Into Your LoveSide by Side Translation PlayerIzhar AshdotGrowth

Out of the Depths (ממעמקים)DepthsSide by Side Translation PlayerIdan RaichelPerseverance

She’s so beautiful (היא כל כך יפה)B-e-a-utifulSide by Side Translation PlayerKaveret (Poogy)Return

A Song for Peace (שיר לשלום) A Song For PeaceSide by Side Translation PlayerMiri AloniHope

Days of Quiet (ימים של שקט) A Prayer for Better DaysSide by Side Translation PlayerLolaHope

I Wish (הלוואי) Wishful ThinkingSide by Side Translation PlayerBoaz SharabiHope

Hebrew (Original) Cover Version English (Translation Version) SBS Original Artist Relevant Blog Post
Eli Eli (אלי אלי/הליכה לקיסריה) Eli Eli Translation Player Hannah Szeness October 7th, 2023
Ponar (פונאר) Ponar Translation Player Avraham Shlonsky October 7th, 2023
Perhaps (האמנם/את תלכי בשדה) It Becomes Translation Player Leah Goldberg October 7th, 2023
Fathers and Sons (אבות ובנים) Fathers and Kin Translation Player Eviatar Banai October 7th, 2023
I've No Other Country (אין לי ארץ אחרת) Nation Translation Player Ehud Manor October 7th, 2023
The Prayer of Francois Villion (English) תפילתו של פרנסוואה וילו (עברית) Translation Player Bulat Okudzhava October 7th, 2023
In The Nights (ובלילות) Every Night Translation Player Ariel Zilber Death of the Author
 I Have a Chance (יש לי סיכוי) Redeemed Translation Player Eviatar Banai Regina
Sweet Water (מים מתוקים) Desert Divine Translation Player Meir Ariel Kintsugi
The Flower In My Garden (הפרח בגני) Creed Translation Player Zohar Argov Scars & Tattoos
The Days of Innocence (ימי התום) The Days of Old Translation Player Tzruya Lahav Sudden Introversion
All of the pretty things (כל הדברים היפים באמת) Heaven Sent Translation Player Daniela Spector Comfort
Every Time I Fall In Love (בכל פעם שאני מתאהב) Into Your Love Translation Player Izhar Ashdot Growth
Out of the Depths (ממעמקים) Depths Translation Player Idan Raichel Perseverance
She's so beautiful (היא כל כך יפה) B-e-a-utiful Translation Player Kaveret (Poogy) Return
A Song For Peace (שיר לשלום) A Song For Peace Translation Player Miri Aloni Hope
Days of Quiet (ימים של שקט) A Prayer for Better Days Translation Player Lola Hope
I Wish (הלוואי) Wishful Thinking Translation Player Boaz Sharabi Hope

SHOWS

25/05/25 - 20:00 - Screwup @ The Little Prince

COLLABORATIONS

In 2019 Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) & I translated Aviv Geffen's 1999 song "White Nights" (Leylot Levanim). A year later, the song came out in Blackfield's album "For The Music (2020)", sung by Steven Wilson.

In 2024 I translated the text of the song "Inverted Land" (Eretz Afuha) and the translation was projected next to the original songs' lyrics during the Hostages' Families ceremony.

In 2016 I composed a tribute to Regina Spektor, and shot a clip filled with references and homages, directed Adam Robson. It lead to a dear, years long friendship with her. Her art was what inspired me to be a musician and a songwriter.

ABOUT


I gave myself the moniker "Screwup" after the surgical screwup that left a 2 inch (5 cm) screw lodged for 9 years in my spinal canal, between the T3 and T4 vertebrae, threatening my spinal cord and setting me on a path full of medical complications, life-changing surgeries and adversity.

In total I underwent 11 spine, spinal cord & spinal cord related surgeries, so far. I say "so far" because each and every one of these surgeries was promised to be the last.


Spent decades getting acquainted with different types of pain, grief and sorrow. You can read about it here.

