Campaign: Get Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah in the UK charts!

[Irene Teresa]

They said in our paper that one and two would be Jeff and LEONARD and although this alexandria may win idol they didnt mention her as the top two...so im not sure how far from truth they have it here...but it brought me to this thread!

[John Etherington]

Thanks for the link - they've covered it well. A few of points here, though: first of all, the downloading of songs that one already owns to get them in the charts surely amounts to an unfair type of hyping? Also, both of Leonard's recorded versions ("Various Positions" and "Cohen Live") are relatively low-key, and not particularly hit material. I suspect that his definitive version will be the one that is released on the forthcoming live CD. As per usual of course, John Cale's original and excellent cover version does not get a mention, here. Finally, I've quite warmed to Alexandra as an artist, and would like to see her sing a duet with Leonard at some point.

All good things, John E

[MarieM]

Finally, I've quite warmed to Alexandra as an artist, and would like to see her sing a duet with Leonard at some point.

Me too. She has the voice to capture the exuberance that is part of Hallelujah. I love that Leonard is receiving so much attention. I love that people love Jeff Buckley's version. To me, it is all good. I don't see anything crass about taking a good song and re-introducing it to the public. The very fact that Buckley's version differs so much from Alexandra's suggests the song is not stagnant but timeless. My favorite version will always be Leonard's because I want to connect to the truth of the words and no one knows the truth better than the writer. But my second favorite remains this version and considering it has had over 7 million hits, I guess I'm not alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM

[Habie]

This really is SO much fun...

I can't imagine Lennie himself being anything other than bemused/amused/tickled/maybe even a little wowed by all this. After all, he seemed so genuinely thrilled by the Glastonbury thing - all those youngsters joining the Oldies in thrall.

I was wondering what Lorca and Adam are thinking, if they read this stuff online. (I just watched Adam Cohen and Anjani singing Take this Waltz in Spanish, on YouTube - lovely). I know Lorca's quite into the business side of things; I wonder if she's as angry of some of us that Sony/Cowell will make so much more from Leonard's genius than he will. Or maybe she's inherited her dad's philosophical side, and doesn't give a hoot, so long as people are singing and listening.

(Re philosophy, my favourite quote on the subject is something Alan Bennett says he overheard on a bus. Woman to her friend, "That sounds terrrible, dear. But as I always say, you've got to be philosophical - don't give it another thought!").

Hallelujah indeed.

Leonard, guess what? We really do love you. ALL of us - the straight-backed and the undulating, the acne-spotted and the laughter-lined, the smooth and the shiny, the high-waisted and the low-cleavaged. The newsreaders and the dog-walkers, the wild things and the wounded doves.

Here in the rain and sleet we Brits are chorusing in almost-harmony, and loving it. I remember you saying, in Birmingham last month, 'I'm fond of you too you know - every year I get fonder and fonder'. That's grand, that is.

Hell, I don't even mind the whole world sharing my secret (chord). I used to guard it preciously, assuming it was mine alone (and Jeff's - just me, Lennie and Jeff) - but then Jarkko and his Merry band appeared on the horizon and showed me I would never be alone in my worship - so let's just open our hearts wide, as the poet says, and let them ALL come in. The open-hearted many and the broken-hearted few. The more Lennie-lovers, the lovelier. xxx

[Habie]

PS. Just seen previous post and listened to the four Norwegians' version. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
My favourite is Leonard's 2008 Tour version, then all the other great ones, together.

[sebmelmoth2003]

does anyone know - is there any way to purchase without a credit card (in person - at a store)?

i've got some HMV gift vouchers - i'd be willing to use them for this good cause.

what exactly should i ask for?

according to the simon mayo show on weds, leonard's version is at number 42 in the charts.

simon said to imogen heap who recorded this song a few years ago - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQu9rP7xwI - that she should re-release her version and get it into the charts too.

in metro an article stated that there are over 100 versions - i say, let's get them all into the charts.

and in a final post-modernist twist leonard could record and release a cover-version of the greatest pop record of all time - http://www.truveo.com/Napoleon-XIV-They ... 1719318302.

mayo-heap suggestion made two hours and 51 minutes into the programme and repeated at 2 hours and 59 minutes approx - http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/mayo.shtml - click wednesday to hear.

