An abbreviated music rant

[winter]

Whenever I see someone attributing the lyrics of "Hallelujah" to Jeff Buckley or Rufus Wainwright, I shudder. People. Leonard Cohen. He needs more love, really.

And this rant would be more impressive if I had an mp3 of Hallelujah instead of just a crappy tape cassette copy of someone else's mix tape, but I don't. So have The Future instead. Because "Give me crack and anal sex" is the motto of online fandom.

Comments

[lanyon.livejournal.com]

The Future is a well-awesome song. I used to have the mp3 of Cohen's Hallelujah but I appear to have misplaced it. :-? I personally prefer Jeff's version but credit where it's due, man.

[winter]

I'll easily admit that Cohen can sing one note and his guitar work isn't stellar either, but the man has a magical way with words. Since yesterday I've managed to remember where I stashed my Cohen CDs, too... *is happy & listening to Tower of Song*

[kiraboshi.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry! I didn't know who wrote it. I have two versions, but I shall give proper credit.

[winter]

Actually your post just reminded me of several twits on various music communities I frequent who raved over "how brilliant Jeff was for writing this beautiful song!". Not directed at you, luv, at all :)

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I screwed something up. Those links don't work. These ones do:

Rufus Wainwright's recording of Hallelujah (http://www.greek2me.com/things/rw_hallelujah.mp3)
Leonard Cohen's recording of Everybody Knows (http://www.greek2me.com/things/cohen_everybodyknows.mp3)

(And they will expire on Monday.)

[seraphim-grace.livejournal.com]

Jeff buckley wrote a lot of great music but the stars on his albums tend to be the covers (the one that got away being a case in point) but i can see why it annoys you.
i feel the same way about jamie cullums argument that he wrote lover you should have come over because he changed so much of it.
but i wouldn't know rufus wainwright if he came up and bit me on the ass!

[winter]

Rufus' version is actually pretty good - he's got a nice, sweet voice, and the piano fits the melody (greektomey was nice enough to link it above, along with the original). But it's like... claiming Limp Bizkit wrote "Behind Blue Eyes". Which, come to think of it, is another pet peeve of mine, because ouch. I guess as a writer I'm sensitive to giving writing credit where credit is due.

[seraphim-grace.livejournal.com]

limp bizkit are a bugger for it, they have this other song which apparently is not exactly like motley crue's coming home (i think that's what it's called( but really is. They picked up the bad habit from guns and roses i think, because they claim sweet child o mine and knocking on heavven's door are theirs.
I join you on the being a pet peeve, it drives me nuts.

[lanthirel.livejournal.com]

claiming Limp Bizkit wrote "Behind Blue Eyes". Which, come to think of it, is another pet peeve of mine, because ouch. I guess as a writer I'm sensitive to giving writing credit where credit is due.

WTF? *snorts, and not in laughter* This is a new one on me. Since I adore the Who, such a thing smacks of well, something. :) and :(

Frankly, I blame the Beatles and the Beach Boys for the omg-we-group-members-must-write-and-record-our-own-songs mentality, which is fine, if it works, i.e., if any group member actually has song-writing skils worth a tinker's damn. But so many don't, which is why we can sing pop songs from decades ago, yet can't remember a recent big hit's tune or lyrics a few months down the road. Unless, of course, it's a cover of someone else's good ole song. ;)

And the whole stealing of other people's hard work and claiming as your own? I have a friend who won such a case.

[winter]

I don't mind covers, really - I freely admit that Leonard Cohen, for example, can sing one note and play two ;) But it's like crediting Peter Jackson with the invention of Middle Earth, really. Creation is one thing, performance another :)

[trobadora]

Here's a whole bunch of versions, including the Leonard Cohen one...

[winter]

Yay :) Thank you so much. I had no idea k.d. lang covered it.

[trobadora]

I didn't either until someone on my flist uploaded them a while ago. :-)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

People. Leonard Cohen. He needs more love, really.
XD as much as I love their version, you're so right. Besides, c'mon, Famous Blue Raincoat, Song of Isaac and so many more ! ♥

[littleshebear.livejournal.com]

Famous Blue Raincoat,

♥

[winter]

Word. Anthem, for one... and even someone doesn't care for the lyrical songs, there are things like Democracy. I'm really surprised no-one's brought up Democracy during all the anti-Bush hooplah, because how can these words not fit:

From the wars against disorder,
from the sirens night and day,
from the fires of the homeless,
from the ashes of the gay:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Why no John Cale version of "Hallelujah"? I really think that's the best...

[winter]

Haven't heard that one, actually :) Was ranting more about attributing the lyrics to the guy who actually wrote them...

John Cale's version

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

It's quite lovely. Have a listen

[lanthirel.livejournal.com]

*word*

My fav song by him is still "Suzanne".