“Hallelujah” began its improbable journey in 1984 when Cohen — a legend among the musical literati for such songs as “Suzanne,” “Bird On A Wire” and “Famous Blue Raincoat,” but still a relatively obscure poet turned folk musician — was about to turn 50. He pored over the words to the song for many years, filling two notebooks, writing more than 80 verses and recording two versions with almost completely different lyrics. When “Hallelujah” was finished, his record company, Columbia, turned down the album it was to be featured on, Various Positions. The album was subsequently released in 1985 on the indie label PVC Records.
In the nearly three decades since, the song has become a modern-day hymn, played everywhere from ground zero, the Vatican and the Super Bowl to earthquake and hurricane relief benefits and memorial montages at awards shows. The song, which is also broadcast at 2 a.m. every Saturday night by the Israeli Defense Force’s radio channel, has even inspired the bookThe Holy Or The Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley And The Unlikely Ascent Of Hallelujah, authored by Alan Light, former editor in chief of Vibe and Spin.
GRAMMY Camp students participated in an impromptu songwriting/recording session inspired by social change and the 2012 Presidential Election. Watch “Mr. President To Be”…
This all happened during the 90 minute workshop.
Stevie Wonder ReImagined By Hip-Hop Collective Sore Losers
Dallas-based hip-hop collective Sore Losers recently performed a cover of Stevie Wonder’s GRAMMY-winning classic “Living For The City” for an installment of The Recording Academy’s ReImagined series. Linking GRAMMY history with the present, ReImagined is a performance-based series featuring artists interpreting an iconic GRAMMY-winning song, an interview and performances of original music.
The Civil Wars stopped by GRAMMY HQ last summer for a performance of their song “Poison & Wine” - take a peek.
![FLASHBACK: Alicia Keys at the 44th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2002 winning Best New Artist, Song Of The Year [Fallin’], Best Female R&B Vocal Performance [Fallin’], Best R&B Song [Fallin’], and Best R&B Album [Songs In A Minor]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m41c1kTlL21qzy7u8o1_400.jpg)
FLASHBACK: Alicia Keys at the 44th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2002 winning Best New Artist, Song Of The Year [Fallin’], Best Female R&B Vocal Performance [Fallin’], Best R&B Song [Fallin’], and Best R&B Album [Songs In A Minor]
Folk-rock group the Lumineers recently performed a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” for an installment of The Recording Academy’s ReImagined series. Linking GRAMMY history with the present, ReImagined is a performance-based series featuring artists interpreting an iconic GRAMMY-winning song, an interview and performances of original music. Watch now! http://grm.my/IoenYF
