k.d.'s voice is like an ocean trying to enter a stream. I've seen her live for every tour and numerous special performances over the last 30 years and, as a vocalist specifically, I am in awe of her ability to control and conform her voice. She can easily be heard above the sound system when you are within the first 10 rows of the stage and it's unsettling how well she projects her tone. The combination of her physiology, talent, intellect, and her study of her own voice is in itself symphonic. I've never seen anything like it. I leave in an altered mental state every time as if I had been intoxicated. The humanity of her performances just cannot be ignored.
Agreed, 10000%!! I was in the audience for the final dress rehearsal of those Opening Ceremonies, which was an incredible experience altogether, but her performance of this song was truly magical. 🤗🥰
Unfortunately some just let their prejudice shape & form their opinion, and refuse to see the beauty on display before them! Their loss, truly. Personally, I loved her from the beginning. Her coming out was really not an issue for me - I didn't care about this aspect of her life - why? Because it had nothing to do with her talent & beauty - which she was gracious enough to share with us - thankful that she did! She's a wonderful Canadian! Cheers!
How does she do those sustains? Her vocal abilities are almost inhuman. Even her mastery of the mike shows just how GREAT she is. Leonard Cohen said that nobody else should sing the song after he saw her performance - hers was THE definitive performance.
@@dianeritthaler7792 life changing as how a voice is the instrument, bone chilling, I have seen her sing live, her tone.... her tone and pitch perfect. Chills and perfection.
k.d Lang admired another Canadian singer,Anne Murray, when she was a girl. Anne was one of the first solo singers to make it internationally. Anne was televised on national tv singing barefoot.. Years later, both of them appeared on tv and k.d. was giddy meeting her idol or at least one of her idols. k.d. Lang is one of the most underrated singers.
contraltos just do something to me. they don't just sing to you, they are speaking to you! i am one myself and a canadian too. hardly ever hear them on Can-Con. They are all too rare. growing up I also listened to Amanda Marshall and Diana Krall, bother lower voiced ladies.
This and her cover of Neil Young's "Helpless" have defined her as Canada's greatest interpreter of Canadian song. To all y'all out there: you're welcome.
I fell in love with her voice, performance and storytelling abilities in her "torch and twang" period (late 80s). I took my daughter at age 7 to a live concert in Seattle - twice. To me she embodied a woman who was always exactly herself, powerful and with something to say. In those days it was cowboy boots, and she evolved into bare feet which a handful of female singers have done, pretty much thumbing her nose at conventional stage wear and 4 inch heels. For her it was about the music. I heard an interesting story, when they asked Leonard Cohen to perform this song at the 2010 Olympics, he said "call k.d. - it's her song now" and they did. I hope it's a true story because I love it.
she did a performance where he was in the audience (its on YT) and he apparently told her afterwards that her singing of the song was the definitive one.
I honestly think she's one of the greatest singers of all time. She has an ability to make you feel that she's TALKING to you, telling you a story, and FEELING every word. The only other singer who I think does this as well as Judy Garland. There are a number of different performances of this song by her online, and each one is different, and each one is incredible. I'm sure you've already seen it, but if you haven't, the one from the closing ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics is out of this world.
.and if you can believe it.KD does two "better " versions. The Vancouver Olympics and singing live in front of Leonard Cohen at the Canadian Song Writers Awards...........seriously.....................check both out and you'll see her true greatness..trust me :)
I have listened to kd for many years..saw her the first time in an old bar in northern Alberta just before she burst out. Her voice, her presence, her beauty has always enthralled me. All her performances of this song are truly individual and wondrous. She breaks me every time and I love her madly!
She performed at the Boiler Lounge and the Sidetrack Cafe in Edmonton in the early 1980s and then had her breakout performance in 1984 at The Edmonton Folk Music Festival. We sold out all of her Records in the Record Tent
I first saw her at a Calgary Stampede party, I think at the Glencoe Club, possibly the Palliser Hotel. She was this slight, wee thing in a poodle skirt and cowboy boots. We didn’t know who she was at the beginning but, for sure, pretty soon we knew kd lang was going to be a star!
Thank you Dr. Dan for playing this. KD Lang is certainly a Canadian Treasure. If you get a chance listen to her sing "Crying" by Roy Orbison. No matter how many times I hear her sing, I get chills.
Thank you, Dan. I've been saying this for years. It's as if Leonard wrote this for her. So proud of this unique gifted artist and that she, like Leonard, is Canadian.
