Eight Crazy Nights

Adam Sandler explained it best: "Hanukkah is the festival of lights. Instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights."

That about sums up the holiday. But thankfully, there's more music than just Sandler's humorous song to keep you humming as you spin dreidels and eat latkes (or, more likely given the timing of the holiday this year, as you pray for the miracle that one can of Red Bull lasts for all eight nights of finals period).

Here are Hanukkah songs for every candle:

1. "Light One Candle" by Peter, Paul and Mary

This beautiful song poses big questions like "What is the memory that's valued so highly that we keep it alive in that flame? What's the commitment to those who have died when we cry out they've not died in vain?"

2. "Mi Yimael" and "Maoz Tzur"

These Hebrew classics retelling the glories of the Hanukkah story have been around for ages. Now they're on YouTube.

3. "I Am a Latke" – by Debbie Friedman

Renowned Jewish songwriter Debbie Friedman sings here not just about the uncomfortable physical experience of being a latke in a blender but also of Jews' obligation to help the homeless and hungry.

4. "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel"

No list of Hanukkah songs is complete without the one you probably had to learn in elementary school on the same day that you put up a Christmas tree and colored pictures of Kwanzaa candles. Bonus: Watch Jeremy Lin try singing it.

P.S. If you want to expand your repertoire of music about spinning tops, try "S'vivon." But really, there's not much to say about a top. The lyrics of that one, in Hebrew, essentially say, "Little dreidel, spin, spin, spin. Hanukkah, what a good holiday."

5. "Can I Interest You in Hanukkah?" by Jon Stewart

The incomparable Jon Stewart tries to convince Steven Colbert to try a holiday that he sells as "not my least unfavorite time of year."

6. "Sufganiot" by Rabbi Joe Black

For some Jewish kids growing up in the '90s, Rabbi Joe Black was the first person they ever considered a rock star. Or maybe that was just this blogger. Here, the rockin' rebbe adds to the trove of dreidel and latke songs with an ode to the second-most-popular Hanukkah food, jelly doughnuts.

7. "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah"

Another classic, sung here in Yiddish, English, and Hebrew.

8. "Shine" by The Maccabeats

The Yeshiva University a cappella group responsible for the wildly popular "Candlelight" (to the tune of "Dynamite") two Hanukkahs ago, is back this year with an original song. This time, the video aims to raise awareness about bone marrow donor registration.

And for your shamash:

Hanukkah Blessings by the Barenaked Ladies.

Apparently they, too, recorded a Hanukkah song. Who knew?

Chag sameach and happy listening!