Hallelujah - BBC Radio2 Documentary

[Davido]

"The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall

Saturday 1 November
1900 - 2000

Guy Garvey, front man of Mercury Award winners Elbow, examines the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah by talking to the artists who have covered it.

Marking 25 years since Hallelujah was first recorded, Guy explains why the track has been analysed by both academics and theologists and looks at how the song has graced anything from teen dramas to Hollywood blockbusters.

Contributors to the programme will include Kathryn Williams, Andy Wallace and Imogen Heap.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/musicclub/d ... ujah.shtml

[Adrian]

That's yet more wonderful news! Thanks for the word, Davido.

Allison Crowe, (whom I'm honoured/joyed to serve), was interviewed for that documentary and recorded performing Hallelujah in Liverpool - when she was there giving a series of concerts during Beatles Week (August '08)! Quite serendipitous that this Leonard-centric documentary airs the same date of the official publication of the MOJO feature.

Definitely, feeling the love for LC!!!

[Dutt]

I can only hope that Katherine Jenkins isn't on the broadcast. I really can't stand her vibrato and Hallelujah is on her latest CD, entitled something like "Sacred Songs". It's been plugged quite a lot by the media, but no.....no.......NO!!!!!!!

[osmachar]

Have still yet to hear a good cover version....

[Adrian]

I've heard only a few dozen good covers so far - but, health willing, I'm young enough yet to enjoy more of the nearing 200 versions recorded now! The latest discovery for me was just tonight - a very nice acoustic guitar rendition by a young Canadian singer, Ellisa Hartman. Looking forward to Saturday's show to hear more. From solo artists to choirs, Hallelujah is proving itself to be a song for the ages, as well as this age.

[Adrian]

Brava! Bravo! Having computer/web troubles so I've caught the broadcast on a friend's computer and enjoyed very much how the show highlights it's a many-plumed bird, is the song. As host Guy Garvey concludes the documentary - Leonard Cohen has brought this beautiful creature into the world, and "let her go".

Hallelujah!!

(apparently BBC Radio 2 archives its shows for a week - so, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall" should be replayable during this next week - and, I am sure somone has the link! I'll look when I get home...)

Happy All Saint's Day, all

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[DrHGuy]

The direct link to the replay of the Nov 1 BBC Documentary on Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall," (available for 7 days after the original broadcast) follows: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... inor_Fall/

[Jeremy]

Hi Dave - still a thoroughly reliable custodian of the public offerings, I see!

I'll be listening to this shortly - my partner (who's a big fan also) having mentioned it to me last night, just as the show was finishing. She'd thought it was on on another day - thank goodness for podcasts.........

I must say the "original" version (which for me is the track on the Cohen Live album, rather than the recorded version - the first you hear/see is the original for anyone in my very humble opinion***) is wonderful, but I do think the song is so strong that many of the covers are also great recordings, and I'm really looking forward to this new programme.

Best,

Jeremy

*** Which is why Roger Moore will always be James Bond

[Jim Williams]

Looking forward to this, and was popping in here to make sure you'd all got the news.

[Adrian]

Thank you, kindly, for the direct link to the broadcast, DrHGuy!

Especially in tune is the "Warning" note posted on your blog:

"Warning: Listening to this sampling of artists, critics, and other commentators talk about their perspectives on Hallelujah may put ones preconceived notions about the song at risk."

Happy All Soul's Day!

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[sebmelmoth2003]

looking forward to hearing the programme this afternoon.

there was a female singer who covered hallelujah on gloria hunniford's "heaven and earth" show on bbc1 some time ago.

but i've forgotten her name.

[Jim Williams]

It was Kathryn Williams.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/heavenandearth/factsheets/20070826.shtml

[sebmelmoth2003]

thanks jim.

i'm listening to the R2 programme right now.

here's how the bbc press office trailed it :

The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall

Saturday 1 November

7.00-8.00pm BBC RADIO 2

Leonard Cohen's classic,

Hallelujah, is in the spotlight Guy Garvey, the Mercury Award-winning frontman of Elbow, examines the classic Leonard Cohen track, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah has been covered by a huge range of artists and Guy talks to some of them to uncover the song's enduring appeal.

Guy explores the lyrics – opinions differ as to its religious or sexual meaning – and how the song has been widely used in television drama, film and even the blockbuster animation Shrek.

The programme features different versions of Hallelujah and contributors include: singers Kathryn Williams and Imogen Heap; Mary Guibert, the mother of the late Jeff Buckley, who recorded one of the best-known covers of the song; Alex Patsavas, a music supervisor who has worked on high-profile US dramas such as The OC and Grey's Anatomy; music producer Andy Wallace; and the Bishop of Croydon, Nicholas Baines.

Listeners can hear Guy Garvey's Finest Hour on BBC 6 Music every Sunday night at 10pm.

Presenter/Guy Garvey, Producer/Richard McIlroy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/progin ... /sat.shtml

[Paul Zagreb]

I though it was an enjoyable programme with some nice insights into the meanings the song has for some of those who have interpreted it. I really liked the little anecdote at the end about hearing Leonard, off-mike, at Glastonbury, saying to the band 'let her go' before launching into the song. From a Cohen forum perspective (if such a thing exists!!!) perhaps it could have used some interview material from Leonard himself ... I recall a quite recent interview with Mark Lawson where he does discuss the song a little bit and there must be more out there. The presenter seemed to prefer to construct an image of leonard being 'reticent' about the song as a central framing assumption. But, in the end, this was a respectful and highly listenable programme and - as an atheist with agnostic tendencies - I was indeed impressed by the rather cool sounding Bishop of Croydon --- who doesn't appear to have recorded his version yet!!!!

[sebmelmoth2003]

I was indeed impressed by the rather cool sounding Bishop of Croydon --- who doesn't appear to have recorded his version yet!!!!

i've emailed the priests asking them to step onto the hallelujah plate!!

http://www.thepriests.com