I feel like she is this song. A lot of artists sing it beautifully, but she feels the song and is the song. Which to me is what makes her cover the best and moves people the most
This is the best performance of any song ever! A story has never been told better. How many different ways can you sing and feel an Hallelujah? KD Lang is such an amazing talent! Such a pure voice! It is so beautiful; it brings me to tears.
I'm Xavienne, how can anyone not feel this beautiful performance. I am in awe and I've heard it this hundreds of times.I wish I could sing like this but she is so holy/divine I can't imagine ever connecting as she does to this awesome song. With the deepest respect.
This is probably the best performance I’ve ever seen. No matter how many times I see it, I get goosebumps and teary eyed. An absolute masterclass in perfection😊
2010 must have been a HUGE year for her singing this song. The Vancouver Olympics opening performance, All beautiful. IMO one of the reasons this song doesn't seem repetitious the way she sings it is because each Hallelujah she sings differently, no two are the same. And all are beautifully done, especially that last one.
You are my new favorite vocal coach reactor on RU-vid, hands down. All the subtleties and nuances you notice - both in the singing, and in the performance - make me want to sit next to you in the audience of almost any performance, whispering and pointing out and appreciating every single thing we can : )
K.D. Lang is one of the “Greatest “ Canadian Voices “ of all time time…Her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah is unparalleled. She has a beautiful voice with great pitch , great range and superb dynamics… Love it…Bill Ott. A&M Records Canada (Retired)
1:42 Marvellous use of portamento and prosody on the word "fall". Sublimely executed in what I describe as a glimpse of, for lack of a better word, "eternity" which were peppered here and there every now and then throughout this performance. Portamento is a glide between two or more notes......a middle ground between stacatto and legato but not quite glissando. While prosody in vocal pedagogy can be described as the sound reflecting the meaning of the word(s) which in this case when Lang sung the word "fall" it was executed in a manner of the sound gently falling in a slide. Dare I say better than Jeff Buckley's version which is the standard by which covers of this Leonard Cohen composition is measured by for the following reason. This is live....you have one shot with no luxury of multiple takes in the studio or editing. Lang knew the task at hand very well and passed her assignment with flying colours and with the highest distinction possible with total commitment to the moment serving the song rather than the singer which can only be described as "cosmically beautiful". Ironically being a buddhist (an agnostic belief system) and gay she could run circles around some very highly acclaimed evangelical singers with her humility of submission to the Lord of Song in this performance. The only small improvement possible, and no doubt this is nitpicking, is if Lang chose to incorporate the song's rarely performed (or even known) last stanza.....then the Lord of Song would've been truly FULLY glorified: I've done my best, I know it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didnt come here to just to fool ya And even though it all went wrong I'll stand right here before the Lord of Song With nothing, nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah!
Whew! You can really feel her emotion in telling this story! For some, there’s something grounding and “raw” when you can feel the ground under your feet! There’s almost a supernatural “connection” that happens, especially when you are singing! 😊
She has always been herself while on stage since i heard her music growing up. Also grew up in the same province in canada as she did, so i heard her music alot.
I have always admired KD Lang. How she cradles a song. Every word and meaning felt and understood. That voice is so special. A sound that speaks to your soul. I have to say though Sir, you handled this analysis in such an authentic way. Trying to find the words to critique what was a truly soul inspiring performance filled me with joy. I am now subscribed. Thank you.
When k d sings the Angel's listen. I love her. She is who she is. Take or leave her, but you will never ever forget the first time you heard her.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Evidently, after hearing kd's version of this song, Leonard Cohen said, "This is n longer my song, it is hers." As a writer and poet, I thoroughly enjoyed your analysis of kd's performance as I hadn't really grasped what she does, as a storyteller, with the stanzas of this incredible song. What an education you gave me! Thank you.
I thought i heard i heard all her live Hallelujah performances. Add this one to the playlist. Juno awards versionin front of LeonardCohen. Olympics in Vancouver. Leonard Cohen memorial Tribute (Tower of Song) version. All marvelous in their own way and uniquely different. Such is the depth of her talent. ❤❤
I first heard kd sing this song at the Opening Ceremonies in British Columbia. I was absolutely stunned. The strength and perfection of her performance left me breathless and overwhelmed. I don’t listen to music much but she completely left me in awe. I am pleased to see that I am not the only one. 😊
this is my favorite live version too. Once you get past the host introduction, it is perfection, and those last 3 Hallelujah's will bring you to your knees they are so perfect. Her breath control is absolutely stunning. Not sure about her Olympics version if she was barefoot, but all the videos I have seen of her singing this song she is barefoot.
