Music Blog

Twofer Tuesday 5.7

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Leonard Cohen’s career was at a low point when he wrote “Hallelujah” in the early 80s, and his record label had no interest in even releasing the track or the rest of the songs that eventually came out on 1984’s Various Positions. The track was a fan favorite, but it didn’t receive much love until the Velvet Underground’s John Cale created a stripped-down piano version for a 1991 Leonard Cohen tribute album.

Jeff Buckley used Cale’s version as the basis for his stunningly beautiful version of the song on his 1994 LP Grace. The track wasn’t a single, but after Buckley’s tragic death in 1997 the song slowly started to become recognized as a classic. In 2004 Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah” was ranked #259 on Rolling Stone‘s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. 

This is “Hallelujah” by the man himself, Leonard Cohen

And this is what it sounded like when Jeff Buckley recorded it

That’s today’s Twofer Tuesday!

See you on the flip side. 😎

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25 thoughts on “Twofer Tuesday 5.7”

  1. The ‘I’m Your Man’ tribute concert was one of the greatest things that ever popped up on my TV. Lots of well known singers, from Rufus Wainright to Jarvis Cocker put their spin on LC pieces, Hallelujah being just one of them.

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  4. My husband was a Leonard Cohen super fan and Buckley’s version was his favorite cover. My favorite rendering is by Damien Rice, who sang it at Cohen’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Hallelujah has got to be one of the most covered songs in history

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    1. Mind!?! Are you kidding, Matt?? Not a chance. I was originally going to go with Rufus and changed direction. If there’s anything I’ve learned after all this time in earth it is to always trust my gut!

      Thanks, Matt. Here’s to Rufus:

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  9. Probably the song which has been massacred more times than any other on tv ‘talent’ shows. Jeff Buckley’s version is great but you can’t beat LC, especially when he has Britain’s very own Webb Sisters with him. If you don’t know it, check out their version of If It Be Your Will from this same concert – magical.

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  10. Okay, get your rotten eggs out but I don’t and never had liked Leonard Cohen…. He’s too much of a dirge and gloom merchant for me like Dylan…they write great lyrics and I love lyrics but I can’t stand whiners … Jonny Cash included.

    So I really don’t know what the fuss is about this song. Yet practically everyone had had a bash at it. Even my favourite Imogen Heap and it’s my least favourite of her music. And as far as it goes she can do no wrong in my eyes.

    So if I had to choose it would be Jeff Buckley .

    Oh! My other favourite Sam Ryder hasn’t done Hallelujah yet but he has written and recorded a lovely song Hello Hallelujah .

    💜💜💜

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    1. Sorry, Willow! Your comment went directly to spam; I just fished it out.

      Hey, I strongly promote free speech on my site so I won’t be tossing any rotten eggs in your direction! There’s no in-between with Leonard Cohen and/or this song; you either love it or hate it. Everyone is always entitled to their opinion.

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