HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
- david birkett
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:05 am
- Location: HITCHIN, ENGLAND
- Contact:
HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Dear all -
The latest Q magazine carries a feature in which the 'ten most perfect' (or some such vapid formula) songs are announced. These were voted for by 50 (I think) card-carrying Sensitive Singer Songwriters and Hallelujah tops the bill. There is a reasonable discussion about the song, although it omits the 'many versions' issue.
Sadly there is no Godley and Creme included. I demand a recount. It's Florida all over again.
Speaking of which and in the time-honoured Forum tradition of tangentialism - I hear America may be getting another actor in the White House. Will they never learn?
David
The latest Q magazine carries a feature in which the 'ten most perfect' (or some such vapid formula) songs are announced. These were voted for by 50 (I think) card-carrying Sensitive Singer Songwriters and Hallelujah tops the bill. There is a reasonable discussion about the song, although it omits the 'many versions' issue.
Sadly there is no Godley and Creme included. I demand a recount. It's Florida all over again.
Speaking of which and in the time-honoured Forum tradition of tangentialism - I hear America may be getting another actor in the White House. Will they never learn?
David
The Ogre does what ogres can,
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
I must confess I have never seen any of Hillary's movies. Are they any good?
p.
p.
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
We get blamed for everything.It's Florida all over again.
I say only if his first name is Chad. If, however, the 'count' should go that way... [Florida's already been threatened to lose its delegate votes... though, apparently, hefty cash remains available for visiting candidates] would you call it going from bad to worse? Or worse to bad?I hear America may be getting another actor in the White House. Will they never learn?
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Now, to what's most important at the moment:
~ Lizzy
As it should... perhaps, the many versions isn't included in that reasonable discussion because its excellence isn't contingent upon others being so inclined to cover it.Hallelujah tops the bill. There is a reasonable discussion about the song, although it omits the 'many versions' issue.
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
- blonde madonna
- Posts: 981
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:27 am
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Which song exactly? Did they write this one or just sing it?david birkett wrote:Sadly there is no Godley and Creme included. I demand a recount.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBuom7juPRg
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
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
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
BM - Hi
That 10cc fella'd annoy you - he's in denial.
And as an aside - Christine says you're Sahara bound with the rest of us. Is himself OK with that? You''ve to bring the soundtrack. No Bing and Bob 'Road to' songs please. Got to go .....ships passing and all that.
That 10cc fella'd annoy you - he's in denial.
And as an aside - Christine says you're Sahara bound with the rest of us. Is himself OK with that? You''ve to bring the soundtrack. No Bing and Bob 'Road to' songs please. Got to go .....ships passing and all that.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
from Wild Geese
Mary Oliver
love what it loves.
from Wild Geese
Mary Oliver
- blonde madonna
- Posts: 981
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:27 am
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
OK David, what about this song? Or would it just get a groundbreaking video award?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9skEZHYxOo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9skEZHYxOo
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
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
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Boy, I'll say, Madonna . The video wasn't made in 1985, though, was it ? I had to "Favorite" that one.Or would it just get a groundbreaking video award?
"I'm Not In Love" ~ back to my disco days .
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
~ Oscar Wilde
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
I wouldn't have thought "Halleluijah" was even Leonard Cohen's best song, not by a long chalk.
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
In my book "The man Whos Destroyed My Life. A book about Leonard Cohen." I do rate it as his masterpiece. It´s a song I belive will be with us for a long time. Masterpieces are trickie that way, maybe they are not always your favourite, but they linger on.Red Poppy wrote:I wouldn't have thought "Halleluijah" was even Leonard Cohen's best song, not by a long chalk.
-cortez
Last edited by cortez on Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
I might add, that I think John Cales version really takes the song to even higher grounds. But I might be wrong.
-cortez
-cortez
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Then again, we have Anthony and the Johnsons.
Lovely stuff he does with Leonards lyrics.
-cortez
Lovely stuff he does with Leonards lyrics.
-cortez
- blonde madonna
- Posts: 981
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:27 am
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
I agree with you cortez. Red Poppy, don't you think you are sometimes red just for the sake of it? It has amazed me how this song has taken off (in no small part due to John Cale and one of the Buckleys, I can never remember which one) but I know so many people who are not Cohen fans but love this song. One day it will beat 'Suzanne' as his most covered song. Or has it already?cortez wrote:I do rate it as his masterpiece. It´s a song I belive will be with us for a long time. Masterpieces are trickie that way, maybe they are not always your favourite, but they linger on.
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
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
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
I may be red for the sake of it Madonna but are you Blonde for the sake of it or even truly so?
I take the point on Halleluijah being covered (it's Jeff of te Buckley clan) but I would have thought lyrically and musically there are better songs in the Cohen canon but, of course, this is all subjective.
I'd have put a number ahead of it, not for instant appeal, but for quality.
Take this longing; If it be your will come to mind immediately.
But, hey Cortez, if it's in your book then it's in your book!
I take the point on Halleluijah being covered (it's Jeff of te Buckley clan) but I would have thought lyrically and musically there are better songs in the Cohen canon but, of course, this is all subjective.
I'd have put a number ahead of it, not for instant appeal, but for quality.
Take this longing; If it be your will come to mind immediately.
But, hey Cortez, if it's in your book then it's in your book!
- david birkett
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:05 am
- Location: HITCHIN, ENGLAND
- Contact:
Re: HALLELUJAH BEST SONG EVER IN HISTORY OF SONGINESS
Speaking as someone who is most definitely vaguely mousy-brown for the sake of it, I am very fond of Godley & Creme's "Cry" but my favourite would have to be "Under Your Thumb" or "Englishman in New York", unless it were "Art School Canteen" or one of several others, including "I Pity Inanimate Objects" ('Is a tree as a rocking horse / An ambition fulfilled / And is the sawdust jealous?')
"Hallelujah" is definitely Cohen's masterpiece - it's just one of those self-evident truths that constitute the bedrock of the universe.
KD Laing does a neat version.
David
"Hallelujah" is definitely Cohen's masterpiece - it's just one of those self-evident truths that constitute the bedrock of the universe.
KD Laing does a neat version.
David
The Ogre does what ogres can,
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.