It’s no secret that I can’t get enough of The West Wing (except for those episodes in the first season with that annyoing girl). I haven’t been able to get one episode out of my mind. It was the one where CJ’s new boyfriend in the secret service gets shot in a convenience store in New York. I haven’t been able to get the music in the following scene out of my head. I looked it up and discovered that the music was the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, performed by Jeff Buckley. So I downloaded three versions of the song (by Leonard Cohen who has an awful singing voice, by Jeff Buckley whose version is more guitar-oriented, and by Rufus Wainwright whose version appeared on the Soundtrack to Shrek and is probably my favorite of the three) and learned to play it on the piano. It’s a beautiful tune.
It’s funny – I’ve had the same issue with that song being stuck in my head. (Actually, if you’ve still got the Buckley version, I wouldn’t mind a copy.)
Also, a little trivia – the location of the bodega where Mark Harmon’s character is shot (98th & Broadway – he calls it in right before he gets killed) is right across the street from my friend Lee’s apartment. I’ve been in that bodega several times.
I love that song. I heard it a lot right after Sept. 11; very haunting. I wasn’t a huge fan of that episode, but I thought that storyline between CJ and Mark Harmon was done very well. I’m debating whether to use my Christmas money to buy The West Wing or Alias Season 1 DVDs. I’m leaning toward TWW, but Alias has bloopers!
ALIAS! ALIAS!!!!!!!
I did get Alias. And ordered The West Wing. I couldn’t decide. And then I spent most of today watching Alias.
I guess it’s not for everyone, but I LOVE Leonard Cohen’s voice. Plus, he’s an amazing songwriter (and he wrote the song, so his version is ultimately the definitive one). Jeff Buckley’s version is also great.. there’s a live version of him doing a medly of Hallelujah and “I Know it’s Over” (by the Smiths), which I don’t like as much as I think I should.
I would suggest checking out John Cale’s covers of this song – especially the live version on “Fragments of a Rainy Season”