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servemethesky 's review for:
This book was a bit of a sleeper. Initially, I found it tedious as it dwelled on minutiae, and the author's tone grated on me. However, as it progressed, I was quickly drawn into the tangled history of this immensely popular song, and found myself listening to various covers online throughout my reading. (Sidenote: QR codes? Really? I've owned a smartphone for nearly 3 years now and still don't know how to use them. Do you really need a QR code to go find a cover of a song on YouTube?)
This little volume was hugely informative, and full of interesting facts about Cohen, Buckley, and the numerous other artists to have covered Hallelujah. Like many others, I first came across the song through Shrek. It's likely I procured the soundtrack on Limewire, and as a result the Rufus Wainwright version lives in my iTunes library to this day. I discovered the Jeff Buckley rendition through a friend in college. - See? Anyone can tell their Hallelujah stories - And this book revealed to me infinite layers to this song, in its consideration of the lyrics, the melody, and the endless interpretations over the years.
The book itself was not particularly well written. Alan Light seems fairly full of himself, and oft-compelled to include a reference to that time he was editor-in-chief of Spin magazine, or so-and-so rising music industry star who worked for him. That being said, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read.
This little volume was hugely informative, and full of interesting facts about Cohen, Buckley, and the numerous other artists to have covered Hallelujah. Like many others, I first came across the song through Shrek. It's likely I procured the soundtrack on Limewire, and as a result the Rufus Wainwright version lives in my iTunes library to this day. I discovered the Jeff Buckley rendition through a friend in college. - See? Anyone can tell their Hallelujah stories - And this book revealed to me infinite layers to this song, in its consideration of the lyrics, the melody, and the endless interpretations over the years.
The book itself was not particularly well written. Alan Light seems fairly full of himself, and oft-compelled to include a reference to that time he was editor-in-chief of Spin magazine, or so-and-so rising music industry star who worked for him. That being said, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read.