OK, it looks like BloodhoundBlog is going to have a music section after all. Here is a link to Rufus Wainwright singing one of the most beautiful songs ever. There are a number of artists who do this song, I believe his version is even better than the one by Jeff Buckley.
My favorite artist, this lifetime, would have to be Leon Russell . Here is a video of one of his monster performances, singing the Stones classic, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” combined with The Coasters hit, “Youngblood”.
This was from the Concert For Bangladesh recorded and filmed in 1971.
Enjoy.
Reuben Moore says:
Hi Russell, You couldn’t be more right about ‘Hallelujah,’ but don’t give up on the female vocalists. Brandi Carlile’s rendition is pretty amazing.
September 2, 2007 — 5:41 am
Greg Swann says:
The Jeff Buckley cover of Hallelujah is the ultimate perfect recording of the song. The Rufus Wainwright version from Shrek is better than this one (from I’m Your Man), but, even so, Buckley’s version is simply better: The man has a four octave range, the guitar is right there with him and he really understands the song. The recording will come on at a party and conversation just stops. It’s literally arresting from that very first breath.
September 2, 2007 — 6:50 am
Teri Lussier says:
Buckley’s version “is the ultimate perfect recording of the song”. It is quite simply amazing.
However. Personally when it comes to music, I’m always drawn to the imperfect, particularly when coupled with such beautiful lyrics. I want to hear an ache and a strain- someone laying their heart and soul and imperfections on the line. That moves me and with art I’d rather be moved than amazed.
September 2, 2007 — 8:05 am
Greg Swann says:
> I want to hear an ache and a strain- someone laying their heart and soul and imperfections on the line.
You’re missing the best of Jeff Buckley. You need to listen to it a few hundred more times.
Notable: Leonard Cohen recorded two very different versions of this song at different phases of his career. The first is very reverent, almost aloof. The second is almost clinically sexual. Buckley combined these two sets of lyrics for his version, and this is the text covered by subsequent artists. On top of everything else, by combining these two versions, Buckley brings eros to agape, making a much more powerful arrangement than Leonard Cohen made on his own.
Hallelujah — Cohen I
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah — Cohen II
Baby, I’ve been here before.
I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
Yeah I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch,
But listen, love is not some kind of victory march,
No it’s a cold and it’s a very broken Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
What’s really going on below,
Ah but now you never show it to me, do you?
Yeah but I remember, yeah when I moved in you,
And the holy dove, she was moving too,
Yes every single breath that we drew was Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Maybe there’s a God above,
As for me, all I’ve ever seemed to learn from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.
Yeah but it’s not a complaint that you hear tonight,
It’s not the laughter of someone who claims to have seen the light
No it’s a cold and it’s a very lonely Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
I did my best, it wasn’t much.
I couldn’t feel, so I learned to touch.
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come all this way to fool you.
Yeah even tough it all went wrong
I’ll stand right here before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my lips but Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Hallelujah — Buckley arrangement
I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Baby I’ve been here before
I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew ya
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time when you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you?
And remember when I moved in you?
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it’s not a cry that you hear at night
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
September 2, 2007 — 9:26 am
Teri Lussier says:
What I hear with Buckley , me, bringing only myself to it, is the ache and strain of Cohen’s astounding lyrics, with perfect voice and guitar work. It’s lovely.
But to hear Cohen or Wainwright sing adds… I don’t know what. The words are so honest and raw. I’m drawn to the voice that matches that, it seems to come from another place altogether. Pain sometimes creates the most beauty… Could someone with a perfect voice write such lyrics? I don’t know the answer.
September 2, 2007 — 10:46 am
Allen says:
Wow. I’m absolutely stunned at the good taste in music around here. Most people I come across have no idea when I tell them who I like musically, and here you are just ripping them out!
I would have to concur with Greg on this one; Buckley’s version of hallelujah is definitely outstanding. For Wainwright, I’d have to go with “Go, or go ahead” as his best song ever.
Can I hear an amen?
Allen
September 2, 2007 — 6:23 pm