Now I write songs.


MEDIA (OLD)

Press

CONTACT

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

-maya angelou


Whether you came here intentionally, or stumbled upon this site inadvertently - Welcome.

I'm a musician, I go by the moniker "Screwup" after the two decades of screwed up spinal cord surgeries and the challenging journey that entailed them. The name is also a reference to the eponymous screw that spent a decade pressed up against my spinal cord. This site is where I choose to lay my music and my story bare.

But I am conflicted.

On the one hand, I can't help but strive to somehow distill the myriad of catastrophes abundant with pain, heartbreak and agony I was made to endure into songs, journal entries, and unsolicited advice. An emotional engine hopefully striving to transmogrify decades of horror into something positive.

On the other hand, I don't believe life ever really makes any narrative sense, for anyone, and trying to paint past experiences as "good, useful damage" is a battle that's doomed to begin with. Never mind the fact that each of us has his own set of trials and tribulations to overcome, and I don't feel mine deserve any special spotlight. Is there really any need for more music accompanied by another sob story?

If I side with the second voice, I'd achieve nothing. I'd create nothing. Just face the struggle on my own, in the shadows. I know - I was forced to tread this exact path for the past 3.5 years. Besides, the way I see it, everything I create is just an echo in an already overabundant muddled cacophony of noise.

With this preface considered, I present some melodies and ruminations from a mind that was certain it couldn't, shouldn't and won't survive this long. I hope they'll be of use.

Thanks for sticking around.

JOURNAL

A turn of the screw (idiom)

An additional amount of pressure or hardship applied to a situation that is already extremely difficult to bear.

Trevor Moore

A story I forgot to tell: At the end of 2016, I became addicted to the sketch show “The Whitest Kids You Know”. I binged

Read More »

Hope

After last time’s politically heavy songs, anger and dismay, I planned on trying to release some hopeful, optimistic covers on the 7th of October, one

Read More »

Politics

It’s been a minute. These past 3 months were full of painful moments and awful headlines, but also some amazing, unbelievable experiences, some of which

Read More »

SKETCH CATALOGUE

Hebrew (Original) Cover Version - English (Translation Version) - SBS - Original Artist - Relevant Blog Post

Eli Eli (אלי אלי/הליכה לקיסריה)Eli EliSide by Side Translation PlayerHannah Szeness October 7th, 2023

Ponar (פונאר)Ponar Side by Side Translation PlayerAvraham Shlonsky October 7th, 2023

Perhaps (האמנם/את תלכי בשדה)It BecomesSide by Side Translation PlayerLeah Goldberg October 7th, 2023

Fathers and Sons (אבות ובנים)Fathers and Kin – Side by Side Translation PlayerEviatar Banai  October 7th, 2023

I’ve No Other Country (אין לי ארץ אחרת)Nation Side by Side Translation PlayerEhud ManorOctober 7th, 2023

Molitva (Original Russian)The Prayer of Francois Villion (English)תפילתו של פרנסוואה וילו (עברית) – Side by Side Translation PlayerBulat OkudzhavaOctober 7th, 2023

In The Nights (ובלילות)Every NightSide by Side Translation PlayerAriel Zilber Death of the Author

 I Have a Chance (יש לי סיכוי)Redeemed Side by Side Translation PlayerEviatar Banai Regina

Sweet Water (מים מתוקים)Desert DivineSide by Side Translation PlayerMeir ArielKintsugi

The Flower in My Garden (הפרח בגני)CreedSide by Side Translation PlayerZohar ArgovScars & Tattoos

The Days of Innocence (ימי התום)The Days of OldSide by Side Translation PlayerTzruya LahavSudden Introversion

All the really beautiful things (כל הדברים היפים באמת)Heaven SentSide by Side Translation PlayerDaniela SpectorComfort

Every time I Fall in Love (בכל פעם שאני מתאהב)Into Your LoveSide by Side Translation PlayerIzhar AshdotGrowth

