Unfortunately in every version I have heard the singers have always pronounce "you" as "you" instead if "ya" to rhyme with "Hallelujah". "Ya" fits so much better than "you" in this case.
Cheers
In that case, you need to get the the Jeff Buckley version.
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This Alexandra Burke version might be the one that's rising to the top in Britain. It's from the final of a show called "The X-Factor". Simon Cowell gives her a standing ovation and he's speechless.
Ow.
Definitely an "eye-of-the-beholder" thing.
I found that whole performance to be cliche, plastic, and downright cornball.
For me, her over-the-top, Las Vegas-style performance completely misses the the point of the song.
But that's how we all see things differently, and I'm sure many (most?) will think my opinion of this performance to be crazy.
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"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." ~Bradley Millar
I'm afraid I have to agree with SoyMac. Bombastic works with some songs, but this particular one is best with the most basic, minimalist, from-the-heart type arrangements.
That's why people like the Buckley, Cale, and Wainwright versions so much. Though I generally like KD Lang, the versions I've seen of her doing the song have her "stylin'" the non-soaring parts too much, though she sure can soar, can't she?
For the record, my all-time favourite xmas songs are "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues, "Coventry Carol," "I Saw Three Ships," "Litte Drummer Boy," "In Dolce Jublio" and "Gaudete."
It's sad, but most North Americans seem to have only ever heard of "Little Drummer Boy" and "Three Ships."
I tried to listen to the other versions folks have posted and to me they all sound weak as if the artist isn't that interested in what he/she is singing.
We will just agree to differ and I'll continue to enjoy the version I like
Interesting choice for a Christmas hit, considering Cohen himself would seem to view himself a Buddhist. I love the song myself, and the Rufus Wainwright version from Shrek is great too.
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
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Interesting choice for a Christmas hit, considering Cohen himself would seem to view himself a Buddhist. I love the song myself, and the Rufus Wainwright version from Shrek is great too.
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
I wondered too about it being a "Christmas" song. I wonder if people are confusing it with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah?
I wondered too about it being a "Christmas" song. I wonder if people are confusing it with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah?
Possibly, but the song is filled with biblical references.
The first verse directly refers to David's harp playing for King Saul, the second his later affair with Bathsheba (the "bathing on the roof" line), Sampson and Delilah ("she broke your crown and cut your hair") and the third verse refers to "the name" (tetragrammaton), an oblique way of referring to the Hebrew name of God.
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And thank you to whoever started this thread, gave me some enjoyable you-tubing today.
That was me, you're welcome. You might want to visit my music blog (link in my sig) over the next few days, as I will be presenting 12 of my favourite unplayed/underappreciated songs of the season, and this was one of them. Tomorrow, we'll look at a Christmas song from the 16th century!
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