We did Lincoln Brewster's re-write of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

LB I'm not, but here is our rendition.
Fairview Village Church contemporary service 5-6-12 (http://www.facebook.com/ajax/flash/expand_inline.php?v=167181180075865&target_div=u9fl4e_102&playertype=permalink&max_width=403&max_height=403&context=timelineSingle)

Great job! Band sounds hot, very good lead guitar work.

We did Lincoln Brewster's re-write of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

LB I'm not, but here is our rendition.


I have no idea who Lincoln Brewster is but if Leonard Cohen (Cohen, mind you) were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave.


And, oh, in the sub-titles:

" ... the forth, the fifth ... "


:lol::lol:

Great rendition by an amateur worship band. Great job all.

BTW, Lincoln Brewster is a guitar player you need to know. Plays a Strat, but is awesome. Also a song writer in his own right. He is a worship pastor in California who used to play with Journey and Steve Perry and was discovered by Randy Jackson.

a live rendition of Brewster's version...the good stuff starts at 3:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHPcioYjhmg

I have no idea who Lincoln Brewster is but if Leonard Cohen (Cohen, mind you) were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave.


And, oh, in the sub-titles:

" ... the forth, the fifth ... "


:lol::lol:


1. Oh well.
2. Yes, I know. It might be intentional, with a spiritual connotation. I don't know. Or, it could be a mistake.

Great rendition by an amateur worship band. Great job all.

BTW, Lincoln Brewster is a guitar player you need to know. Plays a Strat, but is awesome. Also a song writer in his own right. He is a worship pastor in California who used to play with Journey and Steve Perry and was discovered by Randy Jackson.


Thanks, I do know Lincoln Brewster and the story behind his career. Our team does at least half a dozen of his songs. I really like his playing and it challenges me to improve my own.

Leonard Cohen is not only alive, but touring with a new release. There have been many covers of Hallelujah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah_(Leonard_Cohen_song)


In an April 2009 CBC Radio interview, Cohen said that he finds the number of covers of his song "ironic and amusing" given that when he first wrote the song, his record company wouldn't put it out. However, he now thinks the song could benefit from a break in exposure: "... I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it and the reviewer said - 'Can we please have a moratorium on "Hallelujah" in movies and television shows?' And I kind of feel the same way...I think it's a good song, but I think too many people sing it."

Lincoln Brewster went directly to Mr. Cohen, who gave his blessing on Lincoln's re-write of his classic song. Totally above-board. I think YouTube may still have that interview where Lincoln talks about this.

He talked about it in an interview with Shure in 2007. (http://www.shurenotes.com/joyfulsounds/JoyfulSounds2007.pdf)


Let’s talk about Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” which you adapted as “Another Hallelujah”. This would seem an odd choice.
I’ve always thought that this song is absolutely genius. It struck me one day that the ‘hallelujah’ in it is a little mournful. It’s sad but the melody is so beautiful. In the Bible, the word means “praise the Lord” – and the intent, not just the definition, is unrestrained praise to God. So the song has a strange dichotomy.
One day, I started figuring the song out when we were doing rehearsals for the live record. I was singing the chorus during the sound check. Then, I started singing my own verses, thinking about my own life. I had this vision as I was doing that, of churches singing this chorus, but in a whole different way. The mournful cry became a song of praise to God.
How did you get permission to adapt it?
It was real interesting. I thought for sure it was going to get scrapped. Integrity told me that they’d give it a shot. I remember the day when I got the e-mail back saying it was okay, but we’d have to call it “Another Hallelujah”. I was elated. I was quoted in an interview as saying the “hallelujah” in his song was mocking God. I don’t remember feeling that or saying that. That is not where I was going at all.
All right then, we’ll set the record straight once and for all. Lincoln Brewster does not feel that Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” mocks God.
Please. I have huge respect for him as a songwriter.

Leonard Cohen's original song was a love song, with biblical allusions as a songwriting device.

This is not a slight on your team covering this cover jbmando, but I've aired my thoughts on LB's remake on this before. To me it is the single most cringeworthy moment in CCM.

What was genius in its lyrical complexity, contrast and subtlety was reduced to a high-school rhyming cliche.

Churns my gut on so many levels.

