Posted on 02/13/2010 10:06:31 AM PST by donworld
Kd Lang Hallelujah, Canadian pop music royalty shone brightly tonight at the opening ceremonies for the 21st Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. One of the top musical highlights was a stunning performance of Canadian poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” by Canadian singer k.d. lang. She first recorded the song in 2004 for her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel. She also performed “Hallelujah” at the 2005 Juno Awards. In the past three years the song has taken on iconic status. In 2008 American Idol contestant Jason Castro delivered a performance that generated such interest in the song that Jeff Buckley’s much admired 1994 recording of “Hallelujah” topped the Billboard Digital Tracks chart. Later in that same year X Factor winner Alexandra Burke topped the UK pop singles chart with her version and Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” hit #2. More recently Justin Timberlake went to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his interpretation of “Hallelujah” from the Hope For Haiti Now telethon.
Earlier in the ceremonies top Canadian pop stars Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams performed a duet on a song titled “Bang the Drum” written by Adams. Sarah McLachlan joined the parade of stars with a solo performance at the piano. In another powerful tribute to Canadian pop music, Joni Mitchell’s classic “Both Sides Now” provided the backdrop for a moving aerial and dance performance. Finally, Anne Murray, one of the bestselling Canadian pop singers of all time, was one of the notable Canadian personalities chosen to carry the official Olympic flag into the stadium.
(Excerpt) Read more at pakmahfil.com ...
I knew when she was singing it the some was blasphemous in some way. When you have an open lesbian singing "Hallelujah" 50 times, it probably isn't about God.
I always like Ayers.
Very Eccentric though.
Guys,
check out this cover by Timberlake/Morris. IMHO it’s the best one so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYmMt92Otg
I heard this song just recently on one of the TV shows we usually watch, and really liked it, but never saw what it was, or who had performed it. It could have been “Fringe”, “House” or “Bones”. Does anyone remember hearing it on one of those shows?
I have much respect for Cale and his eccentricities. I think he made a perfect foil (or compliment depending on how you look at it) to Reed’s raw/untrained genius. I think the reason I’m not as enthused at the Lang version is because I get the feeling (although not being very familiar with her work I could be totally off base here) that she could never have written a song of this caliber. And it is not very often that I am moved greatly by an artist (Lady Day being a notable exception) that subsists off the brilliance of others.
I agree.
:)
My meaning being that with Hallelujah being a widely performed song. You have a lot of atheist performers singing a Godly spiritual tune. Because they have something within they cannot deny. A yearning to know more and be more and to not deny God.
Anything can happen these days because everyone is a free lancer
I rarely watch the television, so it is not known to me.
And Born in The USA is a hate America anti-Vietnam war tune
What really happens is that with these songs is that the lyrics take on a meaning above and beyond the original intent. That's just the way it goes sometimes. Born in the USA sure sounds very patriotic to me. Bruce, you could have fooled me with those lyrics
The best ditty Reed ever did IMHO was Rock And Roll
that is very good and i’m not a timberlake fan but he does a
beautiful job. i’m still partial to the john cale version though.
Yeah, it’s an interesting song because it’s powerfully spiritual but was written by an atheist (I assume Cohen was an atheist). It’s also a great relationships song in a totally secular way, but it never is just that.
I just got done watching that one. You’re right — it’s a good one.
Ha! I loved when Ronald Reagan adopted “Born in the USA” as part of his campaign and Bruce squealed like a stuck pig!
I would disagree that it’s the best but it is definitely good. Interesting and nice to hear the song with a harmony.
You have some good taste! That song can’t help but make you feel happy. Loaded was a damn fine album!
People tend to be partial to the first rendition they hear of a song... The Timberlake one was the first one I heard of this song ;-)
I’ve always felt kinda bad for Springsteen. Once upon a time he was a pretty good artist (IMHO Nebraska was the best thing he ever did and pretty much the last good one) and then he sold out for the money and the fame . . . and I wouldn’t be surprised if that decision has troubled him every day since. At least that why I assume he has become such a bitter man.
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