clapclap.org is my husband's faceless need: Butchered, Again

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Via a Metafilter commenter, the definitive version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

At March 6, 2008 9:36 AM , Jack Feerick said...: Leonard looks like he should have bolts through his neck.
At March 6, 2008 4:52 PM , Adrian said...: One of many remarkable features of this song is that there is no definitive version today.

As public perception evolves and shifts about it, it's the song that is emerging most widely as the character, rather than the performers who've interpreted Leonard Cohen's words and music. It's gaining the nature of a standard, with diverse audiences.
At March 6, 2008 5:00 PM , Adrian said...: hmmm... just reread your EMP dissertation on Hallelujah, and you make the point most eloquently therein:

"We may call something the 'definitive version,' but it's not, not really. It's just the temporary consensus..."

With the internet - blogs, YouTube, etc. - the song is now free to reach audiences in many forms and consensus becomes less definable itself.
At March 6, 2008 8:15 PM , Dave said...: We may call something the 'definitive version,' but it's not, not really. It's just the temporary consensus...

Yeah, but...uh, WOW.