'I grew up in Hasidic Williamsburg but wanted to be a singer' | Riki Rose's story

*This video includes live musical performances by Riki Rose. For the translation of the Yomtov Ehrlich song, turn on Closed Captions.*

@rikirose9624
grew up in Hasidic Williamsburg, in a very conservative family. From when she was young, she had that star celebrity quality to her. But as a woman, her ability to fully express her talents was significantly limited by the religious laws on Kol Isha, which prohibits women from performing to male audiences. Still, Riki's life has been full of joys, good humor, and great moments to shine. In this long-form interview, I talk to Riki about her amazing life story. And as a wonderful bonus, we even hear her sing some songs!

Timestamps for songs:
1. Yomtov Ehrlich's Song 'FRUNZER ESHALON' 15:08-18:07

2. Cantorial music: 45:23-48:35

3. Riki's original song "Woman": 1:32:15-1:35:40

[blumberg]

“I don’t sing like a man, I sing like a woman with confidence.”
Go ahead girl!!

[writerspen]

48:10 - Riki's coloratura here stopped me in my tracks and moved me to tears. Thank you for giving her the chance to sing in this interview. It really added a lot of color and texture to what she spoke about, especially when it came to her grandparents' struggles and storytelling after the Holocaust and the suppression she faced as a young woman with a voice within a community that wanted her to be small and quiet.

[bettymaines]

I cannot find the words to express how touched I was by the song at app 14:28. Understand not one word of it, but the music somehow transcended language.
Frieda, the content you create is amazing. Please keep always doing this. You are truly making a positive difference in this world.

[rellar.]

Lovely, powerful voice, thank you!
I’d be glad to talk to you about male sexuality and kol Isha ❤

[VioletACordy]

🌴🌴🩵🌈😎FRIEDA: BEAUTIFUL + THANK YOU ~ “Growing up and leaving Hasidic Williamsburg | singer Riki Rose's story with live performance” 🩵💙❤💜🌴🌳🌲🌴🌴🌴🌳🩵❤💙💜🌈🌴🌴🌴

[Audioobscure]

I can't find any other recordings or info on the frunzer eshalon song. I need a copy, its amazing. My 2 year old has asked me to play it 5 times since yesterday.
Nevermind i found it but i like rivka's version so much more

[donnahibbard]

Thanking G-d for two women of courage and talent ❤

[Zelde-M]

Another grand slam outta the park episode! Our expert guide Frieda leads us on a female Chasidic musical/performing journey with the wonderful multi-talented Riki Rose. Addressing the issue of “kol isha-women’s voices, ” girls learning musical instruments, singing at the Shabes tish (table) and education we find interesting insights. Riki’s life story gives us a glance into her life and Community. Especially enjoy her live vocal performances with guitar. This woman has chops and deserves much wider exposure. Shkoyakh!

[FriedaVizelBrooklyn]

Many thanks to all the channel members! Whenever possible, I release video early for channel members. Your support is greatly appreciated!

[forest_green]

Her voice is sublime. This has been a very interesting interview.

I'm an outsider (not Jewish) and I don't mind being called a goy, but I know it's a word I shouldn't use for myself because a certain evil group of people call themselves that. It is a word I don't think a lot of non-Jewish people know.

As a half-Indigenous person whose family lost their language generations ago through assimilation, Riki Rose, please continue to celebrate and protect Yiddish in song and in casual speech. It's a beautiful language and your confident, beautiful voice displays it so well.

[colinalexander]

I like that you are understanding of your culture and you are not bitter.
People have their reasons for their beliefs and everyone should be respectful.

[malibu]

I don’t know why but I’m crying hearing her sing her first song!

[mgb]

Excellent insights from this interview. I will be humming "I can do anything I want because I am a woman" ❤ dance, speak, all of it 🎉

[judithwood]

This is such a delightful interview. Her singing is beautiful, and even though I know no Yiddish, the Soulfulness of the music is very touching. Thank you so much Freda for such great dialogues this.

[BarryGlanz]

As part of the community, I can attest that everything discussed is so true!! Thank you Freida, thank you Riki!!

[lawrencemielnicki]

During one of Frieda’s previous episodes (about Hasidic girls) I wrote in the comments that over 50 years ago when I was 14 or 15 I had a “flirtation” with a Hasidic Satmar girl in Williamsburg. For a few months her friends and my friends (Catholic boys) would chat after they got out of school. She and I would step away to talk privately leaving the other two boys and two girls a few feet away. (Soooo bad. LOL). She was very pretty and precocious. She was as interested in my life as I was in hers. It lasted a short period of time but it was cute. The commenters said it would have been impossible and that there was no way such a rebellious and adventurous Hasidic girl could exist. But, as a teenager, Riki seems to have been such a rebellious girl. I’m convinced more than ever that this memory is real and not a figment of my imagination. LOL

[raeperonneau]

Got goosebumps listening to Riki sing. Such a talent! As a child, my biggest fear was the return of Jesus and it was so interesting to hear that I’m not alone in that. I always felt guilty because I was supposed to be happy about that but I wanted to get to live my life. Seems that too is something Judaism and Catholicism have in common. 😂

[k.yingsbreakchannel]

I've never enjoyed chazzanus, but as soon as I heard Riki sing, I realized that a woman's voice, especially Riki's, is what was missing for me.

[meteoman]

Rikki is a charming, down to earth and entertaining guest. I love her singing.

[lcs]

We actually had the same song about Columbus in 1492. Lol. Btw, Riki, I lived right on top of your brother and you used to come babysit or maybe just to hang out sometimes and I remember you holding this giant guitar case. You were very sweet even then.