Out of the Depths (ממעמקים)DepthsSide by Side Translation PlayerIdan RaichelPerseverance

She’s so beautiful (היא כל כך יפה)B-e-a-utifulSide by Side Translation PlayerKaveret (Poogy)Return

A Song for Peace (שיר לשלום) A Song For PeaceSide by Side Translation PlayerMiri AloniHope

Days of Quiet (ימים של שקט) A Prayer for Better DaysSide by Side Translation PlayerLolaHope

I Wish (הלוואי) Wishful ThinkingSide by Side Translation PlayerBoaz SharabiHope

Hebrew (Original) Cover Version English (Translation Version) SBS Original Artist Relevant Blog Post
Eli Eli (אלי אלי/הליכה לקיסריה) Eli Eli Translation Player Hannah Szeness October 7th, 2023
Ponar (פונאר) Ponar Translation Player Avraham Shlonsky October 7th, 2023
Perhaps (האמנם/את תלכי בשדה) It Becomes Translation Player Leah Goldberg October 7th, 2023
Fathers and Sons (אבות ובנים) Fathers and Kin Translation Player Eviatar Banai October 7th, 2023
I've No Other Country (אין לי ארץ אחרת) Nation Translation Player Ehud Manor October 7th, 2023
The Prayer of Francois Villion (English) תפילתו של פרנסוואה וילו (עברית) Translation Player Bulat Okudzhava October 7th, 2023
In The Nights (ובלילות) Every Night Translation Player Ariel Zilber Death of the Author
 I Have a Chance (יש לי סיכוי) Redeemed Translation Player Eviatar Banai Regina
Sweet Water (מים מתוקים) Desert Divine Translation Player Meir Ariel Kintsugi
The Flower In My Garden (הפרח בגני) Creed Translation Player Zohar Argov Scars & Tattoos
The Days of Innocence (ימי התום) The Days of Old Translation Player Tzruya Lahav Sudden Introversion
All of the pretty things (כל הדברים היפים באמת) Heaven Sent Translation Player Daniela Spector Comfort
Every Time I Fall In Love (בכל פעם שאני מתאהב) Into Your Love Translation Player Izhar Ashdot Growth
Out of the Depths (ממעמקים) Depths Translation Player Idan Raichel Perseverance
She's so beautiful (היא כל כך יפה) B-e-a-utiful Translation Player Kaveret (Poogy) Return
A Song For Peace (שיר לשלום) A Song For Peace Translation Player Miri Aloni Hope
Days of Quiet (ימים של שקט) A Prayer for Better Days Translation Player Lola Hope
I Wish (הלוואי) Wishful Thinking Translation Player Boaz Sharabi Hope

SHOWS

25/05/25 - 20:00 - Screwup @ The Little Prince

COLLABORATIONS

In 2019 Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) & I translated Aviv Geffen's 1999 song "White Nights" (Leylot Levanim). A year later, the song came out in Blackfield's album "For The Music (2020)", sung by Steven Wilson.

In 2024 I translated the text of the song "Inverted Land" (Eretz Afuha) and the translation was projected next to the original songs' lyrics during the Hostages' Families ceremony.

In 2016 I composed a tribute to Regina Spektor, and shot a clip filled with references and homages, directed Adam Robson. It lead to a dear, years long friendship with her. Her art was what inspired me to be a musician and a songwriter.

ABOUT


I gave myself the moniker "Screwup" after the surgical screwup that left a 2 inch (5 cm) screw lodged for 9 years in my spinal canal, between the T3 and T4 vertebrae, threatening my spinal cord and setting me on a path full of medical complications, life-changing surgeries and adversity.

In total I underwent 11 spine, spinal cord & spinal cord related surgeries, so far. I say "so far" because each and every one of these surgeries was promised to be the last.


Spent decades getting acquainted with different types of pain, grief and sorrow. You will be able to soon read about it here.

Now I write songs.


CONTACT