[UrPal]

LC's Hallelujah is number 42 in the Play.com top downloads today:

http://www.play.com/Music/MP3-Download- ... llers.html

That's at least ten places up on yesterday when it was somewhere on the second page of the chart listing positions 51-100.

[Auld Reekie]

As per usual of course, John Cale's original and excellent cover version does not get a mention, here.

I'm not sure if this may be the reason or not John, but I've found it rather difficult to buy the John Cale version as a download. I looked a while ago and it was not available on i-Tunes or Play.com. I could however get it as a free (!) download which obviously would not count for chart purposes.
I agree it is an excellent version, possibly my favourite.

[scorp]

Thanks for the link - they've covered it well. A few of points here, though: first of all, the downloading of songs that one already owns to get them in the charts surely amounts to an unfair type of hyping? Also, both of Leonard's recorded versions ("Various Positions" and "Cohen Live") are relatively low-key, and not particularly hit material. I suspect that his definitive version will be the one that is released on the forthcoming live CD. As per usual of course, John Cale's original and excellent cover version does not get a mention, here. Finally, I've quite warmed to Alexandra as an artist, and would like to see her sing a duet with Leonard at some point.

All good things, John E

maybe not unfair in the context of the shops having 'hard copies' of the Alexandra's and Jeff Buckley's singles

Glad you are warming to the girl. She's just turned 20 - just a kid, really - and life has been a bit tough for her. I was amazed she pulled herself together in her tear-laden grande finale of Hallelujah, in front of the tv cameras, too, after cracking up soon after the start of it and being unable to sing.

Wonder how she's do Love Itself.

Finally...she writes her own material. Hmmmm...

[scorp]

a possible shock coming up for simon cowell:

"7Digital are backing the campaign, and a company insider has informed us that "...currently it's the number 1 selling track on 7digital.com for this week. Outselling Miss Burke 2-1!""

that's from facebook's buckley for xmas no 1 campaign, which has more than 100,000 members after just a few days [50,000 in just a day and a half]. if each downloads several copies, alexandra may not make it and cowell will have egg on face big time.

and now those facebook JB fans are doing this:

Quote:
Guys, it has been planned that at EXACTLY 8pm on thursday the 18th we should all press play on our newly bought Jeff Buckley versions of Hallelujah.

It doesn't matter where you are...get it on your mobile, play it on the bus, in a restaurant, out of your window, at the hospital...wherever you are lets get heard!

Not only will we get hundreds of other people hearing Jeffs haunting song, but we will possibly set an unofficial record. We need to get the whole group doing this!!

When the clock turns to 8pm on thursday the 18th we all press play, and we play it LOUD (though not loud enough to get complaints )

Open the window and let the neighbours hear, who knows, maybe they'll be playing it too.

Lets join together and not just get our own voices heard but Jeff's!"

Hmmmm....

[Womanfromaroom]

people hearing Jeffs haunting song

- they wish! I don't mind the Jeff Buckley version at all, and in a way I guess it has turned into "his" song as well; but first, last and always, it was, is and will be Leonard's haunting song! They might at least have mentioned that, those Buckley devotees...

[sebmelmoth2003]

anyone who's got the technology and knowhow should upload the channel 4 clip to youtube (and other video-sharing sites) - otherwise it'll disappear into the channel 4 vaults.

i'd do it myself but i lack the wherewithal

[scorp]

anyone who's got the technology and knowhow should upload the channel 4 clip to youtube (and other video-sharing sites) - otherwise it'll disappear into the channel 4 vaults.

i'd do it myself but i lack the wherewithal

am trying. will 'film' it off the computer screen with my digital camera if all else fails.

update: ch 4 embedded technology makes it impossible, so i'll have to film it off the computer screen. Maybe someone else can crack it...our programs can't.

[Paula]

When the clock turns to 8pm on thursday the 18th we all press play, and we play it LOUD (though not loud enough to get complaints )

Scorp I laughed out loud you little rebel you.

At the moment my daughter is trying to make me join the "panic buy onions on the 5th January" campaign. I told her it is not a good idea to join a panic buying campaign for vegtables as they rot I will wait for the panic buy sugar campaign!

[Andrew McGeever]

I phoned my son, Daniel, and told him of this crazy plan: he's up for it
I have neither the intelligence nor the technology: it's up to others
What a time for Leonard

Andrew.