leonardcohenforum.com

Renee Fleming Turns Indie Rock Songs Into Opera
By Kevin Richards on February 24th, 2010



Move over indie rock, here comes something more “appasionato.” On her new album, Dark Hope, opera star Renee Fleming takes a “visit to a new, parallel universe.” Produced by David Kahne (Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney) Dark Hope finds “The People’s Diva” covering songs by Muse, Arcade Fire, The Mars Volta, Death Cab For Cutie, Leonard Cohen, Band Of Horses, and more.

Yes, you read that right. It almost makes the upcoming orchestral album from Peter Gabriel (also covered here) seem boring in comparison.

“I’ve always been inspired by artists who have shown musical and intellectual curiosity and the courage to take risks,” says 3-time Grammy Award-winner Fleming. “Because everything about the voice interests me, I felt it would be fascinating to learn a completely different style of singing.”

“We found an interpretation that enabled the point of view to sound authentic coming from me. Every song has a story, so this whole idea of enacting or playing a role is doubly true for this music.”
Advertisement

Kahne contributed heavily to each track’s arrangement, and Fleming is joined in the studio by her two daughters and her sister, who provide backup vocals on a few tracks.

The album is due this Spring on Decca. Stay tuned for details.

Check out the list of songs that will appear on Dark Hope:

Endlessly (Muse)
No One’s Gonna Love You (Band of Horses)
Oxygen (Willy Mason)
Today (Jefferson Airplane)
Intervention (Arcade Fire)
With Twilight As My Guide (The Mars Volta)
Mad World (Tears for Fears)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Stepping Stone (Duffy)
Soul Meets Body (Death Cab For Cutie)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

mutti wrote:A new cover of Hallelujah just appeared on you tube. This time its by some of the Olympic blouse throwers from San Jose..
Its from a group of over 40 women some of the names are unknown...but if you listen carefully you hear Lady Di, Mary B, Mollydog, Irish Mar, Lizzy, Monkeyface, Esther, Mutti, Imaginary Friend, Sharon E, Nico, Marsha, Bonni and many more..sorry if I missed anyone...I even heard an Irish lad named Sir Albert had a part of this tune.
I think its the best cover yet...

Fleming has said she needed to discover a different way of singing for the rock and pop collection. Previously, her efforts outside the opera realm have included a jazz release, holiday music and participating in the soundtrack for the film trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

Soprano Renée Fleming has learned "a completely different style of singing" for a forthcoming pop album, which features covers of Muse, Arcade Fire, and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. "This album is NOT a crossover," the American singer insists. "There's not a hint of 'middle ground'. It's completely at the other extreme of the spectrum."

“We all agreed she wouldn’t sing like a standard soprano, like Katherine Jenkins or Susan Boyle,” Mr. Mensch said. “Renée Fleming is just a great singer, period, full stop. She has a remarkable voice and it does remarkable things, and now I know it does remarkable things both as a soprano and as a rock-pop singer.”

mutti wrote:A new cover of Hallelujah just appeared on you tube. This time its by some of the Olympic blouse throwers from San Jose..