How IDF Reservist Moshe Korsia's Viral Post Sparked a Chart-Topping Hit

Moshe Korsia (Photo: Screenshot from Instagram)

In the midst of ongoing conflict, a deeply personal social media confession has transformed into one of Israel's most compelling musical releases of late 2024. "Dancing with Fear" (רוקד עם הפחד), the latest single from collaborators Moshe Korsia and Elnatan Shalom, currently sits at #9 on YouTube's music trending chart, resonating deeply with audiences across the country.

The song's genesis can be traced to a viral social media post. During a brief leave from reserve duty, Korsia experienced what he described as a moment when "everything turned black" – a panic attack that struck while driving home alone. Rather than letting this experience remain hidden, he chose to share it with his followers, describing the "thick, dark fog" that descended upon his soul despite his online success.

Moshe Korsia (Photo: Screenshot from facebook)

This raw confession of vulnerability from Korsia is only one reason we love him. Together with Shalom, Korsia transformed the narrative into a haunting yet ultimately uplifting musical journey. The track opens with the imagery of silence in a car – a direct reference to the original post – before expanding into a broader meditation on facing one's fears.

"The song captures that liminal space between civilian and military life that so many reservists are navigating right now," explains producer Maor Shoshan, who crafted the track's atmospheric production alongside Shalom. "But it's also about something universal – learning to coexist with your anxieties rather than fighting them."

The chorus's declaration, "Hey, I'm dancing with fear / I love it this way," echoes the original post's evolution from crisis to acceptance. The songwriter's choice to include imagery of nighttime drives to the ocean adds a distinctly Israeli texture to the narrative, grounding it in the landscape of Tel Aviv's coastline.

With over half a million views since its December 22 release, "Dancing with Fear" has clearly struck a nerve. The song's success suggests that its message of resilience and self-acceptance resonates far beyond the military community, speaking to anyone grappling with anxiety in uncertain times.

The production team, including beat programmer Stav Nechemias and guitarist Idan Shneor, has created a soundscape that balances intimacy with anthemic release. The result is a track that works both as a personal confession and a communal anthem – much like the social media post that inspired it.

"Dancing with Fear" is currently available on all major streaming platforms, and its accompanying music video, directed by Alon Daniel, offers a visual interpretation of this journey from isolation to acceptance.

Lyrics [translated]:

All the way home

Silence in the car

I've always feared silence

Maybe now is a good time

I can hear the fear

Whispering in my ear

You're always almost there

Always just close

I answer it calmly

Well, since you're here

Come accept me as I am

Hey, I'm dancing with fear

I love it this way

When you talk to it, you can breathe

I shout hey

With the despair and the down times

I love myself this way

And you said it's okay

Let's live the moment

Until I understood the segment

You chose to leave

So at night when it comes

I always drive to the waves

On the pier you'd be proud

If you saw me shouting

[Chorus repeats]

Moshe Korsia is just so likeable. He is a beloved Israeli singer, but he's also an IDF reservist that has served many long difficult months in the current war.

He is also well-known for his hilarious morning reels when he makes himself coffee (with a handheld milk frother) and tells the whole wide world what he's thinking. He's funny and real and honestly, we need more people like him.

As Israel navigates one of its most challenging times, Moshe and his music remind us that sometimes the bravest act is learning to dance with our fears rather than trying to silence them.

And even after this madness is all over, his song will be as relevant as it is today, to the millions of people who know all too well the dry mouth and sense of impending doom that come with a panic attack.

You can find him on all social media channels:

https://www.facebook.com/korsia/

https://www.instagram.com/moshe_korsia/

https://www.tiktok.com/@moshekorsia?lang=en