There are hundreds and hundreds of versions of “Hallelujah!” out there, some better, many worse. Even Leonhard Cohen, who wrote the original version, covered himself.
There’s no discussion that this is a wonderful song and either you perform it in the unpretentious ways of Leonhard Cohen or you need to be a terrific singer.
Annie Lennox even moved her translator to tears, when she performed this song while being in the studios of a French radio station.
Annie Lennox again, this time it looks as if this was taken from tarata
one of the best versions is – undeniably – by k.d. lang
There is something about Cock Robin, it’s not only the songs but also those lines when both sing together, not really harmonizing but it’s got something to it. Songs like “Thought you were on my side” still give me goosebumps.
“When you heart is weak” is one of their greatest successes, don’t laugh at the video, the song is from 1985 and so is the video – high season of the eighties bad taste and fashion ;)
Going through older posts, I came across a post where I had linked to video with Sarah McLachlan and Pink performing together.
This video has been unfortunately removed, but I got lucky and found another video of the same performance which I don’t want to withhold ;-)
I still think that Pink does look as she was wearing drag and she has had much better hair, too. Thankfully, this doesn’t have any influence on her singing.
While I was picking gooseberries and struggeling with their dangerous thorns, I had to think of the Eurythmics. I've tolerated Dave Stewart but the one I've only ever really liked of the Eurythmics, is Annie Lennox.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to find a good live video, which gives the song, their performance and Annies singing proper respect. I know they must be out there, I own the DVD's.
While I was looking for a video where Annie is wearing leather pants, like in this one
- cause I had something very specific in mind. I also wrote the title of this post before I had found all the videos. So while I was looking for videos I came across this one, a performance at the Grammy Awards
The original end I had in mind for this post went like this "around that time, there was only one singer who wore leather pants as well as Annie Lennox". Now I have to end it like this
Tarata is a french music show, with live musicians and there's always a suprise guest doing a duet with the main artist. If you don't know this show, please check out their website, where they recently uploaded videos from the older shows, going way back til the early nineties.
I haven't bothered to look up the guy in this clip, his partner is Sharleen Spiteri and they performed "I heard it through the grapevine" in the show on November 5th, 2008.
Blame faith (faithfulchosen) and her nineties radio program at crossradio for this post. Her call for "requests ?" made me instantly think of Elastica and of my Brit-pop/Brit-grunge phase. These groups lay the grounds for many that came afterwards and one thing they almost all had in common was that they wrote their own material. There was an unusual rise in bands with female leaders, "leader" in its literal sense and not just as a pretty face.
Very spontaneously I suggested to make a mix tape for Natazzz, (there's something with eurOut, eurOut editors and mix tapes which needs to explored – but by somebody else than me) based on British albums from the nineties – out of my album collection.
First I had to import the albums to my media library and get reacquainted with them. I'm regularly surprised at the wondrous workings of my brain – can't remember where I placed a paper but remember the lyrics to songs I last heard 15 years ago.
Another surprise was me realizing that I do own more than two albums by guys and that while I was only looking for albums from the UK. My music collection is very eclectic but I've always preferred listening to women's voices. I found albums by Blur, Edwyn Collins, Radiohead, Supergrass, Suede and Prefab Sprout.
So far I've re-listened to Elastica, some Echobelly songs, Sleeper, Lush, Blur – well I own more than one album of each group ;) And I already know my next mix tape – American grunge from the nineties ;) Though I first need to finish this one.
I vividly remember the Elastica and Echobelly concerts. Echobelly's bass player was a lesbian (Debbie) and the venue they played was really, really small – after all it's was called "the world's couch", it was like any lesbian party, only with a live band playing. *g
I'll leave you with a typical song from that time:
Cranking the surround system up loud and listening to some live music by my favorite musicians is one of the guilty pleasures I indulge in when I'm "home alone". I don't hear the doorbell, the floor is trembling and I've got this juvenile feeling ;)
Sure, listening and wachting a dvd is not the same as being at a concert. But my fav bands simply don't tour as often as I would like them to.
Or take the Indigo Girls, when have they been to Europe last? Have they been to the continent at all or did they only perform in London? And that was in the nineties, if I remember correctly. What about Sarah McLachlan? Same problem.
And what about Texas? Yep, don't think they'll ever tour again, now that Sharleen Spiteri has her solo career going. Do I mind? Not really. I just watched the Texas live in Paris DVD, and when she made introductions to "I don't want a lover" I suddenly thought who had I been fooling, the fascination with that song (remember the video?) was always about her.
