The Story of Hallelujah

/ alfomedia revisionisthistory.com/episode...
outloudmerch.com/collections/...
/ renshawhs
/ renshawhs
/ alfomedia
Really excited about this one! As I said in the intro, huge credit to Malcolm Gladwell and his podcast, Revisionist History. The story and evolution of Hallelujah are incredible. I didn't know about it before I heard his podcast, and I want to tell the world! Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and all the other pieces of the puzzle here deserve the recognition. Hallelujah is beautiful!

[@cassandralyris4918]

NEVER go swimming in cold water in your clothing! We had to learn this as little kids in Minneapolis. Your clothes get waterlogged and the cold acts as a paralytic, you can and will go under real fast. Shame it happened to Jeff.

[@angelsbutterflies6293]

They said it was an accidental drowning and i never did the research of how he died.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

@@angelsbutterflies6293 Yes, they are explaining to you how he could have drowned accidentally since you haven't researched.

[@evanismakingmusic]

As someone from MN as well, this is 100% true

[@michellen2325]

He did not do that...... I think you got it wrong.

[@kyleandrewhopper]

Bob Dylan was the first to notice its greatness and cover it live in 1988.

[@StilettoCutsQuick.]

The song is so great that I don’t think I have ever heard a bad cover of it.

[@drcthru7672]

Cohen said K D Lang's version was the best he'd heard and it brought him to tears.

[@madshunt817]

It's even crazier that Jeff Buckley's dad Tim Buckley was also a musician who died young...

[@dianeverwoest5659]

Tim Buckley is one of my favorite musicians. Love 'Greetings From LA', Will have to listen to Jeff Buckley's version. The words weave mini stories. Leonard Cohen was amazing.

[@111oooo]

k.d. lang doing it live at the Olympics, I don't think it gets better but thanks to Buckley helping it get noticed, beautiful version too

[@misstahj5651]

The first version I had ever heard was Leonard Cohen's original and it may be the fact that its the first time I heard it but I think Cohen's heavy, deep voice brings a gravity to the song that Buckley's or most others just don't

[@benjamindlevin]

Same. I respect Buckley's version, but for me the song is Cohen's.

[@ricardocorreia2542]

Buckley is the best for sure

[@bethr1035]

The original and John Cale’s are my personal favorites.

[@nicsmith7689]

In terms of the vocals, I agree, but the production on Cohen's original version doesn't age well at all. I think a younger Cohen could've pulled it off much better.

[@scarletpumpernickel8260]

@@nicsmith7689 id say his version from snyders jl is beautiful

[@goldwincs]

Great video. Perfect format. Keep this up mate. Very much enjoying it.

[@TheJoe8D]

the things we lost in the fire

[@MultiMadgeek]

Shrek

[@sigr2813]

James Corn maybe not the swamp boy the world knows to find;

[@auso-8103]

Yes,

[@ameliasv222]

Best version😎

[@madmau]

I still prefer cohen's version. I feel like everyone treats It like an overly weepy song. When it's supposed to be this beautiful song with a powerful optimist message. It's noticeable when they avoid the most important verses: And even tough It all went wrong I'll stand before the lord of song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah. Sorry everyone else Is just too damn angsty and It feels like they just don't get It

[@NO-eq5eq]

Its a song that can be interpreted in many ways, thats the beauty of it. You can find an angsty dark meaning or a light optimistic meaning of it. Thats why its so good, its not that other people dont get it

[@madmau]

@@NO-eq5eq yeah, sorry I used to think differently back in the day, still prefer Cohen but i'm not as absolutist

[@albertoguiraldelli8952]

I bought I'm Your Fan here in Brazil. It's was the first time I heard Hallelujah. The John Cale version. Thank you for the history of this amazing song.

[@hiiiiflyin92]

rufus Wainwright's version is my favorite. it's the first version I ever heard, and theres for sure other amazing covers/versions out there but I prefer Wainwright's slower understated version than any others. and yes. it was the first version I had heard of it and it was from shrek. sue me.

