Wednesday, December 17, 2008

No. 1

I think it's fair to say I'm not an X-Factor fan.  I don't really have anything against it, I just can't be arsed.

I am, however, incensed by their plans to appropriate 'Hallelujah' for the winner to do a cover version of.  It's just wrong.  'Hallelujah' is dark and powerful and conflicting and speaks to those painful times in life.  The original version was written by Leonard Cohen and then covered by Jeff Buckley, the epitome of angsty musicians.  I'm not saying no-one should ever cover it, just that it should be done by people who understand the song and have chosen it because they can do something new with it, not someone who has won it as a prize in a talent show and who has had it chosen by a company aiming to wring as much money as possible out of the public using the hauntingly beautiful* melody.

So, if you are also unhappy, there is something you can do.  Buy the Jeff Buckley version.  Currently it's at number 3.  Links to where to buy it from are here (not Amazon, apparently , as this doesn't contribute to the charts).  I'm not sure whether it's really possible to stop the X-Factor version getting to no.1.  I do know Sony will be laughing as they own both versions.  But I honestly think it's worth making a little stand against the overwhelming triumph of the commercialisation of culture.

*Yes it's a cliche.  No, I don't care.

7 comments:

Merlin said...

I agreewith trying to knock Alexandra off the slot, I wouldn't agree if it was JLS though. I have had to sit through the X Factor as two females in the house like it, but most of the time I have sat in the corner working. However the JLS version brought goosebumps to my skin, much as Jeff does. They did a beautiful cover of it that really understood the song.

Anonymous said...

iTunes store URL:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=254579218&id=254578201&s=143444

The same song as no.1 and no.2... that's got to be a first.

rach said...

I'm with you. Vote for Geraldine!

Fat Roland said...

Tony, it is a first. Rach, Geraldine won't make number one.

Hallelujah was chosen after an American Idol auditionee sang it to a massive public response. Simon Cowell saw dollar signs and so chose the song.

I think Alexandra's version is a decent power ballad. It is criminal to be covering that song, but take some comfort that a GOOD SONG is being heard by a whole new generation of people that maybe missed it in Shrek. Small comfort, but it's something.

And it's Cohen's first ever hit song. Bless.

Some people rate John Cale's the best:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vEOZLQ3d1FI

Sarah said...

How's this? I listen to what you say at a party, and then come home to read what you've written on my blog...

I'm still with Jeff. I found John Cale's version a bit clunky and, while normally I'd approve of the pronunciation of 'you' rather than 'ya', it makes the rhymes with 'Hallelujah' slightly less effective.

But thanks anyway. I liked the picture, at least.

Sarah said...

And the photo from the video is in the Guardian weekend magazine photo competition this week, which I just went and looked at!

Fat Roland said...

One last thing...

Tony, it isn't a first, I stand corrected. I've just traced a number 1 / 2 combination back to 1957, when it was common for several artists to release the same song.

I need to get a life.