The Hallelujah Chorus

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

[Poll #1315469]

I enjoyed both the X-Factor finalists' versions a lot more than I was expecting to. What occurred to me is that the lyrics aren't really designed to be sung in a power-soul style, but that actually this left me feeling a bit embarassed for the lyrics themselves*, not the singing or performance.

*and of course someone - Simon Cowell's? - selection from them: "Hallelujah" has about 50 billion verses so like American Pie any shortened cover versh will be a selection box.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I like the Cohen and Buckley versions - the veneration of them annoys me slightly, but it's still a strongly crafted song. It's a lot more dependent on the arrangement than the vocalist - as long as they're competent, different voices can do really well with it, but it needs a reasonably spartan arrangement (if it's being played straight*) - I thought Alexandra's take on it was pretty good until the gospel choirs and slatherings of strings started overegging it completely. (I think this was the downfall of the Rufus Wainwright version too - not cheesy strings obv, but just going a bit too overboard with the rococo piano ornamentation.)

I don't think I have a favourite version - there's one by Kathryn Williams which is nice I guess. Will tick Alexandra as I feel quite kindly towards her at the minute.

*b/c obv a full-on house version, complete with big-lunged diva belting out the lyrics, would be amazing.

[andthatisthat.livejournal.com]

I thought Alexandra's take on it was pretty good until the gospel choirs and slatherings of strings started overegging it completely.

Yep, that's exactly how I felt about it. Stupid Simon Cowell ruins everything.