Hallelujah! It's back!!!!

[mnkyface]

"News" is the wrong section but I don't know where to put it... the 80s Hallelujah video from German TV is back on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Tb6Yx_iWg
This was the video that had millions of hits and years of comments (often lively debate about Hallelujah versions, among other LC topics) only to be suddenly deleted by YouTube (or Sony?) some months ago. I think it was the most-viewed LC video on YouTube. The version that was uploaded before had a split second portion with a German TV (ZDF) host announcing "LAY-OH-NAHD Cohen!" This new upload has cut that portion out but all the LC lip-syncing goodness is there. Let's not even talk about the background "singers"... (No, actually, let's. Rejects from St Elmo's Fire? And how about the guy who peers around the pillar before he's supposed to? And then steps out too late?? Niiiiice. )
I LOVE this video. It has such significance for me because it was the first time I saw LC... and let's face it, 80s LC is not fair play. Irresistable! I had heard In My Secret Life (just audio) ...loved the song and decided to look up who this Leonard Cohen guy was. Landed on this video. And the rest is, as they say, is history. Like those historic looking columns and arches in that stunning set.

[ladydi]

Hallelujah indeed! Thanks SO much Esther! This video was also my first introduction to the "real" Leonard even though I'd heard his name for years and been vaguely aware of him merely because I was Canadian. I'll sort of miss the announcer at the beginning and it is such a sort of campy version now with the lip-sync, and the singers in those awful 80's casual type clothes, and the "peeker", BUT, when I saw Leonard he blew me away and I must have watched the clip at least 30 times in the first couple of days! His eyes especially and I love it when he sort of swivels on his boot heel to look at the singers..omg! I hadn't realized it had been pulled from YouTube but I will make sure to go there today and take another look! This is great news!

ps..plus that is when I fell in love with the "do ya"!

[somewhat_nifty]

There is a documentary, 'Halleluja in Moll' that shows the 'making of' this legendary performance, it's really interesting, it shows Leonard behind the scenes preparing for it, practising etc - it's all in German though so sadly I can't understand a word of the commentary! I highly recommend any German speakers track it down though (and maybe you could translate for me ). Some interesting interviews too.

[ladydi]

Wow...how interesting! Thanks somewhat_nifty! Even though I probably won't understand a word, it would be fun to watch the behind the scenes happenings. Will search it out.

[ladydi]

This may not be the one you meant but it's delightful, showing Leonard, Anjani, Dominique and very playful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SWBnHZD73Y

Diana

ps..thanks to Messalina79 for providing these videos on YouTube.

[ladydi]

These are awesome! Wish I could find the whole documentary! Just LOOK at Anjani! How gorgeous. And Leonard isn't too bad himself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7rkR9PtOM

ps..I love the cleaning women washing the floor while they practice!

[mnkyface]

Yes, Diana, the heel swivel! And I thought I was the only one...

nifty, I had no idea this was part of the "Moll" documentary. Thanks for this info!

[MaryB]

ps..I love the cleaning women washing the floor while they practice!

I would have gladly cleaned that floor and for free - heck, I would have paid them. But no schmatta on my head .

[bridger15]

But no schmatta on my head .

I can't stop laughing. That is soooooooooooooo funny!

[somewhat_nifty]

I think the Hallelujah performance itself is from a German chatshow or something, but the documentary is following Leonard around for a while in 1985 and covers when he's making this appearance.

Those clips ladydi has linked to above are from the same documentary and are on my YouTube channel - I may put up some more, but it was hard to find bits without lots of narration, which kind of spoils the atmosphere (well for me anyway, as I don't know what's going on!). There are several interview segments too, but they are spoken over in German so it's difficult to hear what Leonard's saying - quite frustrating! But it's all still interesting to watch.

I love the clip with Leonard and Anjani - very sweet

[Matthias1234]

This documentary was made by Georg Stefan Troller, a quite famous writer and director from austria, so this could be interesting. Just the great scene with the cleaning women with "if it be your will" in the background (that gave me a complete new view on that song) ! But, I speak german and watched the short parts on youtube, I have to say, you don't miss very much if you don't understand the conversation. The only sentence I found interesting was Leonards answer to the question, if they are drinking now (short before they will enter the stage, and obviously they are drinking, so the question seems not very necessary). Anyway, Leonard is answering: "I'm only drinking for professional reasons". So, maybe the whole documentary is a little bit more surprising. I will ask at the tv station (zdf) if the plan to broadcoast it again. Matthias

[somewhat_nifty]

This documentary was made by Georg Stefan Troller, a quite famous writer and director from austria, so this could be interesting. Just the great scene with the cleaning women with "if it be your will" in the background (that gave me a complete new view on that song) ! But, I speak german and watched the short parts on youtube, I have to say, you don't miss very much if you don't understand the conversation. The only sentence I found interesting was Leonards answer to the question, if they are drinking now (short before they will enter the stage, and obviously they are drinking, so the question seems not very necessary). Anyway, Leonard is answering: "I'm only drinking for professional reasons". So, maybe the whole documentary is a little bit more surprising. I will ask at the tv station (zdf) if the plan to broadcoast it again. Matthias

Yes, there is a lot more of interest in it than those little bits obviously, but for a non-German speaker it's hard to work out what's happening For example there's some rehearsal scenes that look like they're in a studio, but whether they're for the tour or the album I can't tell.

[suburban.hornbag]

Thanks for sharing the clip it's fantastic.

It's an absolute classic for all the right reasons and is a stand out for all the wrong reasons!

Totally love the guy peeking around the pillar "are we on yet"?

..................oh and did somebody mention fashion

Hallelujah!

[AvidCohenFan]

Glad the German Hallelujah is back; equally glad it's not one of the first Cohen videos you see when you look for him on YouTube.

[Florian]

I'm glad that this video was not my introduction to LC, saw it mutch later and, sorry, teribble is the first word that comes to mind.
I think this video gives a total wrong impression about Leonard and his work.

The performance was part of the german "Wetten Dass...?" show from 15, december 1984 in Bremen
"Wetten Dass..?" (Wanna Bet..?) is the most popular saturday evening show in Germany: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetten,_dass..%3F