[@bethr1035]

I already loved Cohen, but I am one of the few, I guess, who owns I’m Your Fan, and that is when the song really hit me.

[@pamelaulrich3928]

Me too!

[@giladgreen6374]

Awesome video, alot was added to my knowledge thanks to it

[@musicmad249]

Aha I've literally just been listening to this, great video man

[@4Niklas8]

Hey Alfo, great video, really enjoyed to hear the story behind the song. I also really enjoy your blend of showing your face on camera and showing relevant footage for your commentary. It gives the video a personal touch, while pofiding visuals for the story you are telling. I don't know if you are happy to hear about music suggestions or if you get so many, that it is getting annoying, but I want to recommend the german newcomer band Giant Rooks to you, just thought you might like them because I enjoy about 95% mentioned in your videos. I love the bands sound, but can't quite put my finger on what makes it stand out.

[@benjamindlevin]

I had the album "I'm Your Fan". It was awesome. Wish I still had it.

[@MegaUtube99]

Perfect format

[@ayewreckz7004]

rufus wainwright was the first one i heard and it’s my favorite

[@marcstov]

Thank you for making this, sir

[@ImRichardShepherd]

well done video, man! well done.

[@ChimeraActual]

Thank you, a good history of a powerful song. Jeff Buckley's father, Tim Buckley, a well known folk singer, as well as other styles, also died early, age 28.

[@yolanolankohner7819]

Leonard Cohen will be missed

[@Mo-MuttMusic]

Thanks for discussing. First heard it 24 or 25 years ago at a listening station at Borders Books in Overland Park, Kansas. The melody stuck with me. Great tune. Great tune to cover, too. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular

[@jewfroDZak]

I get the terror feeling. I had that same feeling in relation to a song that got it's just due and became popular 50 years after it was released as a single. it blows my mind that people could have heard it in 1968 and not thought it was amazing back then. Even back then Bob Dylan, being interviewed by the Rolling Stone magazine, said that that single was the best record he'd heard in years and he was in awe of it. How, in the universe that follows fundamental laws, does that even make sense at all? The most famous musician in the world mentioned in the most famous rock and roll magazine in the world a song that he considers to be the best new music being made at that moment. The song being talked about itself is one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard . It was ahead of its time definitely, but it's not avant-garde or anything. It's incredibly accessible actually-infectiously catchy. Simple chord progressions. And several hooks. It's almost formulaic in it's pop sensibilities. I heard it outsde off any context with my headphones on, no hype, no nothing. Casually listening to a KZbin radio channel. I was digging it hard--It's the type of song that when you hear it for the first time, you think you had already heard it some time in the past. I thought that anyway. It somehow sounds iconic without having any musical legacy to speak of. I look at the info that KZbin had about the song on that channel I was playing it on and iuu saw that it came out in 1968. The terror first showed up at that precise moment. And i still smell the lingering residue of that terror in every shadow i cast, to this very day. I had to come up with a theory to explain it all. I still kind of half-ass believe the theory too--that this entire story I just laid out for yall is really just the most elaborate prank in history being pulled on me by a time traveler from the future Earth. As improbable as that may seem, to me that makes more sense and it's more likely to be true than what history currently says--that this song wasn't the biggest song of 1968...the terror.

[@hernanbusso1609]

An important part of the story is missing. BOB DYLAN heard the song and covered it himself, even before John Cale.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

I lie awake at night thinking about this stuff all the time. If the stars aligned in just such a way to bring us all the masterpieces that we cannot imagine not being part of history and our lives now, then just how many masterpieces and geniuses have we lost or will never know of or recognise because they didn't get their big break, or they had an idea for a tune in their head but never wrote it down, performed it or recorded it etc? Even just thinking about all the talented musicians, artists and other content creators on KZbin I've never seen or heard of out there throws me through a loop. I am also so grateful for the works that we do have, because they could so easily have never come to be. You expressed my thoughts perfectly. It truly is scary to think about!

