Jeff Buckley's most amazing concert performance of HALLELUJAH, Leonard Cohen's song

Photo of Jeff Buckley by Cabir Davis

This remarkably beautiful man recorded one of the most amazing live performance in concert of a song that I've ever heard (although I didn't hear it live)

I've talked in previous blogs about how much I love Leonard Cohen's music. And Rufus Wainwright, who did an amazing cover of Cohen's Hallelujah. But it would seem that the gorgeous Rufus may have had his inspiration from Jeff Buckley. Listen to this performance of Hallelujah. My heart breaks. Watching this gorgeous man sing with such intensity and passion is truly remarkably beautiful experience.

Jeff Buckley died in a tragic drowning accident in Memphis on May 29, 1997. Since then, he's become recognized as a very influential songwriter/singer for his generation, even though he had a very short-lived career.



A documentary has been made about his life, Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley. And an upcoming movie will feature either James Franco or Robert Pattinson in the title role. The trailer for the documentary is below:



Many performers have acknowledged Buckley's influence in their own musical style, including the exquisite Rufus, who wrote the song Memphis Skyline, as a tribute to Buckley. Watch this video here:


via videosift.com

The lyrics to the song Memphis Skyline by Rufus Wainwright:

Never thought of Hades
Under the Mississippi
But still I've come to sing for him
So southern furies
Prepare to walk for my harp
I have strung, and I will leave with him
Relax the cogs of rhyme
Over the Memphis sky
Turn back the wheels of time
Under the Memphis skyline
Always hated him for the way he looked
In the gaslight of the morning
Then came hallelujah sounding like mad Ophelia
For me in my room living
So kiss me, my darling stay with me till morning
Turn back and you will stay
Under the Memphis Skyline

CONSPIRARE--A Company of Voices IN CONCERT--heavenly beautiful choral music

I was on facebook (grudgingly--it is rather a silly venue to me) the other day just to get caught up on messages. One of my friends sent me one of those tests that you take to reveal yourself. It was an interview......it was an eternal interview which wouldn't end which seems to me to be metaphoric of facebook.

One of the questions that I had to answer really made me pause, though. Still does. So I thought I'd post on it here (I don't know if this was the exact question):

Which would you most regret losing? a. Sight b. Sound

I know, all of us immediately would say, "Neither, thank you." Stupid question we all agree (as were most of the facebook interview questions). But, that wasn't an option....there was no "c." So I sat there in that "Groundhog Day" (another one of my favorite movies ever) moment in that eternal facebook interview and really had to think. I love two things in the world more than anything really. I love reading and I love music. Most of my life has been integrally wrapped up with these two passions, in one way or another.

I really couldn't decide........the visceral experience of reading and the meditative qualities it has are so singular and special to me that I couldn't imagine not being able to experience that ever again. But every time I listen to music I become spiritual almost (it's probably the only time that I am ever spiritual). Music does that to me.

So, I've really been thinking about that question since then.....what if I really had to lose one of my two most favorite things (the third would be food and the fourth would be vodka)? I finally came to a decision.

I would regret losing sound more. While I wouldn't wish it, I could imagine living without ever seeing blue sky again. But the thought of never hearing another song seems too unbearable, too utterly desolate and lonely.

Growing up, I loved singing and I sang in choirs for most of my school years. I developed a love for choral music as a result which has lasted my lifetime. There is nothing more amazingly vibrant and spiritual than standing in the middle of a bunch of other choristers singing a beautiful song. Something happens and your voice blends with the other voices and it becomes this living breathing thing. There is this remarkable vibration (I'm not talking new age here) or wave that happens. It doesn't happen often. It usually happens after intense rehearsals, after voices learn to blend with each other, but when it does there is nothing better in the world to experience, period. I mean NOTHING better.

So one of my many musical interests and passions is choral music. Over the years we've collected recordings and attended concerts periodically. Last Christmas Eve we were listening to a concert on NPR (I adore NPR) by a choir called, CONSPIRARE, and I literally started crying it was just so magnificent and beautiful. All these years arguably one the very best choral group in the world has been singing away and I've just learned about them!


CONSPIRARE is, I believe, a musical term which means "to breathe" or something like that. The group is a professional choral group based out of Austin and is led by the most appealing, engaging dude, Craig Hella Johnson. His beauty is not just external. It is his intelligence and passion for his music that makes him even more appealing.

CONSPIRARE is really one of the preeminent professional vocal groups in the world. What I find so impressive and attractive about the group is that they incorporate all sorts of music into their repertoire. They also do rock songs, cover songs, jazz, spiritual stuff of non-traditional choral music that I think is unique and wonderful.

I have yet to see them live in concert. But I love listening to their music. When I first started this blog I couldn't find any video footage on CONSPIRARE to post on them. But I finally found some great clips that I think will illustrate just how amazingly beautiful their music is and how very special choral music can be.

The first clip is a short (2min) interview with conductor Craig Johnson which a good introduction to the group.

Craig Hella Johnson on Conspirare from KLRU / Conspirare on Vimeo.

The second video, is a short (10min) clip from a recent concert which offers 3-4 songs and shows their range of material--one of the songs is Carly Simon's gorgeous "Let the River Run". It also demonstrates, I think, for someone who has either never sung in a choir or never listened much to choral music, that "thing" that happens as a singer in a choir. If you listen closely sometimes you can hear the collective vibration of the voices which becomes sort of a single "wave". Goosebump city.

A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert from KLRU / Conspirare on Vimeo.

I think this demonstrates why my answer would be: "b. sound." What would yours be, and why? Leave a comment below.

You can find out more about CONSPIRARE by visting their website at: Conspirare.org

Goosebump City--the goddess RENEE FLEMING-AMT Performance of Make Our Garden Grow from Bernstein's masterpiece Candide-MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG EVER!!

I'm never sure if there is a God. But when I hear this song I certainly think it's possible, particularly because of diva Fleming. Perhaps this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written?

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ROBBIE WILLIAMS--Feel--in concert: a beautiful performance of a beautiful song by a beautiful man

This is a wonderful live heartfelt performance. I wept. It felt good.

Great cover of Leonard Cohen's The Future by Teddy Thompson--a sexy as hell voice

I love this dude's cover of the classic Leonard Cohen song The Future. . Really great deep, bass voice. Dreamy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy0Bl18qLvw

Fantastic live performance by Josh Ritter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZqGMO8vUfU