Subject: Sorry, I've just got to post this
Date: Mon Dec 22 03:25:33 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:Just in case there are some out there who don't know this song, I think you all need to experience this. This will be in two parts. First, listen to this one (below). THEN......listen to the definitive (there can be little, if any, doubt about that) version in my followup post.
I know probably most of you have experienced the latter version, but juuuust in case...........
Link: "Hallelujah" by Allison Crowe
Date: Mon Dec 22 03:28:28 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:Now, THE definitive version. How many superior performances of *anything* exist? Yeah, there may be some, but this is right up there with anything, imo, of course.....
Link: THE definitive version of "Hallelujah"
Date: Mon Dec 22 09:55:34 2008
User: hotnurse
Message:Still don't think you can beat Jeff Buckley, imho. KMc
Date: Mon Dec 22 09:57:36 2008
User: bu11sgits
Message:Right on, hotnurse. Those strap-ons have some ok versions, though.
Date: Mon Dec 22 10:03:12 2008
User: xeena
Message:KD makes me feel like I'm gay
But give me Leonard any day
Date: Mon Dec 22 11:04:24 2008
User: SlowPoker
Message:I have to go with TNmountainman on this one, as far as covers go.
The striking thing about Leonard Cohen's songs for me is that are that they are so accurately nuanced - his Hallelujah is a perfect example of this. He manages to balance the cynicism that seems unavoidably associated with love and relationships, with a keen sense that, despite the flawed motivations that bring us together, and inhumane ways that we treat each other, underlying the whole fiasco of "man and woman" is a sacred energy, is life itself - how else can we respond, than Hallelujah...
I like Allison's Crowe's version, and Jeff Buckley's version is beautiful. But, what is so special about KD Lang's performance is that she captures each nuance of Cohen's song exquisitely. Leonard's own version is still my sentimental favorite, but as covers go, it's hard to imagine a better performance then KD Lang's.
SP
Date: Mon Dec 22 11:21:22 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:Jeff Buckley's version (certainly good) is at best about the 6th best, imho. Not nearly as much emotion as Lang's.
Very well said, Slowpoker. I sure love Cohen's version, but I think Lang even outdoes him. Certainly *for me*, Lang's emotion can't be topped.
Date: Mon Dec 22 11:26:34 2008
User: xeena
Message:Yes, what SP said, and I agree KD is the best too.
Got a special place in my heart for Leonard.
Perusing the youtube videos, found one of him performing it live this year!
Date: Mon Dec 22 11:54:53 2008
User: bu11sgits
Message:I think KD's version has a lot of overstated emotion. I can also see how other people might find KD's version superior to other versions.
It's great that we all can have our individual perspectives!
Date: Tue Dec 23 07:34:17 2008
User: nug
Message:This is topical here: my wife has been watching an appalling "talent" contest on television and the winner is recording the song. My Sunday paper produced a sample of covers on their web page,
I listened to KD Lang's which didn't appeal to me at all. I know it's a matter of taste (or, possibly, lack of it); but give John Cale's version a listen. He's included in the link below> Understated, maybe but very musical.
Link: Independent on Sunday's Hallelujahs
Date: Tue Dec 23 09:55:32 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:Interesting, nug; thanks. I like Cale's version quite fine, but I think his range limits the degree of expression this calls for. I still think Lang's version blows all others away. I just don't see how the emotion in that song can *be* overstated. Jmo, of course.
Date: Tue Dec 23 10:59:26 2008
User: hotnurse
Message:Good version by Cale, but still think Buckley nailed it. KMc
Date: Tue Dec 23 12:12:13 2008
User: BuzzClik
Message:Well... I give big props to Cohen for composing the song and setting the standard for how it should be sung.
Lang's beautiful voice has such amazing clarity and emotion. It's impossible to discount the power of her version. It's truly chilling.
I'm a huge Rufus Wainright fan, and I like his version, too.
In nug's link, the U2 version is just sad. He should be accompanied by bongo drums and a saxophone. yeesh.
Katherine Jenkins...interesting. But no thanks.
Date: Tue Dec 23 22:15:36 2008
User: julia
Message:First of all, I give kudos to those who sang this and played their own music.
Buckley's muscial intro was gorgeous, and I loved his rendition, but I didn't like the ending, and I didn't appreciate the teeth/mouth shots.
KD had some beautiful nuances in her rendition, but there were some distractions if you were watching the video. Like, what up with that outfit? She kinda looked barefoot and pregnant. I didn't appreciate the applause interfering in the mood. I did love the parts where she threw that lou up another octave. She could have had a great ending to that song, but I think she got all into KD at that point. The arm going up was a bit overboard. (Let's hear it for KD and her praise band. Next, the offering.)
Alison did well, but she was too much into yelling. I don't think she or Rufus come close to KD's version. Rufus did not inspire me with his singing, but the piano was very nice.
Gavin...he has potential, but this isn't really a song for a pub. Audience was too distracting, and Gavin took a little nap toward the end. But to prove he had remembered the words, he started yelling. And then threw in "Love is a Warm Gun" ???? please please
John Cale was OK, I believe he could do better. Drop the strings, they were competition. I'd like to hear just him and his piano. He changed the words btw, from Holy Ghost to Dove.
Jon Bon Jovi did a respectable job, but I thought his ending stunk. Again, the arms. Looked fake to me. He could have been praising, but I don't think so. Jon Jon should try this in a studio, he could give KD some competion.
