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Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:51 pm
by George.Wright
Announcements tonight that Hallelujah is offically No 1 and No 2 in the UK Charts, first time this has happened with a song since the 1950's and Leonard himself is also in the top 40, with his version, making this achievement totally unique, three versions of the same song in the top 40!!! leonard must be very proud.

Georges.

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:56 pm
by Ophelia
George.Wright wrote:Announcements tonight that Hallelujah is offically No 1 and No 2 in the UK Charts, first time this has happened with a song since the 1950's and Leonard himself is also in the top 40, with his version, making this achievement totally unique, three versions of the same song in the top 40!!! leonard must be very proud.

Georges.
Thanks for that, George. Here's hoping that Len makes a good few bob to help boost his coffers. :D

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:14 pm
by George.Wright
I think he is doing very nicely from this unique achievement.

Georges.

harold melvin thelma in UK Charts

Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:52 pm
by simonmoorehead
dont leave me this way - thlema houston and harold melvin in charts at same time but not 1 and 2

Alexandra Burke is UK Xmas number 1

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:44 pm
by millsotheblue
The rise of Alexandra Burke has been meteoric - check out her MySpace page at **http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =129768088 - I'd love to know whether you think she has properly interpreted the meaining of LC's words. Has she ruined a true classic or ahs she simply added to the multiplicity of perspectives that can only make a song better?

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:49 pm
by millsotheblue
The rise of Alexandra Burke has been meteoric - check out her MySpace page at **http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =129768088 - I'd love to know whether you think she has properly interpreted the meaining of LC's words. Has she ruined a true classic or ahs she simply added to the multiplicity of perspectives that can only make a song better?

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:07 pm
by John Etherington
Hi millsotheblue,

Last week, there was another video (of a different song) on Alexandra's myspace page, which was quite excellent. Unfortunately, it seems to have gone. I don't particually care for her version of "Hallelujah" as it over-dramatises the song. Also (as Hydriot has pointed out) she changes the words to "all I've ever learned from love is how to SHOOT SOMEBODY" who outdrew you"! Hopefully listeners won't take this to heart (there's enough of that sort of thing in Alexandra's native Islington, already!). Despite these things, Alexandra is the one who has been chosen to bring the song to the masses, and she's made a reasonable job of it.

All good things, John E

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:46 pm
by racer76
In 26 years of being a Leonard fan I never thouht I would see the day he would chart not just once but be responsible for 3 chart positions! You live for moments like this.

I aint a fan of karoke/reality rubbish so Alex`s version does nothing for me, give me KD Lang anytime.

2008 great year all round for Leonard. I wonder? should December 21st now officially be recognised as LEONARD COHEN DAY?

Cool Yule to all fans of oor Lenny.

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:58 am
by Actaion
millsotheblue wrote:- I'd love to know whether you think she has properly interpreted the meaining of LC's words. Has she ruined a true classic or ahs she simply added to the multiplicity of perspectives that can only make a song better?
The intense lyrics of Hallelujah are open to different interpretations ranging from religious to sexual.

They include the lines: “She tied you to her kitchen chair. And she broke your throne and she cut your hair. And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah.”

But Alex, 20, who was voted off X Factor three years ago by Louis Walsh for being too young, has a simple and sweet view of what it means – the quest for true love.

Alex said: “When I sing it I’m thinking about a girl who is in love with a boy and is trying to get them to notice her.

“But they are not listening. I’m not thinking about anyone in particular – but the general idea of hoping to meet a man, settle down and get married one day. It’s all about my fantasy of meeting a Prince Charming one day – but not meeting him yet.”
I don't claim to know the only true interpretaion of the song, but Burke interpretation is certainly missing the point totally...
When I heard her version for the first time, I immediatly thought that she obviously doesn't understand the song. I don't doubt, she has some capabilities as a singer, but this is not the right song for her, the way she sings it doesn't fit the song at all... :cry:

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:27 pm
by shadowsonthewood
Maybe she could pen a new version:

Well, I heard there was a facebook crowd
Trying to get their point out loud,
Saying, ‘You don’t really care for music, do ya?’
And they say I take the name in vain
And sing for Mr. Cowell’s gain,
And all because o' the tune called 'Hallelujah'.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

I did my best, it wasn’t much.
I couldn’t feel, so I hammed it up.
I thought, ‘Sing it just like Whitney, that be cool, ya?’
And now I'm at the top of the charts
And art is now a victory march
And every breath that I draw is Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

I sing for my friend in Girls Aloud.
I belt it out for the TV crowd.
I’ll sing it for our boys out in Fallujah.
And even though I oversing,
I’ll stand before the Lord of Bling
With my cold and broken single, ‘Hallelujah’.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.


Good luck to the girl, anyway. It's not her fault, but the production's just soul-destroying. At least Leonard is now all over the place in the media. He rules. What an end to a great year.

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:48 pm
by Actaion
shadowsonthewood wrote:Maybe she could pen a new version:

Well, I heard there was a facebook crowd
Trying to get their point out loud,
Saying, ‘You don’t really care for music, do ya?’
And they say I take the name in vain
And sing for Mr. Cowell’s gain,
And all because o' the tune called 'Hallelujah'.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

I did my best, it wasn’t much.
I couldn’t feel, so I hammed it up.
I thought, ‘Sing it just like Whitney, that be cool, ya?’
And now I'm at the top of the charts
And art is now a victory march
And every breath that I draw is Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

I sing for my friend in Girls Aloud.
I belt it out for the TV crowd.
I’ll sing it for our boys out in Fallujah.
And even though I oversing,
I’ll stand before the Lord of Bling
With my cold and broken single, ‘Hallelujah’.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Good luck to the girl, anyway. It's not her fault, but the production's just soul-destroying. At least Leonard is now all over the place in the media. He rules. What an end to a great year.
:lol: :!: 8)

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:19 pm
by Jim Williams
I can't believe you've all been so kind. It's fuckin' awful! When that Titanic/Celion Dion production comes in it makes me wretch. Sex and death, lust and longing? I wish. Thank Christ the late, great Jeff Buckley is coming up from behind with his sweet poison.

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:22 pm
by Red Poppy
John
She's not the first one to balls up that line of the lyrics and totally miss the irony in the writing.
Dare I say it, between all the versions out there and with all the versions I've heard in churches/on late night street corners/ through pub doors and in chippers I'm beginning to wish for a twelve month moratorium on the song. Too much of a good thing.
As for Jeff Buckley's version - a second rate take on John Cale!

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:49 pm
by Jim Williams
After hearing Burke's deracinated version of Hallelujah a friend of mine (a fellow LC enthusiast, naturally) came up with this fitting tribute:

I thought of this when I was bored
And then I fell over and nearly roared
But you don't care much for the X-factor do you?

It goes like this
The minor scowl, the major howl
And the hopeless fools expurgating Hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

Her voice was wrong, but who cares for truth?
It's just another extension on the roof
But then her lack of talent really blew you
Her tedious voice would never tire
So they called in a fucking choir
Till all that's left is Halle-fucking-lujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

I don't really care for art
I'd sooner sit back and lay a fart
And pretend this moment really matters to you

Oh hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

Re: Hallelujah No 1 and No 2 in UK Charts

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:04 pm
by kwills
Jim Williams wrote:After hearing Burke's deracinated version of Hallelujah a friend of mine (a fellow LC enthusiast, naturally) came up with this fitting tribute:

I thought of this when I was bored
And then I fell over and nearly roared
But you don't care much for the X-factor do you?

It goes like this
The minor scowl, the major howl
And the hopeless fools expurgating Hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

Her voice was wrong, but who cares for truth?
It's just another extension on the roof
But then her lack of talent really blew you
Her tedious voice would never tire
So they called in a fucking choir
Till all that's left is Halle-fucking-lujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

I don't really care for art
I'd sooner sit back and lay a fart
And pretend this moment really matters to you

Oh hallelujah

Hallelujah x4

Ha! Ha! Ha! I love this forum.
By the way Jim,is that what your avatar is doing fanning away the fart?
No offense meant I think your avatar is really interesting.
:lol: