![]() I'd liked Carlile all right before that concert, but her horrendously unimaginative and safe choice of covers pretty much soured me on her. [ For the record, my original rant was inspired by seeing Brandi Carlile in concert, where she covered not only "Hallelujah" but also "Folsom Prison Blues." another great song that could have crawled into the grave with the giant among men who wrote it with the world being no poorer for it. I have no idea if there are any ONION writers lurking on the TP message board, but I declare that it is no coincidence that a mere month (give or take a week) after begging the musicians of the world to make "Hallelujah" covers go away, THE ONION puts out a list of songs which need be covered no more, prominently featuring "Hallelujah." Wedding bands could do away with "What I Like About You" with no complaints from meĪnd for blues fans, I can gladly go the rest of my life without ever hearing another version of "Sweet Home Chicago" - performances of which probably singlehandedly have caused me to cringe any time I hear any yuppie type professing their love of "the blues." Just puts me in mind of the scene in GHOST WORLD when Steve Buscemi goes to the blues club - probably one of the most truthful music-related scenes in the history of movies. "Yesterday" - the grandaddy of overcovered songs "One" (U2's, that is, but what the hell, no one really needs to hear another version of Harry Nilsson's, either) ![]() Sometimes it works brilliantly, more often you just have to scratch your head and wonder what the hell he was thinking. ![]() The man is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, but he tends toward the cheesy in his performances - overblown, inappropriate backing vocals, EZ listening arrangements, etc. "Cohen's own versions of the song are merely alright."Ĭohen's versions of his own songs are often the worst. If we were talking painting or sculpture here, the post-Buckley "Hallelujah" covers would be so glaringly poor that no one would have any desire to add to the pile. In any other art form, today's "Hallelujah" covers could only be seen as what they in fact are: ridiculous, insipid forgeries. Go find yourself another song to tinker with. It's like choosing to do "All Along The Watchtower." Sorry, but Bob and Jimi took care of that song. The worst offender, of course, being the execrable Rufus-fucking-Wainwright.Īpart from the dismal quality of the recent versions, "Hallelujah" is just a poor choice of cover. I believe it's Jeff's harrowing, transcendent take which has inspired the glut of covers, but strangely these Buckley fans avoid his vision, choosing instead to clone the Cale piano ballad, or Cohen's gospel anthem. ![]() John Cale recorded it's ultimate verse-form for voice and piano,įrom which Jeff Buckley revealed it's purest nature as a cry-in-the-night. It's not a song that sounds fresh in re-arrangements/reworkings (hear Bono's stinker.)ĭespite the gospel-chorus treatment that some artists (Cohen himself) think it needs, it works best as a stark hymn of the solitary heart- and as such, the definitive versions have inarguably already been recorded! I agree, and am mystified as to what appeal there would be in covering "Hallelujah."Ĭohen's own versions of the song are merely alright. ![]()
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