[@pamlabarr7043]

All that really matters is that it made it and one of my all time favorites ty for sharing its history. 💖

[@MegTenk]

With my limited experience and knowledge, I would have to say Safetysuit's version of Hallelujah is the absolute best and most creative I have ever heard.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

A video about Lenoard Cohen? YES. This was extremely interesting tbh

[@PembySmar]

The fact we ever heard this song was a hallelujah.

[@FSWayn3]

i dont get it why this video just have 9k views.... it was the best story about a song that i have ever heard!

[@phoenixrising4031]

Don't forget that the band Bon Jovi who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also made this song famous who has played it. In a crazy way....this song and it's story are sooo perfectly aligned.. it's about intense struggle and failure again and again and then the universe finally aligns in a miraculous way.... Nothing short of a miracle.. to get to your Hallelujah! Very much like a Hail Mary Moment! I absolutely love love love this song! Thank you for sharing the story!

[@johnking6252]

The word itself has infatuated me for years, the song embodies that same infatuation and I thank you. 👍✌️🙏

[@tatardecomospaisdabebeia2390]

And now, zack made it again, and more!!

[@hannah-pw6qs]

dude I fn love Malcolm Gladwell omg he was all I read when I was in high school. HIm + Chuck Klosterman

[@natefeldhaus2126]

Hey man you should listen to RKS (Rainbow Kitten Surprise) if you haven’t already. New stuff and old. I think you would like them they are really sick

[@christianspanggaard]

To me, the most recognizable song ever is we will rock you because of that simple drumpattern and due to the use in all sports. In never time it might be seven nation army (The White stripes) or even despacito (as much as it hurts me to say it, gangnam style is up there as well)

[@johangad]

Totally agree

[@at_oussama]

Seven Nation Army is the most famous of all of them, I don't think we will rock you gets played anywhere as much as the US

[@brodybestluck]

I was asking myself who wrote this song and wow I'm am pleasantly surprised I ask and you answered

[@jessesuddeth63]

Didn't know James from Sugar Pine 7 had a music channel.

[@shaunbergh7853]

As far as I knew, the version Buckley heard was in an obscure free magazine. Either way, and epic cover and the story only accentuates it. A classic

[@ps4080]

Ok this is interesting

[@joefronk767]

RIP Cohen (KING)

[@Waynimations]

Malcolm Gladwell is the freaking man

[@FSWayn3]

Brrrrrrr goosebumps...

[@FSWayn3]

Ahhh yeah... I can listen to your stories for hours... Thank you

[@joshuacook3069]

I remember growing up listening to Cohen's version, so the slow bass voice always does it for me. Then the cover by Zach Snyder for the Watchmen is what I think of now. I find it very soothing to listen to when I'm stressed out.

[@katiegorman9729]

Hey ur cool this is good

[@AlfoMedia]

you too queen

[@katiegorman9729]

@@AlfoMedia major heart eyes

[@MissyGail4eva]

That's so cool that you were inspired by Maxwell Gladwell and RH.. I only very recently discovered him (the YT algorithm gods were most bountiful that morn'), but he's definitely a sensational storyteller. Good to know kindred spirits do still exist..even in the bowels of social media debauchery.

[@calvincalvey7794]

What has been exposed to me from our creator.... is Psalms 68:4 clearly explains.... HalleluYah... (Yah) is our Fathers name ! When I say HalleluYah.. I am praising my creator. Yah .... took me 4 years to understand ! Bless you... there is a Veteran version that is truly amazing.... thank u for sharing...!

[@thegenericnerdking]

John Cale's version is my favorite

[@dollfaceinlove]

buckley and cohen played major roles in my childhood. you’ve reminded me how much they both mean to me, as well as ”hallelujah”. thank you, thank you, thank you for this

[@ghostb1tch61]

i think a very telling quote from leonard cohen that shows a lot about himself is this one, that he said “I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin.” it’s very telling of how he felt and how he thought.

