I'm not sure if I know the song, but have you heard K.D. Lang's verions of "Calling All Angels"? (If I've got the title right it's on the soundtrack to Until The End Of The World".
Her voice is so amazing. Though like everyone else my favorite version remains Jeff Buckley, this is a close second. The piano has some absolutely lovely grace notes as well.
I'm really fond of KD Lang, have at least 2 of her albums, love her voice. The quieter version was more appealing than the glitzy one, that's for sure. This has always been a quiet song for me, a slightly sad song, as many of LC's are. Poignant.
My definitive version is John Cale's on "I'm Your Fan" a tribute album that came out in the 80's. His live piano version is good as well, but the one on youtube with strings wasn't. The strings overwhelmed the simplicity of delivering the poetry.
But odd you should post this just now as it's been a major influence in the story I'm just finishing.
It might be the most often-covered song of all time (and if not, it's definitely in the short list) - but that's because yeah, it's fan-freakin-tastic!
This is off her cover album, Hymns of the 49th Parallel (http://www.amazon.ca/Hymns-49th-Parallel-K-D-Lang/dp/B000267J10), which is truly awesome (in all senses of the word). Her version of "Helpless" is heartbreaking.
That's my favorite, too. For about a week after I finished the first draft of my latest book, I played it over and over and over. Power and emotion and it moved me to tears.
Don't think I've commented in your journal before, but wow, was that gorgeous! I never think to look for K.D. Lang's stuff, but whenever I hear any of it I get all caught up. Thanks for posting! ♥
That essay might do for "Hallelujah" what 538.com did for the electoral college. Wow. Quite something.
Love the "sad montage" analysis! I first heard it in "When Night is Falling," but only the chorus is featured there; next time I remember seeing/hearing it (mit sad montage) was in The West Wing, but I think I knew it already by then. Then it was everywhere.
It might be that the raw emotional appeal of "Hallelujah" stems from the same place as that of the Kaddish, the Hebrew prayer for the dead (and, knowing even a little about Leonard Cohen, it's not a stretch to think that the Kaddish might have at least partly inspired it): a song of ostensible praise laid over deepest grief.
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Date: 2008-12-15 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 05:15 pm (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ
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Date: 2008-12-15 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 09:07 pm (UTC)Well, yeah.
Makes me realize culture has to be reinvented - or at least reintroduced every 3 years or so.
There are kids in my KlezNut cast that have never heard of "Shakespeare in Love."
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Date: 2008-12-15 05:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:04 pm (UTC)My definitive version is John Cale's on "I'm Your Fan" a tribute album that came out in the 80's. His live piano version is good as well, but the one on youtube with strings wasn't. The strings overwhelmed the simplicity of delivering the poetry.
But odd you should post this just now as it's been a major influence in the story I'm just finishing.
Oz
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Date: 2008-12-15 09:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 09:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 08:39 pm (UTC)Another KD Lang performance of Hallelujiah
Date: 2008-12-15 08:57 pm (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UlZZbVyJtY
There's just something about the emotion in her voice and on her face, and her body language that absolutely tears me apart.
Re: Another KD Lang performance of Hallelujiah
Date: 2008-12-16 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 10:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-16 12:59 am (UTC)http://www.clapclap.org/2007/04/hallelujah.html
It actually includes a graph of covers by year! And a list of usages in film and TV montages.
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Date: 2008-12-16 03:00 am (UTC)Love the "sad montage" analysis! I first heard it in "When Night is Falling," but only the chorus is featured there; next time I remember seeing/hearing it (mit sad montage) was in The West Wing, but I think I knew it already by then. Then it was everywhere.
It might be that the raw emotional appeal of "Hallelujah" stems from the same place as that of the Kaddish, the Hebrew prayer for the dead (and, knowing even a little about Leonard Cohen, it's not a stretch to think that the Kaddish might have at least partly inspired it): a song of ostensible praise laid over deepest grief.