The Mad Musician sings Hallelujah

[Rose Pink]

What do you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNaJoJZ_hN8

 

[MuranoJo]

He was ok, got better later on. Me, I prefer Leonard Cohen's original.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Rose Pink]

I've heard better voices singing this song--Kurt Nilsen and k.d. lang come to mind among others--but what I liked about this version was the emotional authenticity. I liked it better the second time. I was fascinated with the way he used his hands. He seemed to be channeling Michael Jackson and Prince at times.

A family member showed this video to me. He is a singer himself and liked the way this guy arranged and phrased the song.

 

[Patri]

I liked it!
At first I was expecting the Hallelujah Chorus
It carried a whole different meaning with him, compared to Shrek et al.

 

[MuranoJo]

I do agree about the way his emotions came across in the song, and meant to mention that. At any rate, I enjoy most performances of Cohen's songs.

 

[Rose Pink]

He was ok, got better later on. Me, I prefer Leonard Cohen's original.
Thanks for sharing!

And Cohen wrote more verses than what is usually sung by others. If anyone is interested, look up Cohen's versions on youtube.

 

[Kal]

I prefer Jeff Buckley's version over any others. It's especially poignant on how and when he died before he could realize the success of his recording. His voice careening between glory and sadness, beauty and pain adds another dimension considering his death.

 

[Luanne]

I love both Leonard Cohen's version and K.D. Lang's version. Totally different and both are totally mesmerizing.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Not sure about the Mad Musician. I think the song should be sung, with humility. I thought it too over the top for what the song is trying to convey.

Bon Jovi's voice is just right for this song, but he has never released it as a recorded version, there is however a youtube version. It is my favorite, it I could get it onto my iPod I would love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34nrWcUglVg

Let me know if anyone has heard this version before, since no one has mentioned it. He actually sings the whole song, as written by Leonard Cohen, and didn't skip the 3rd verse like most do.

But I do think that the Canadian Tenors do a good version,which I also really like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTx8IGPwrIk

k d lang does a good version, but I think it is a little too polished, I like the acoustic versions better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJlFAcSaoSY

 

[Rose Pink]

Just found this one from Il Divo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzB8xC_CwH8&feature=related

I didn't care for Bon Jovi. The music seemed louder than he was. It could have been the way it was recorded. He seemed to get the emotion but his speech was too slurred for my taste. OTOH, the Canadian Tenors had good diction but I didn't think they had the emotion that Bon Jovi put into it.

I also think it depends on my mood which version I like best at any given time.

 

[ace2000]

Have no idea who this is. Way too much drama for me...

 

[Rose Pink]

Have no idea who this is. Way too much drama for me...

I don't know who he is, either. As I mentioned previously, a family member who is an amateur singer shared it with me with his comments and I enjoyed the performance the second time I watched it, not as much the first time--it had to grow on me.

I tried looking up more of his music but was not impressed. I'm not much into music for some time now but I do like Hallelujah and seeing the various ways it is interpreted.

Edited to add that listening to it without watching it is not as satisfactory for me--this particular performance needs to be visual as well. Others I can simply listen to and still enjoy.

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks! I loved it but there aren't really any versions of this song that I don't like.

Who is this guy, though?! Like a few of you I've never heard of him but it seems like there's a story we're missing ...