FARK.com: (6577277) Dear glorified karaoke singers, just because Jeff Buckley paved the way to record mediocre, substandard cover of Hallelujah doesn't mean all of you should. Leonard Cohen deserves better, as do we all. SIncerely, The World

If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.

		Dear glorified karaoke singers, just because Jeff Buckley paved the way to record mediocre, substandard cover of Hallelujah doesn't mean all of you should. Leonard Cohen deserves better, as do we all. SIncerely, The World (salon.com)		63
		More: PSA

• • •

1529 clicks; posted to Entertainment » on 20 Sep 2011 at 11:12 AM | Favorite | share:

Share this link:

URL:

http://fark.com/go/6577277

Bookmark:

Article Comments close

63 Comments (+0 »)

Archived thread

First | « | 1 | 2 | » | Last | Show all

unlikely		2011-09-20 10:56:33 AM

Everyone has to do Hallelujah and Mad World. It's compulsory. If YOU haven't done it yet, subby, the Cultural Cliche Enforcers are coming for you.

adamgreeney		2011-09-20 10:57:15 AM

The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

skammie		2011-09-20 10:57:56 AM

The John Cale version is fantastic.

TheLopper		2011-09-20 11:15:10 AM

adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

I like Buckley's version way better.

dehehn		2011-09-20 11:17:00 AM

unlikely: Everyone has to do Hallelujah and Mad World. It's compulsory. If YOU haven't done it yet, subby, the Cultural Cliche Enforcers are coming for you.

I swear I've had to thumbs down those two songs at least 6 times each on my Pandora, all from different artists, all a worse rendition than the last.

ddam		2011-09-20 11:18:53 AM

TheLopper: adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

I like Buckley's version way better.

This.

Rev. Skarekroe		2011-09-20 11:19:10 AM

Jeff Buckley was no Tim Buckley.

apeiron242		2011-09-20 11:20:22 AM

adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

i think that Cohen's voice (and music) are pretty much unlistenable (sleepy, boring, devoid of emotion). Covers of his work otoH, i often like.

unlikely: Everyone has to do Hallelujah and Mad World. It's compulsory. If YOU haven't done it yet, subby, the Cultural Cliche Enforcers are coming for you.

Pop quiz: Who originally performed Mad World?

shonday		2011-09-20 11:24:47 AM

I refuse to even RTFA. Cohen's version sucks. Buckley's is so much better that it's not up for discussion.

Scar4711		2011-09-20 11:26:50 AM

apeiron242: adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

i think that Cohen's voice (and music) are pretty much unlistenable (sleepy, boring, devoid of emotion). Covers of his work otoH, i often like.

Pop quiz: Who originally performed Mad World?

Well.. Mad World is Tears for Fears..

and I disagree with your opinion about Cohen.. even though he is a much better writer than singer. :)

onlyme2day		2011-09-20 11:28:08 AM

Pop quiz: Who originally performed Mad World?

That would be Tears for Fears

LewDux		2011-09-20 11:29:33 AM

I`m a book, A poem
By Leonard Cohen
Son of the dice man
And I won`t stop throwing

dionysusaur		2011-09-20 11:30:09 AM

Thing is, Leonard could use the royalties.

/ Whitney Houston's horrific cover of _I Will Always Love You_ made Dolly Parton over $6M

CaptainScrewy		2011-09-20 11:31:10 AM

Here's the thing: Cohen wrote a pop standard, one that sounds better when other people sing it. It's right up there with Stardust and Blue Moon and a million others. Settle down and have a lozenge, Lenny.

The Headless Horseman's Headless Horse		2011-09-20 11:31:16 AM

apeiron242: Pop quiz: Who originally performed Mad World?

Tears for Fears.

Also, Brandi Carlile owns the rights to best Hallelujah cover.

s2s2s2		2011-09-20 11:32:46 AM

We need one more version to put it to bed. I nominate:
home.kpn.nl

chevydeuce		2011-09-20 11:32:50 AM

I didn't really notice the song on the Emmy's except for when they actually showed the guys singing on screen...while they were showing the dead people, the song was just kind of background noise...me thinks the article writer is thinking WAY to much about shiat...

bigmattress		2011-09-20 11:33:54 AM

apeiron242: adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

i think that Cohen's voice (and music) are pretty much unlistenable (sleepy, boring, devoid of emotion).

Dude...srsly?

I Have The Touch of a Shocked Monkey		2011-09-20 11:33:55 AM

Leonard Cohen was a great songwriter, but when he sung his work, as was in the case of Hallelujah, it didn't always turn out well. Personally, I prefer John Cale's over anyone else's, even Buckley's. Even Justin Timberlake had a listenable cover of the song.

However, I admit Hallelujah has become a musical cliche.

bucjeff		2011-09-20 11:37:53 AM

Not great sound but a great version.

Link (new window)

gunga galunga		2011-09-20 11:40:17 AM

I can't wait until Glee finally does their cover.

/flees thread

Mr_Juche		2011-09-20 11:41:38 AM

TFA is right, but does not go far enough. No one should EVER sing this song again. I hate it with the fury of a thousand stars. It's just plain bad.

LewDux		2011-09-20 11:41:54 AM

Now open your mouth and sing Hallelujah

bigmattress		2011-09-20 11:43:04 AM

Mr_Juche: I hate it with the fury of a thousand stars. It's just plain bad.

