leonardcohenforum.com

This section is for the BEST COVER VERSIONS OF A LEONARD COHEN SONG OF ALL TIME.

--Any artist-- professional or amateur-- is eligible.

--You CAN nominate yourself if you have a version you are especially proud of.

--All nominations MUST include FULL SONG links to youtube or audio. Please don't merely mention a song that you like-- include a link so we can listen.

--Rankings will appear at the top of this thread after a sufficient number of nominations and voting.

--Rankings will cap out at a certain number--i.e, "Top 25" or whatever is workable.

--Rankings will fluctuate over time as periodic votes are taken by members. (think of college football rankings, Billboard 100 etc)

--The intention is to hold votes quarterly or so. Your favorites can move up and down on the all-time poll with each vote.

--Lobbying by forum members of favorite cover versions is not only allowed but desired.

--Please take part in nominations and voting. Imagine how good you will make an artist feel when the knowledgeable Leonard fans rank their versions as one of the best of all time. Please DO nominate amateurs doing youtube versions if you feel they are worthy of inclusion. You could really make someone's day having them rank as one of the best.

--No need to do any actual ranking at this time. Just nominate any and all cover versions you admire.

--By definition, Leonard Cohen is not eligible. Members of Unified Heart ARE eligible, but the actual nominated version cannot include Leonard singing except as backup.

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I've long admired Lloyd Cole's version of Chelsea Hotel and feel it belongs as one of the top choices. It's a great example of the ability to make the song one's own without losing the original feel for it. Who knew that a jangly guitar and rollicking drums would be such a great fit for this song? Wonderful.

Lloyd Cole
Chelsea Hotel

http://youtu.be/zCn22ytsfQU

ali & the thieves
dance me to the end of love

http://youtu.be/tBElKS6nyfk

Billy Joel

Light As The Breeze

Please add a link, Mary. Thanks

The Last Shadow Puppets
Memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJvRyN1jlCc

if it be your will by antony.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDlMdu2gjw

Two i think worth checking:

Villagers: Famous Blue Raincoat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFyRncUVcnAo

and one I just adore is:
Palace (Will Oldham): Winter Lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g90oBqeMtq8

Hope someone enjoys one or both.

Firstly, I will say that I’m not generally a covers person per se, but I have more than one reason for posting this song. It's interesting that no one has mentioned the most covered and know LC song of Hallelujah. Maybe they haven’t for that very reason! Too many people have covered it to death and so many sometimes badly! Even Leonard has said, “there must be a moratorium on this song!” But IMO the definitive cover version of this has, and always will belong to k.d. lang. She has sung this on numerous public and official occasions but I’ve chosen the one from 2006 when she sang it at the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in front of Leonard when he was inducted there. Leonard was very moved by k.d.'s performance and her respect for him is obvious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYiMJ2bC65A

As a bonus, here is LC's acceptance speech at the CSHF 2006:
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6rtzkgE2I
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS2qxBvEP10

Thanks for posting this Bev. I agree except for Leonard no one else does this song better than K.D.

Marsha

You're right Bev, this performance is her best of this song. Even though this ranks as a best cover version for me also, I didn't post it here simply because she sings 'shoot someone' instead of 'shoot at someone'. That little word is so crucial to the meaning of the phrase.

You're right Mary about the shoot someone line. I noticed that too. I was surprised because this has become somewhat of a trademark song for her. Another line I found song differently was "I've walked this room, I've walked this floor". It should have been "I know this room, I've walked this floor".
But other than that I still think she covers this song better than anyone else.

Marsha

Mary and Marsha, I did notice those differences and absolutely agree with both of you on all points!

B4real wrote:Some people who cover the song (irritatingly to me) don’t say this line correctly. They leave out a small preposition and in doing so change the original connotation of the line.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=10371&hilit=how+to ... 60#p331886

I have a sneaky suspicion she meant to sing “I've seen this room” because when she starts the second line and says “I’ve walked ...." I think she realizes she’s already said that word. In her videos from 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2011 she sings the word "seen" every time instead of "know" as in Leonard's original one. She also leaves out "at" in all those videos as well.

btw - I love the musical arrangement of this version, especially the piano and violin!
I would prefer that Neil Larsen played his piano instead of the HB3 organ for this song.

Wrong words, right words, omitted words, aside from LC, no one can compare when she does this song. I just wish she would get the words right. Aside from that, she gets the lyrics and does a phenomenal version of Hallelujah (plus and incredible version of 'Crying' with Roy Orbison).