Hashtag World by Ori Dagan: Review

by Gabe Finch August 11, 2022

August 11, 2022

Hashtag World by Ori Dagan: Review

Ori Dagan is Toronto’s treasure when it comes to jazz, having won multiple awards and releasing great albums one after the other. The Canadian singer-songwriter collaborates with guitarist and musical director Nathn Hiltz on their new project, “Hashtag World”, a unique short comedy session in the form of a three-minute song.

The song’s flow takes several twists and turns to keep the listeners hypnotized and entertained thoroughly. And the flute solo performance by Grammy nominee artist Jane Bunnett is just wonderful. But Dagan’s scat singing has to be my favorite. It is playful, charming, and bubbly, a language all its own, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. His deep, robust baritone voice flirts with the melody effortlessly. Dagan sings, hums, croons, and talk-sings in some parts of the song, and straight up speaks in others. It reminds me of some charming prince singing in a Disney movie, except instead of singing about a fictional world, he is exposing 21st century modern problems. He approaches the song with a distinct sense of witty sarcasm and deadpan humor, roasting the chaos and absurdity of internet life while attempting to make sense of it.

Charles Bukowski once said, “An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.” Artists such as Ori Dagan and songs such as “Hashtag World” are excellent examples of that standard. If you want to get a taste of this, it is now available on all streaming platforms.