Montage

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:44 pm

A song becomes a mantra,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Halleluuuuuuujah
Did I write before about a friend of mine....They were in church and sang a song with Hallelujah in it. Her son told her that they were singing the song wrong.

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:23 pm

Tri-me wrote:...Did I write before about a friend of mine....They were in church and sang a song with Hallelujah in it. Her son told her that they were singing the song wrong.

Tri-me, I like that very much!

I certainly would have sung "hallelujah" several times in that same context (many years ago). I also wonder if the day will come when Cohen's "Hallelujah" is better known than Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"? Perhaps not - they are both towering songs in their own way and genre!

Cheers

Andrew (Darby)

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:02 pm

Hi Tri-me ~

I love it that Leonard's song set the standard for that son.

~ Lizzy

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:18 am

This thread is about to wander:
I think Jeff Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah" is the best, to date. I've ranted about that on a recent thread.
There may be more cover versions of "Suzanne" than "Hallelujah", or is the other way around? (Jarkko/Tom, assist here!) but there's another gem to place in the L.C. hall of wonderful songs: I refer, of course, to "If It Be Your Will" ( Austin, 1988, live, the greatest rendition by L.C.)
I recall an article where Leonard was asked "What song would you really love to have written?" He replied, "If It Be Your Will, and I did".
Andrew.

Post by **jarkko** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 8:10 am

By now I have listed 141 cover versions of Suzanne and
73 of Hallelujah. The number of Hallelujah covers is growing much
faster, but still the song is at the halfway point!

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:01 pm

The problem is that Leonard has not any Hallelujah recording you can use when you need it, so they use "angelis" Buckley's or Rufus'. Jarkko, say to Anjani that she and Leonard really could record the new, complete version and include it as bonus on next record. It only has to be complete, slow, religious, and she must put her piano in front of the mix... and we'll have the ultimate Hallelujah. Maybe she can negotiate with him about that...

dick · Post by **dick** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:03 pm

Like Tom's suggestion alot!

fyi --Season opener of "House" -- which had most viewers Tuesday night -- over 15 million - used Buckley Hallelujah at conclusion. Not full song - about 3 minutes. It's a pretty good show on Fox.

Can't help but make our man recognized by more and more.

Maybe this is also the right thread to remind that the Canadian musical press critics voted Hallelujah the best Canadian song of either the century or half century

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:19 pm

That's great news, Dick! And Sony owns the rights? Is that owing to Kelley Lynch?

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:09 am

Tom, I've read your post, and given it some thought.
I don't think there can be, or should be "the ultimate Hallelujah". You are asking Leonard and Anjani to re-work a song which was last recorded in 1993 (Live album). You also suggest how this should be done: "she must put her piano in front of the mix". Tom, this sounds like your version!
A great song is a gift to the world: how that world interpretes it is the task of other artists. The greatness of the song lies in its capacity to defy the passage of time: it will be sung 50 years from now.
Last week I had a discussion with one of my sons about the "ultimate" version of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young". We argued (as father and son do!), but concluded that the song outlives any versions of itself.
I like the way Kathryn Williams approaches "Hallelujah": she said it was different every time she sang it. I guess that's the way to view art.
Andrew.

Jim Rotonda · Post by **Jim Rotonda** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:57 pm

By the way; Dick, Lightning and fellow New Yorkers.
Rufus will be at the Beacon on Nov !
Jim

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00003 ... norcatid=1

dick · Post by **dick** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:11 pm

Thanks for the heads up Jim -- Linda and I already have tickets. She will never miss a chance to see Rufus! We also caught his three great songs at the New York City Opera gala on 9/8. Kate and Anna sat right behind us!

Not as close by, but we also have tickets for Martha doing an opening set for Madeline Peroux on 9/25 at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Rufus played the same excellent venue last year.

Your Hallelujuh observations seem valid Andrew -- but I still wouldn't mind another version if Anjani and Leonard wanted to do it.

dick

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 5:01 pm

After a night of volunteering for our jazz and blues festival, doing security backstage, hearing/seeing great blues musicians , Matt Minglewood, Jeff Healey, Sam Moon, Garret Mason, Michael Pickett,
I came home to my two kittens coming down the stairs of my attic apartment to greet me with KD Lang singing Hallelujah on the radio CBC.

I keep the radio on for company and to divert robbers

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:46 pm

Tri-me,

You're in New Brunswick! Did you get to see the Stones? My cousin back East sent me a bunch of pics from the concert. Massive stage. Massive crowd. Off topic. The CBC didn't pick Hallelujah as the best Canadian song - Leonard's top song was Suzanne. The reason being, Buckley's version was considered the definitive version. That was the top 50 Canadian tracks. There may have been another comp. going that I haven't heard. I too, am hooked into the CBC all day.

Linda.

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:50 pm

From all accounts the concert was great. I did not go, I saw them at the SkyDome on their Steel Wheels Tour, they are great on stage. I'm saving for Leonard's tour next year

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:00 pm

Linda - Dick is reffering to an earlier contest - it was mentioned in Pico Iyer's liner note for The Essential.

Andrew - I agree. But I would not mind, as Dick said. First, I don't know did you know that, but I wrote here few times my favourite cover of Hallelujah is Kathryn Williams'

Second, it is about claiming the teritory. The song indeed is the gift to the world, but TV stations, radio stations, films, cannot use it because there's no definitive, complete version from Leonard! - About my suggestions: I was following few thoughts: first, Leonard is recently at ease with Anjani in his own home studio, she's playing piano, he's playing in Pro-Tools etc. Second, Hallelujah which wants air time must be slow, profound, religious (I am not saying that Leonard's original Various Positions version isn't - but it's not "commercial" and it was almost never considered for airplay); third: Leonard succedeed in all that with 1988 version (released on 1993' Cohen Live - but it's Austin City Limits 1988 version, note that). Fourth: all popular Hallelujahs - because of Cale's original cover which all are covering - have prominent piano in it. So, some of Anjani's piano in foreground wouldn't hurt

Fifth: Blue Alert will have prominent sound of Anjani's piano, so I know that "the piano thing" I am accused of (

) is popular in Leonard's studio lately

It is "my" version indeed, but I am thinking only as producer or manager: what would bring more success or air time to Leonard's version. I know there are some other people doing that and that Leonard doesn't care much either, but my firmly statement is that he has to claim that song back, with some kind of complete version. I think the studio-idea is easy (as I said above), but in worst case he could consider to sing complete verses, both versions, on his next tour, so he can at least released in on DVD or live album.