That's fine. I never heard the song by either of them, or Jeff Buckley or John Cale or k.d. lang or any other cover of it before about a month ago, nor did I see the movie, Shrek, and I like the concept of taking secular songs and adapting them to convey a message. Cohen's is a little cynical for my tastes and Buckley doesn't do anything for me. I think he benefits from Dead Musician Love Syndrome, IMHO. And "Blessed Be Your Name" is way more cringeworthy than AH if you ask me.

Leonard Cohen's original song was a love song, with biblical allusions as a songwriting device.

+1

It always reminded me of the Song of Solomon, the only openly sensual book of the Bible - and arguably the best literature there, too (at least in the King James).

Cohen has very effectively used Biblical references to make fantastic poetry - "Story of Issac" comes to mind, a chillingly beautiful song.

Cohen has very effectively used Biblical references to make fantastic poetry - "Story of Issac" comes to mind, a chillingly beautiful song.

Tele connexion: it was covered by Roy Buchanan.

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Well, I won't violate the TOS, but that song shows a complete lack of understanding of the actual story of Isaac, which is "chillingly beautiful." It's one of the better things I've heard by Buchanan, though. At least the electric tone wasn't ear-piercing. Very emotion-laden vocal and props to Cohen for a great composition.

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

I always found this verse interesting, probably the most interesting in the original version of the song. It speaks of someone who has failed but still has faith among the ruins. It kind of speaks to the reality that sometimes we fail but can continue with praise through all the trouble. Somehow its comforting to me that even when its broken and I'm broken there is still the opportunity, the need and the permission to go to the throne with nothing but the sacrifice of praise.

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah


I might have to re-introduce this verse at a gig sometime. Poignant.

While, I never heard Lincoln's version of the song. I really enjoyed your church's playing of it. I think you did an awesome job on lead.

Thank you very much.

The original is quite erotic, profane even.

I understand why Lincoln Brewster would want to harness the energy of it and use it for spiritual purpose, making use of well-known tunes for church songs has been done thousands upon thousands of times through history.

Ironically, Lincoln has ironed flat any depth or subtlety the song had. It's still a pretty tune.


I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

I always found this verse interesting, probably the most interesting in the original version of the song. It speaks of someone who has failed but still has faith among the ruins. It kind of speaks to the reality that sometimes we fail but can continue with praise through all the trouble. Somehow its comforting to me that even when its broken and I'm broken there is still the opportunity, the need and the permission to go to the throne with nothing but the sacrifice of praise.

I don't see it as someone who has found faith among ruins so much as someone (mis)using biblical imagery to allude to being a cad or lousy boyfriend. It may mean good things to you, but I don't think Mr. Cohen is thinking as Christianly.

Greenville, I don't think Mr. Cohen is thinking that either. Yet he captures something that resonates with MY faith. Any more response than that would put me past the rules of the forum and since they are kind enough to allow this area I won't abuse it. Feel free to send me a PM if you would like to discuss privately.

Thanks

Op, nice performance.

I agree with other posters - in my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful songs every written, and the Brewster version was just awful and, while his intentions were good, he should have know better, and left it alone. Some things...just no.

Well, just to clarify my thought on it, I do not think the original is a beautiful song. I think it is cynical and a complete misunderstanding and misuse of scripture and I know we can't really go into it any further. Brewster's adaptation is not awful in my opinion because it does what LB, as a believer, is supposed to do, and that is tell others about the Gospel of Christ. It's hard to take an existing melody and well known lyrics and rewrite the words to convey a message. I think LB does it. There is nothing sacrosanct about Leonard Cohen just because he happens to be able to put words together in an interesting or even compelling (to the masses) manner.

Intent aside, the Brewster version sounds like it was written by a four year old, and that is why it's awful. Regardless of your opinion on the song or its meaning, when you write nursery-rhyme lyrics in place of the exceptional prose that was already there, it sticks out. I am not questioning his heart or motivation.

This is not a slight on your team covering this cover jbmando, but I've aired my thoughts on LB's remake on this before. To me it is the single most cringeworthy moment in CCM.

What was genius in its lyrical complexity, contrast and subtlety was reduced to a high-school rhyming cliche.

Churns my gut on so many levels.


I second your thoughts