[@godozo]

Interesting sidetrack to your story: In 1994 Jeff Buckley got lots of airplay where I lived (Lansing/East Lansing) with Grace. Last Goodbye was the song that was played like crazy on the radio. Hallelujah was not played at that time. I think it started showing up in 1997-1998, towards the end of my tenure in Lansing/East Lansing.

[@dboy7249]

I personally like the Rufas Wainwright version the best.

[@jewfroDZak]

Forget about the fire analogy thing he used for just a second if you would. There's music that exists right now, unburnt, released decades ago to an underwhelmed public that didn't appreciate it's brilliance at the time that I considered to be unknown transcendent gems. Unrealized masterpieces of modern music. No exaggeration. Like, there's a genre defying song that exists out there from the late 60s that I consider to be one of the best songs ever written. Not only was it never popular around the time of its release, as far as I can tell, I'm the only one who has recognized it for its lightyears ahead of it's time sheer brilliance and it has never been popular. I'm slightly biased in this particular case, because the song title is actually a parody on my all-time favorite song's title--Bob Dylans' Its Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding). The song itself is poking fun at Dylan a little bit, but its really directed at the people who viewed Dylan as some kind of Unerring Savior. Beyond the lyrics, the music sounds like proto punk mixed with folk mixed with Fleetwood Mac. Check it. One of the best ever, Fairport Convention's "Its Alright Ma, It's Only Witchraft."

[@murraywagnon1841]

When I saw Leonard Cohen Sing this song he definitely said the Battle King, not the Baffled King. David was the "Warrior King".

[@orange5387]

You know I didn’t even know who Jeff Buckley was, and I love Leonard cohen but I didn’t know that he was the original creator. I just so happen to stumble across this video and appreciate you making this

[@jeanouellet5512]

you guys should hear the original Cohen version...

[@SayNeverSayNever180]

AYO I LOVE THAT BEANIE ON YOU MY DUDE! Great video man!

[@asbradfield]

classic musiq story fr fr

[@owendubs]

Great song but I think that Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley's respective masterpieces are Bird On A Wire & Lover You Should've Come Over. It sucks that both of them tragically met the fate of being mostly looked at purely under that song's shadow. There's a lot of great stuff to be found with a little digging.

[@gavinsomerville7690]

jeff buckley did it best. possibly the greatest male singer of all time. what a true musical prodigy

[@dboy7249]

Freddie Mercury is bruh

[@Enzo-si1it]

@@dboy7249 no its Jeff

[@mrbutterpants3911]

Gavin Somerville no lil pump is the best

[@angelsbutterflies6293]

@@mrbutterpants3911 Is there anyplace that someone doesnt see you're face with a million different names and yes everyone knows that you're the terminator face with hundreds of hundreds of names behind it and you're literally everywhere.

[@Hylonomus]

I felt like Jeff's version lacks a lot of the cynicism and sarcasm of the original. He plays it completely straight, and it really alters the feel and meaning of the song.

[@tickelweiner6841]

I feel like the small town girl song is universal

[@the_scoobinator]

How do you not know the name of “don’t stop believin” 😂

[@user-cd3bq1yr9n]

Listen to the Il Divo version. Great voices and it's wild hearing it in Italian!

[@cattuslavandula]

Rufus Wainwright does my favorite version, but I'd love to hear Tom Waits cover the song as well.

[@nateds7326]

Jeff Buckley's version of hallelujah is the greatest cover I've ever listened to.

[@USA50_]

❤️

[@tpell8076]

Great vid, good stuff

[@ryanshields8560]

Have you heard of the band skegss? I found them fairly recently and they're great. You may not like them but I'd really like to see a video about them if that's something you'd like to do. Another great video man, keep it up.

[@DeamonChocobo]

Some people call it Fate, I call it Causality. What makes you flip a coin, do you catch it and flip it or do you let it hit the floor? When you roll the dice do you how many times do to shake them in your hands before letting go? Do you go for an open area or do you want the dice to bounce off something like a wall?

[@BoneChillingPictures]

Wow...

