This group of around 50 homeless and disadvantaged men and women, have come together under the leadership of Founding Choir Director Jonathon Welch, former Opera Australia Principal. With his guidance and expertise they have beaten the odds, performed to 1600 people at Melbourne Town Hall, released their first CD “From the Heart – A Christmas Wish” and now appear regularly around Melbourne at corporate and community events.
The TV series documenting their journey so far is shown on ABC TV, Tuesday 8pm. It starts on May 15th and runs for 5 weeks.
Their latest CD is available for download from iTunes (Australia) and the most popular track is...wait for it, Hallelujah.
I'm so grateful to you, blonde madonna and SuzanneinOz, for posting information on the beautiful CD put out by the Choir of Hard Knocks! My copy arrived a few days ago, and I can't stop playing it...so powerful, so heartwarming, so majestic! As a volunteer who works with many homeless and disadvantaged, I am not surprised at this group's ability to exhibit strength, hope and optimism as I am constantly impressed with the resilience of the poor, but what a thrill to hear them sing it out!! Hallelujah is six minutes long and sung in such a touching manner with eight soloists. Missed the TV series and sure hope it's rerun!!
You remember right, Lizzy. You commented on a thread by SuzanneinOz in June. The thread was under Comments and Questions and called A broken Hallelujah. I just chose to reply on this thread because the title gave the name of the choir.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Neophyte . It was feeling a little Twilight Zone-ish there for a minute. The first thing I wondered was whether my other posts had ended up deleted. The main thing I was thinking though was, "Geez! It was Madonna who first told about this !?! I know I didn't call her name correctly, then ." All's well now.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
Neophyte wrote:I'm so grateful to you, blonde madonna and SuzanneinOz, for posting information on the beautiful CD put out by the Choir of Hard Knocks! My copy arrived a few days ago, and I can't stop playing it...so powerful, so heartwarming, so majestic! As a volunteer who works with many homeless and disadvantaged, I am not surprised at this group's ability to exhibit strength, hope and optimism as I am constantly impressed with the resilience of the poor, but what a thrill to hear them sing it out!! Hallelujah is six minutes long and sung in such a touching manner with eight soloists. Missed the TV series and sure hope it's rerun!!
Glad you're enjoying this Neophyte. Their version of Hallelujah is getting a lot of airplay in my house and car at the moment. It is a great rendition and I think it shows what life experience can add to a singer's interpretation. I have never liked Lang’s cover for this reason (even though she has a beautiful voice), it is way too smooth. I particularly love the guy who sings the lines ‘You say I took the name in vain…’, he has a lovely voice (sounds like Jimmy Little, a well known Australian singer) and yet it has something more.
It is well worth catching the series if you can. They showed some of the recording sessions for the soloists. The guy who sings the lines ‘And even though it all went wrong…’ was having a bad day because he had just had a long term injection for the treatment of his schizophrenia (as an involuntary community patient) and was experiencing distressing side effects from it. He was shaking +++ but he still got up and sang, couldn’t miss that. Afterwards the recording/mixing bloke told him he sounded like Nick Cave and he was chuffed. I think of this scene when I hear the song and I feel his words more strongly because of it.
I think Leonard would like this cover.
the art of longing’s over and it’s never coming back
1980 -- Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
1985 -- State Theatre, Melbourne
2008 -- Hamilton, Toronto, Cardiff
2009 -- Rochford Winery, Yarra Valley
2010 -- Melbourne
2013 -- Melbourne, The Hill Winery, Geelong, Auckland
Wow, Madonna. Thanks for sharing that background information. From what I've read, I agree that Leonard would like that cover and the whole album, as well.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
SuzanneinOz here, thanks to Lizzy who said you had both written about the Choir of Hard Knocks too.
It's so wonderful to think the singers have not only touched the hearts of Australians (and, boy, with our present government, we need to rediscover our hearts) but also these messages and the music is winging their way across the world.
So glad my appreciation reached you, blonde madonna and SuzanneinOz! Lizzy, you are the best at keeping people connected! Loved learning more about those singers, blonde madonna...didn't think I could l love those people even more! Like you, I have them singing in my car and in my house. It's ironic that people with such tough lives can be the source of so much inspiration. I see the DVD will be available September 15; I'll be buying it and sharing it. (And I learned a new word! Believe it or not, I'd never heard of 'chuffed.' I was afraid it meant he was unhappy and was very pleased to learn it meant 'very pleased.')
Thanks for your kind words... both you and Suzanne. A little more that may interest you about the word "chuff" is that it's also the word for the sound that tigers make when they're pleased. I learned it from two women friends who own and run a Wild Cat Sanctuary.
Here's a little more on it:
Tiger chuff and cougar meow!
Submitted by Zorin on Thu, 2004-12-23 14:42. Vanishing Species Wildlife
So, you've all wondered what a tiger chuff actually sounds like? I've decided to post one so ya'll can hear it. The "chuff" is the sound tigers make when they're happy and affectionate. You can even chuff at a tiger, and he will usually chuff back in response. It is a great way to bond with them.
Here it is: Diana chuffing!
The tigers at VSW make this sound ALL THE TIME when people are around. They're happy to get attention, and of course, people being around means food is on the way, so that makes them even happier.
Tigers start chuffing when they are only DAYS old; I remember hearing Taj chuff when he was still a micro-tiger. It's so adorable!
Cougars can be vocal as well. One of the most vocal cougars at VSW is Mystique. Here's a sample of the sound she tends to make to try to get attention:
Tigers communicate through chuffs, a sound something like a loud, short purr. Vanishing Species staff likens a chuff to saying "OoofOoofOoof" very fast. As a result we lovingly refer to chuffs as "oofies". Tigers chuff from the time they are days old. Chuffs are generally a sign of contentment. When angry tigers will hiss or roar. Some tigers when discontented, but not angry, will let out moans.
Thanks, Lizzy! Now I'm beginning to feel like a 'chuff' expert! Must start using that sweet word (and find out if I'm the only one in the world who never heard of it before ).
Hallelujah is six minutes long and sung in such a touching manner with eight soloists. Missed the TV series and sure hope it's rerun!!
. It was feeling a little Twilight Zone-ish there for a minute. The first thing I wondered was whether my other posts had ended up deleted. The main thing I was thinking though was, "Geez! It was Madonna who first told about this 
!?! I know I didn't call her name correctly, then 
." All's well now.
I was afraid it meant he was unhappy and was very pleased to learn it meant 'very pleased.')