That wasn't simple fan worship, that was a major crush I had on her. If there ever was a certain type of women I felt attracted to, than it's definitely the Sharleen type. I really hope, that she'll play some of the summer festivals and that I'll be able to catch at least one. Just in case you're following me on twitter or are a friend on facebook and didn't understand the "Shelvis" reference, look at this:
Next I watched an old Indigo Girls DVD, Live at the Fillmore. This one provoked another revelation: my own guitar career was over the first time I heard Emily Sailors play, not that I was very gifted, but I realized my limitations very quickly. I guess it was also while watching this video that I became a fan of Amy's, before I always liked songs by Emily better. Nowadays I'm back to loving them both as Indigo Girls and Amy as a solo artist.
Going through my Music DVD collection I had to realize that it's been some time since I bought something new. I can't believe that there's no DVD of a Sarah Bettens concert available. Do you have any suggestions what I should buy?
I borrowed this line from Jan Allain, read more about her here.
What I really wanted to say, is that P!nk’s new album is available since today I already listened to the first songs on my way to work and must say, that I like it’s style, it’s diversified as always; mixing slower and faster songs, mixing disco, rock and ballads, alternating almost orchestra like mixes with guitar and voice only.
Countdown - only 4 more weeks until the release of Pink's new album "Funhouse". The cover promises just as much fun as the one of "I'm not dead". Here's a link to the video for "So what". Isn't that butch? Riding on a lawn mower, running around with that motor saw, etc. ;-) I just love how she mixes good music with that tongue-in-cheek approach. And to think, that I only discovered her by pure luck?! I'd read somewhere that Linda Perry had produced and co-written songs on her second album. And who doesn't remember Linda Perry for "What's going on" with 4NonBlondes? She even released one or two solo album, but then sort of disappeared. Well, I'm glad that the mentioning of her name made me buy my first Pink album. That was really some experience. The duet with Peaches? I'd really love to see a video of *that* song.
Btw, Linda Perry is also responsible for Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"
I forgot all about the wonderful version of “Les vieux amants” by Alison Moyet, written by Jacques Brel.
And Ina Müller can sing any song anytime, solange sie dabei nur die Bandbreite ihres Könnens zeigt.
Annie Lennox did somthing very beautiful with „River Deep, Mountain High“ and that Beatles‘ song, whose title I forgot.
Giving it more thought, I could come up with a very long list of cover version, which made sense to me. But still, covering an Euryhtmics or Alison Moyet song is not necessary. Those songs were all perfect and don’t get any better, imho. Everybody else is allowed her own opion :P
Yesterday I watched film which included a cover version of The Pretenders „Brass in Pocket“. Original video can be watched here.
Where I’m not totally against cover versions, e.g. I just love it when one of my favorite musicians interprets a (classic) song, but some songs where perfect when first officially performed and simply don’t get any better. And this includes the entire catalogue of The Pretenders. This laid back, sort of non-chalant singing by Chrissie Hynde cannot be topped.
Btw, this is also true for any songs by Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, Sarah McLachlan and lots more.
This year has been quite disappointing so far – when referring to new album releases and my taste in music. I’ve bought less than 5 albums and that’s far from my average. Among the others already mentioned before was also Liz Wright’s “The Orchard”.
But there’s hope for me with all those autumn releases coming up and besides those releases obviously counting on the Christmas-gift-buyer there are some very promising albums. I was positively surprised that Wendy & Lisa were still making music (release in September) and not settling while collecting Emmy awards for their music-score for several tv-series.
Catie Curtis is always a sure bank and a real treasure when you’re into poetic lyrics. One of my favorites is “I spent all day yesterday watching the grass grow. What I learned is that grass really grows slow
Now I’m hanging around trying to get inspired” (Patience/My shirt looks good on you)
Her new album is called Sweet life and has just been released (12 th September).
P!nk has also been busy and her new album will hit the stores in October. I just love her music, she’s got her own style, a recognizable yet distinctive voice and her videos and some of her lyrics often make a statement. Her collaboration with the Indigo Girls (Dear Mr. President) was very successful, but who knows that there was another one on their (Despite our Differences) album? She’s doing backing vocals for Amy Ray and the song (Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate) is very rocky, perfect for early mornings.
I’m still not sure if I’m going to buy Joan Osborne’s new album, what I heard so far didn’t really convince me. Contrary to the last one “Breakfast in Bed”, which is one of those albums that sort of grows on you. I didn’t like it that much, when I heard for the first time, which was on the train. Then I gave it another chance as background music and suddenly it’s been promoted to one of my favorite “car” albums. On the title songs she reminds me of Chrissie Hynde.
And there are also new albums by Sarah McLachlan (finally!), Dido (October), Patricia Kaas (November) and certainly a lot of others I don’t know of yet.
Amy Ray of Indigo Girls released a new solo album (August 5th, 2008). Stag didn’t manage to become one of my favorites, but “Didn’t it feel kinder” is completely different. She tried some new things with her voice, the songs are various but it still comes along as a complete album.
My favorites are “Stand and Deliver” and the alternate version of “She’s got to be”. Fortunately it’s impossible to wear out digital music ;-)
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