[@beepboop9519]

I’ve never seen your face man, excellent!! Another Interesting video ayeeeeeeee.

[@philips4711]

For me this is leonards song and always will be.

[@unbidwalnut3000]

I know this has nothing to with this video but can u please talk about quasimoto and madlib. Thanks

[@SimonLeeds]

I always thought it was from earlier times like the 60s/70s.

[@matthewsommerville88]

All of Grace is fantastic.

[@notarmani2347]

Hey, I really liked this video from you! This story is very interesting! Oh by the way, can you do another video on twenty one pilots? I think that would be interesting to see and seeing that you have covered them before on yiu channel, I wonder what you could pull off.

[@SupremacySinema]

Weird, I heard the John Cale and original version before I heard Buckley’s. Also OP’s wild. Cohen’s version is better then Buckley’s

[@brucewayne5488]

Shit, what a story!

[@davidellis5141]

Jeff Buckley owns the track. But Leonard Cohen " The Man With The Golden Voice " penned it. Cohen lived long enough to become deeply appreciated. Jeff died after only 1 proper album. 2 great talents.

[@MultiWilliam15]

not to be that person but did you just say 'buyed' at 8:09?

[@AlfoMedia]

"is one of the few people that buy that album"

[@sarahsander785]

It's a fascinating story, especially if you think that Cohen was famous by then. Just, his most famous song wasn't. And there are lot's of powerful songs out there for which the stars won't align (die anybody ever listen to Helloween's "Golden Times"? No? Go. Do it!).

[@Flyboy_]

Hi Alfo Media! Please do a review on Gloomy Sunday!~ They called it the suicidal song

[@dianeallen6819]

WOW I wasn't aware of how Hallelujah came to be known. For some reason I've always thought they sang this song IN the biblical days so thank you so much. The way you presented this is easy to understand and it makes me love the song even more now.. Thanks again

[@joecortes6125]

When this song first came out back in the 70's, nobody really liked it. I firmly believe Cohen was high on some kind of drugs as many pop singers of the time used them. LSD and the like.... Hallelujah. Means "Praise the Lord" this song does everything BUT Praise the Lord. Now, if you change the lyrics like other countries have done, then it sounds beautiful and they really do praise the Lord with their wordings

[@TheEntilza]

Various Positions was very successful in Israel upon its release in 1984.

[@corymadeyoulaugh]

Someone please tell me is the song really from 1984? I thought Elvis sang this he died before 1984 so how was this released in 84? Isn’t this a real old folk song?

[@d00qr25]

This was interesting as fuck

[@adoredpromises]

hellll ye

[@michellen2325]

I guess the libs did not like the references to the Bible too much.... I would love to listen to the earlier versions of Hallelujah. Cohen was a Virgo, a perfectionist; that's why I think he worked so much on a perfect song. And it is PERFECT. IN MY OPINION.

[@ebenezermarboh5849]

So you mentioned libs and virgo, but why??

[@tasnia9947]

Totoro!!

[@ghostfunk]

dude it makes so much that you look like this

[@potatokitty]

The time (dirty time) by BEP's is also timeless. IMO, feel free to respectfully disagree.

[@al3ph35]

Idubbbz alfo doesn't exist he can't hurt you Idubbbz alfo:

[@preds4152]

From Watchmen

[@rmsoundbox428]

Something pretty interesting that you didn't mention is that Bon Jovi got to know Hallelujah because of Jeff Buckley. He heard him play it in 1991 at a bar in Asbury Park in Jersey and told his friend that the song would be a hit lol. He fell in love with it and later on did one of the most beautiful covers of Hallelujah out there. Small world.

[@rodrigovillalobos450]

I thought this was alfo media not Anthony fantano

[@aft3r-lif382]

That footage of Freddy Mercury

[@ElicBehexan]

I prefer Cohen's version. Honestly, it is the only version I've ever heard, and it is sung so gut wrenchingly pulled out in his voice. The only thing I can even compare with his Hallelujah is Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero where she's singing "everybody agrees..." heart breaking.