One of these statements is true. The other is not.

tallguywithglasseson		2011-09-20 11:49:45 AM

The "Hallelujah is over-used" story is over-used.

Link (new window)

simplicimus		2011-09-20 11:52:54 AM

dionysusaur: Thing is, Leonard could use the royalties.

/ Whitney Houston's horrific cover of _I Will Always Love You_ made Dolly Parton over $6M

Actually, LC asked people stop covering that particular song. There's a lot of songs in his catalog.

toby8915		2011-09-20 11:55:16 AM

KD lang is the best guy to sing that song.

Glenford		2011-09-20 11:58:59 AM

toby8915: KD lang is the best guy to sing that song.

Link (new window)

ShamWowofDamocles		2011-09-20 12:00:51 PM

You want to impress me with your bravery and fortitude? Listen to this version (and I even helped you out by starting you off halfway through)....

Link (new window)

PanicMan		2011-09-20 12:05:12 PM

Suzanne is a better song anyway.

apeiron242		2011-09-20 12:06:40 PM

bigmattress: apeiron242: adamgreeney: The Cohen version is near unlistenable. Buckley did the only decent cover of the song. Still not a good song.

i think that Cohen's voice (and music) are pretty much unlistenable (sleepy, boring, devoid of emotion).

Dude...srsly?

Yes. i find his singing devoid of emotion or beauty. He reads lyrics. Suzanne Vega emotes more than Cohen.

Glenford: toby8915: KD lang is the best guy to sing that song.

Link (new window)

iSeeWhatYouDidThere.jpg

Di Atribe		2011-09-20 12:07:36 PM

Get real, subby. Nobody glorifies karaoke singers. PSH

/karaoke singer

PanicMan		2011-09-20 12:22:18 PM

ShamWowofDamocles: You want to impress me with your bravery and fortitude? Listen to this version (and I even helped you out by starting you off halfway through)....

Link (new window)

I think Oprah is so rich, she just farks with people for fun.

habitual_masticator		2011-09-20 12:23:18 PM

Leonard Cohen is the emperor's new clothes for me. Either no one wants to admit publicly that they don't like him or I'm not smart enough to 'get' him. Which is fine with me

RsquaredW		2011-09-20 12:24:02 PM

I guess I'm the only one who liked the Rufus Wainwright version best.

Sinead O'Connor's version is awful. Awful.

simplicimus		2011-09-20 12:35:58 PM

habitual_masticator: Leonard Cohen is the emperor's new clothes for me. Either no one wants to admit publicly that they don't like him or I'm not smart enough to 'get' him. Which is fine with me

It helps to approach his works as poems set to music rather than songs. There's a lot of personal imagery in his works that needs decoding.

Extreme_Lukewarm		2011-09-20 12:55:25 PM

GODDAMN I hate that song. farking koombaiya!

mrmyxolodian		2011-09-20 12:58:44 PM

Rev. Skarekroe: Jeff Buckley was no Tim Buckley.

Tim Buckley was no William F. Buckley.

Type40		2011-09-20 01:23:15 PM

I bought Live in London, which is an awesome album. Halleluja is not my favourite song of his but I like that version.

Gen. Chicken's Tso		2011-09-20 01:25:01 PM

I vote that we keep the gates open long enough for Motörhead to cover it. Then seal the lead sheets and all recorded versions in a capsule and shoot them into the vast emptiness of space.

/ I get to keep the bootlegged Motörhead version

1lastcall		2011-09-20 01:33:20 PM

simplicimus: habitual_masticator: Leonard Cohen is the emperor's new clothes for me. Either no one wants to admit publicly that they don't like him or I'm not smart enough to 'get' him. Which is fine with me

It helps to approach his works as poems set to music rather than songs. There's a lot of personal imagery in his works that needs decoding.

Exactly right.

Ring the bells that still can ring,
forget your perfect offering...
there is a crack in everything,
that's how the light gets in.

FarkedOver		2011-09-20 01:38:34 PM

Lord Buckley had the greatest version of all time!!

Broktun		2011-09-20 01:45:37 PM

Separated at birth?

img.karaoke-lyrics.net

calm like a bomb		2011-09-20 01:58:14 PM

I've always thought the kd lang version was the best I've heard.

Di Atribe		2011-09-20 02:16:32 PM

simplicimus: It helps to approach his works as poems set to music rather than songs. There's a lot of personal imagery in his works that needs decoding.

I agree. He's a beautiful writer. Can't get into his voice.

th0th		2011-09-20 02:28:02 PM

I always laughed at the fact that a song about having mindblowing sex with a woman who ultimately dooms her man to failure was in a popular children's movie. But it mentions stuff from the Bible so I guess it's ok.

Takes me back to when I saw Grease and realized that "Greased Lightnin'" was all about getting to second base...

Maestro1701		2011-09-20 02:33:07 PM

Mr_Juche: TFA is right, but does not go far enough. No one should EVER sing this song again. I hate it with the fury of a thousand stars. It's just plain bad.

Lighten up, Francis.

mitchcumpstein		2011-09-20 02:39:40 PM

mrmyxolodian: Rev. Skarekroe: Jeff Buckley was no Tim Buckley.

Tim Buckley was no William F. Buckley.

William F Buckley was no Christopher Buckley

BizarreMan		2011-09-20 03:13:57 PM

mitchcumpstein:

Jeff Buckley was no Tim Buckley.

Tim Buckley was no William F. Buckley.

William F Buckley was no Christopher Buckley

Christopher Buckley was no Betty Buckley.