Finally, I heard Cohen himself. A 2006 rendition. Loved it. Now Leonard, bless his heart, can't sing. Neither can Bob Dylan. But they can write a song. I got a better feel for this song from this rendetion. It was close to glorious. Close. Thankfully I heard this one before all the other times Leonard did the song. They were pathetic.
It's a beautiful, wonderful song, and I'd never heard it before I read this post. Thank you Tn.
.em apologizes to the goldfish
Oh, and I started this post like two hours ago. It's now 10:15 pm.
Date: Tue Dec 23 23:40:06 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:Wow. Such eruditity, if I may wordify yet again. After resisting myself for a while, I'm glad I started this now. This is a song everyone needs to know about.
You're very welcome, julia, and all......
Date: Wed Dec 24 00:18:26 2008
User: menomin
Message:I couldn't resist posting to this thread about the song Hallelujah..one of my favorites! I have 7 renditions of it in my itunes. For an interesting variation on the song find the Clemson University version...sung acapella. Even Idol contestant Jason Castro didn't do too bad with his rendition. Another good recording of it is a bunch of Norwegians sitting around singing it and strumming their guitars. In itunes it was just labeled Hallelujah_Norwegians. I'll never get tired of listening to the song. Hi to all my old freecell friends!
Date: Wed Dec 24 00:34:22 2008
User: julia
Message:menomin!!!!! hey! *hug* good to see your print. Hope you are well, and all your men are behaving.
I saw the Norweigians, that was a great one. I've been doing a lot of research on ole Cohen since my reply. I made some errors in my last post, but I'll give that over to ignorance. This dude is like, good. Very good. But I'm a sucker for those minor chords. I'm obsessed now and will have to buy several of his CD's. I've listened to about everything posted on youtube. Only two I didn't listen to all the way.
I must find the Clemson one now. Homeboys and all.
Date: Wed Dec 24 00:48:45 2008
User: menomin
Message:Hey Julia..good to see you too! I"m fine and my men are behaving..lol!
Hope you can find that Clemson one! As you can see once you've been to Freecell you really can never stay away! I find the discussions pretty interesting!
Date: Wed Dec 24 08:34:12 2008
User: Snowguy
Message:Hi there, menomin, Great to see you. I recall some of those times we chatted while you were on duty watching all the patients' monitors and helping them get better. Merry Christmas to you and yours! ...And a safe New Year.
Oh, yeah. This thread is about a really good song. Back to your regularly-scheduled thread.
Date: Wed Dec 24 20:18:50 2008
User: malr
Message:In case any cohen-philes haven't seen this yet...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_PIadFsvDk
dance me to the end of love.
it has all the bittersweet stuff i go to him for.
H.
Date: Thu Dec 25 17:16:04 2008
User: SlowPoker
Message:I was listening to NPR yesterday (or the day before), and curiously enough they were talking about covers of this song, Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen. Apparently, the day before, they had focused on recent versions, such as Buckley's. They then got feedback... and by popular demand... as I listened, they played RD Lang. :)
SP
Date: Thu Dec 25 17:19:48 2008
User: TNmountainman
Message:We're assuming you meant "KD". How coincidental - or not.....
Date: Thu Dec 25 17:21:45 2008
User: StrapOn
Message:But if you Google "rd lang" (as well as laing) and hallelujah, you do come away wiser
Date: Thu Dec 25 23:19:59 2008
User: SlowPoker
Message:Oh oops...KD it should have been...
SP
Date: Fri Feb 12 23:48:43 2010
User: TNmountainman
Message:Sweet............KD just did this at the Opening Ceremony.....
Date: Sat Feb 13 00:50:24 2010
User: dede
Message:Yes just saw it she sings so good dosen't she?????
Date: Sat Feb 13 06:16:43 2010
User: songsung
Message:One thing the last few years have shown is there is no definitive version of Hallelujah. Credit to Leonard Cohen for creating such a beautiful song that can be interpreted by such different voices. Last month it was Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris who performed it and it's loved. Now it's kd lang. Next, someone else... It's a case of the song not the singer having the greatest impact.
Date: Sat Feb 13 08:22:32 2010
User: FilthyMcNasty
Message:Didn't the Chipmunks do this in their movie?
Date: Sat Feb 13 08:55:21 2010
User: firenze
Message:You are right, songsung. It would take a great song to make kd lang sound good.
Date: Mon Oct 8 10:22:33 2012
User: TNmountainman
Message:Ok, here's the one I referenced above at the Opening Ceremony (link below)...
Interesting (and confirmative, from my viewpoint), are a couple of comments below the youtube play screen:
"From Wiki: Cohen's partner, singer Anjani Thomas, said: "After hearing k.d. lang perform that song at the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2006 we looked at each other and said, 'well, I think we can lay that song to rest now! It's really been done to its ultimate blissful state of perfection'."
"And when leonard was approached to do this song, he asked who else was on board.. Once he heard that K.D lang was singing, he bowed out, stating that " If Ms.Lang is going to sing it, there is zero reason for me to try"
Link: k.d. lang doing it at the Olympic Opening Ceremony
Date: Mon Oct 8 10:40:27 2012
User: xeena
Message:"like" what Leonard said.
Date: Wed Jan 20 12:33:27 2021
User: JackStraw
Message:Those last years of Leonard Cohen's Concerts were as good as it gets.
Date: Thu Jan 21 11:17:55 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:That's really, really nice, ix. Thanks. :)
Date: Fri Apr 15 10:19:21 2022
User: outskirts
Message:But I don't even like that song.
Post follow-up