Jeff Buckley: Hallelujah

The death of Leonard Cohen was reported in the news this week, always accompanied by the phrase, "the composer of 'Hallelujah'" to enlighten the many who would simply have no idea who this man was.

Cohen was a creative soul of rare wit and intelligence who had survived on the fringes of mass fame for almost half a century before the aforementioned song achieved global success on the back of talent show cover versions.

The great irony in this of course, is that almost all of Cohen's work is marked by understatement and good taste, which was obliterated by the hysterical and overblown would-be stars on TV reality shows.

I first became aware of the song as recorded by Jeff Buckley on his stunning 'Grace' album released in 1994, just three years before his own death at the absurdly young age of 30.

It was an immaculate instance of a singer taking someone else's song and making it his own (cf Hendrix 'All Along The Watchtower', Presley 'Hound Dog', The Beatles 'Twist And Shout'. Indeed, one aspect of my forthcoming book is the glory of finding the right singer for the right song, and it's not always the original composer.

Buckley embraced the song's spirituality and intimacy, presenting a seven-minute solo masterpiece, paired here with an astonishing accompanying video by the Christian dance company, Synesthesia.

This is indeed a song of grace, joy, love and redemption, and perhaps one of the most affecting and perfect creative combinations you will ever experience: with grateful thanks to Messrs Cohen and Buckley.

www.georgesmithpublications.com
www.facebook.com/WalkALonelyStreet
https://twitter.com/GeorgeSmithPub

Видео Jeff Buckley: Hallelujah канала George Smith