I want a copy (or copies) of her live performances like this one so bad, the album one is good, but these live performances are so much better, and I want one/all for my phone to listen to when I walk.
KD has said that fellow Canadian Anne Murray was one of her biggest influences.....and, like KD, Anne's ability to fill-out and hold notes is unmatched.
She studied with my voice teacher at McGill University years ago...he focussed on breath technique with all our vocal work...from soft to room filling...KD Lang is a master of this technique ... so wonderful to hear her ...
Phrasing is something I have grown to understand and appreciate more and more as to what distinguishes singers that have a very nice voice and singers that are great.
I've watched/listened to many different versions of KD Lang singing this song. This is my first time hearing this rendition, It is truly one of her very best performances. Thank you.
I’ve been a fan since her first album “ a truly western experience”. Later Owen Bradley came out of retirement to work with her, he was so impressed. And despite her unconventional persona, brought the audience of Nashville’s grand ol’ Oprey to its feet! What a talent. A Canadian icon. 😁
KD is a fellow Canadian. A Calgarian, in fact. When I was about 5 yo we drove to Calgary to visit family, and KD was friends with my cousins there. They introduced us to a teenage KD Lang, just starting out in her career, and we bought a bootleg first album of hers because we were so blown away. On that album, she sang Coat of Many Colors (as I remember it), which really wasn't a good piece for her amazing voice. I am so grateful for her growth as an artist, and the amazing, God given talent that she graciously shares with us all. I don't understand why she isn't more famous - but I think that makes her even more special. She is a Canadian treasure -as is that song that she kills every time she sings it. Thank you kdl!
I remember seeing kd lang and the reclines ( A Truly Western Experience ) back in the fall of 1983 at the Palloser Ballroom at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary, Alberta. I was first impressed at the age range of the audience from 16 to 70. Needless to say the concert was INCREDIBLE!!!! …..you knew that she had ‘it’ and was going to be famous. Years later when I finished at the University of Calgary, I moved to Vancouver and encountered kd while she was shopp8ng for groceries at the Robson Public Market. Having followed her career, I must admit that the best ‘show’ I saw of kd was at the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games in Sydney, Australia. ……her performance there was eclipsed by her ‘show’ at the Winter Olympics of 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s f-ing awesome!!!
k d Langs performance of Hallelujah at this awards ceremony is amazing, also check out her singing this at the Olympic’s (winter) in Vancouver, BC it is as wonderful if not better !! She is a Canadian 🇨🇦 treasure who began singing with her band The Reclines, in western Canada, my hometown,city, Edmonton where we would see her wandering around the popular south side area in her crazy costumes & she performed at different venues. She deservedly made it big !! Check out her KD lang & the Reclines on RU-vid, & check her singing with her hero Roy Orbison ‘Crying’ and other Roy songs, she also adores Patsy Cline & does beautiful covers of Patsy’s songs. Thanks for playing this amazing performance 🎭 & your interruptions were fine !! Sending love from 🇨🇦☮️
Dr Dan you are as moved as all of us who love love K D Lang!! 🩵 She is undoubtedly on the highest plane .....above!! She totally moves us to feel heart body & soul completely 🩵 She is phenomenal!!
I have loved KD since she started ..in the beginning singing country and now matured to the very best singer of her generation. I have seen her live many times and she never fails to bring 110%to her performance. This is also my favourite rendition of the song....I adore her.
I was so fortunate to see her in Melbourne in a smallish venue in around 2010. All I can say is that she was magnificent!! Just magnificent!! And she was also barefoot when I saw her ❤️
She is an amazing singer/interpreter. The first time she blew my mind was when she sang Roy Orbison's "Crying". Still one of my all-time favorite performances. This one I had not seen before so glad I stumbled upon on it. There are only a handful of absolutely outstanding, one-of-a-kind, instantly recognizable, classic voices in the world and K.D. Lang is one of them.
She is the only singer who has preformed this masterpiece many times to surpass even the composer himself, who when after listening to her preform it as a tribute to him, Leonard Cohen said, he now knew who the singer he composed it for. I’ve listened to every performance by k.d. lang and every single time they are stunningly and exquisitely done to perfection.
I’m so proud to say I’ve heard KD Lang sing Hallelujah on the hill of the Edmonton Folk Festival🇨🇦. Candles lit the hill and we were all amazed. I am from the same province as KD Lang in Canada and am so proud of her.
I was lucky enough to see k d lang in Winter Park, Colorado way back in her country days wearing a skirt. She was incredible outside at high altitude singin* he4 soul out.
