Hallelujah

Posted over 5 years ago

Artist:
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Willie Nelson
Album:
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Songbird
Track:
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Hallelujah

As some of you may have noticed the Sonbird, the new album from that old country music icon, Willie Nelson, was released. Overall, this is a fun album to listen to. I think Willie is one of the few old boys left in the country music scene, and it's great to hear him come out with new material that feels like the old. But, I'll tack on the caveat that this is not the best stuff he's ever produced. The old classics, like Always On My Mind (see below) and Seven Spanish Angels simply might never by topped.But there is one gem on this album that ranks up there with the old Willie classics. He recorded Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Now, this is one of my all time favourite songs of all time. I'm still pissed off at K.D. Lang for doing a hack job of it. Wainright's cover (the one that appears in Shrek) is pretty good. But I think this cover by Willie is finally the one that can stand up against Leonard's. I think it's because Hallelujah is a song that takes an old voice, full of experience; it needs a voice like Willie's to be done right by. It's one song that makes the whole album worthwhile.Thanks Willie.

(and thanks to Killa for getting this video)

Comments (11)

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B42 says I dwnlded Songbird last week and have yet to listen to much of it, but Hallelujah is certainly a beautiful "weeper"; which other Willie songs are the best? My catalog is lacking.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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smithco says If you're looking for a great overview of Willie's best, I recommend getting "The Essential Willie Nelson", if you can find it. But, Willie's catalogue has become very, very large. It's not possible to get a grasp on the whole thing anymore. A few of my favourites: Seven Spanish Angels, Blue Skies, Always On My Mind, Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, On The Road Again, Pancho and Lefty and City of New Orleans. But that's just the short list :-)

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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B42 says Almost forgot to mention the absolutely stellar "Stella Blue" Willie does here, Jerry would be proud.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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B42 says Crossed your post, sorry, thanks, is it ever enough? I liked the old Waylon and Willie days, may go back and look it up.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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B42 says Itunes lists 2 essential Willie albums, 95 and 03, short hair, long hair, first song Me and Paul?

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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ivylander says The other great cover of "Hallelujah," in my opinion, is John Cale's.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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smithco says I was thinking of the 2003 one, that has the first track "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (I should add that to my list of favourtie Willie songs). But, it looks like iTunes is only selling it as a 'partial' album, thus making it expensive to get the whole thing. It may be worth the trip to one of those archaic music stores to see if you can find it cheaper.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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smithco says Haven't heard Cale's version and unfortunately, it's not on iTunes. I'll see if I can track it down elsewhere.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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Dale says Word, ivylander. John Cale's version is excellent.

Permalink posted 11/04/2006
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etcvisitor says the jeff buckley version might very well be the only amazing version sung by anyone under 30... maybe im jumping the gun on that, but it is a beautiful song. willie owns a couple of bio-diesel stations here in tennessee... one is even in cookeville where my parents live. i always smile when i pass it when i visit them.

Permalink posted 11/06/2006
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missjunk says Just think if Johnny Cash would have done it........ wow... Can't wait to hear Willies. Thanks for this great post!

Permalink posted 11/11/2006