Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

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I read that the original writing consisted of something like 97 verses. The record company didn't want to release it at first when they heard Leonard sing it. He had recently gone broke. I am willing to bet this song alone restored his financial fortunes. This thread is intended to present many different artists' interpretations. So far no two sound alike.

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Type: Discussion • Score: 5 • Views: 1,461 • Replies: 29

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@edgarblythe,

That one is too ornate for me. I like the simple piano versions. Here is the Shrek version

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I like them both. I once had a friend who hated Peggy Lee for her recording of Little Willie John's song, Fever. I told him, I just listen to the different versions as though they are separate songs.

Here is the original.

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How strange. I just came back from dropping my son off at his work, and played an MP3 chip on the way home. On it were Leonard Cohen's Halleujah, and You Want It Darker.

"Halleujah" was finishing up as I arrived home...

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@edgarblythe,

Don't care much for this one.

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There are some beautiful renditions by other singers. But once I hear the original, I'm spoiled...

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@Seizan,

Cohen's version is the only one I have a physical copy of - on vinyl.

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K D Lang

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@edgarblythe,

edgarblythe wrote:

I like them both. I once had a friend who hated Peggy Lee for her recording of Little Willie John's song, Fever. I told him, I just listen to the different versions as though they are separate songs.

Here is the original.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttEMYvpoR-k[/youtube]

I love Peggy Lee, I absolutely love her version of Fever.

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@glitterbag,

On Elvis is Back, Elvis sings Fever exactly like the Peggy Lee version. It's as if her voice has turned masculine.

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@edgarblythe,

Elvis and Madonna both sang decent versions of 'Fever', but Peggy is still my favorite.

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@glitterbag,

I agree. Peggy Lee has always been one of my top artists.

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@edgarblythe,

Back in 59, when EP-45s were a thing I bought Peggy's EP that consisted of Fever, Manana, Golden Earring, and one other. I still have it among the records I'm distributing to my kids. I learned to respect her as a songwriter when Disneyland TV series did a feature on her composing the songs in Lady and the Tramp.

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@edgarblythe,

edgarblythe wrote:

K D Lang
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTOslDiMd4E[/youtube]

My favourite.

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@Tai Chi,

I love it too.

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Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

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