"It's, as I say, a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way but
"It's, as I say, a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way but with enthusiasm, with emotion.... It's a rather joyous song." ~ Leonard Cohen, creator of the song, Hallelujah
Canadian indie singer-songwriter Allison Crowe's uniquely potent interpretation is heard on her album, "Tidings". (The song enjoys increasingly wide appreciation - most recently featured in a tv performance by American Idol contestant Jason Castro, and, by Leonard Cohen himself as the sun set on Glastonbury 2008.)
"It's not hard to see why Crowe's Hallelujah -- recorded in a single take -- is popular. It's one of Leonard Cohen's most affecting songs, and the 26-year-old, accompanying herself on piano, makes it her own with raw honesty and formidable vocal power. It's simultaneously heart-breaking and redemptive, and it has captured the imaginations of people around the world. 'The song itself is just so emotionally resonant,' Crowe said modestly this week." ~ Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist (Canada)
"Bet you thought you heard all the versions you need to hear of this song, right? Think again, because Allison Crowe has a voice to fall in love with. She is from Vancouver Island in Canada, descended from Scottish, Irish, and Manx stock. She's exactly the sort of artist who can make serious headway on her own label and that's just what she's doing." ~ Record of the Day (UK)
"Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen. This song has somehow become Crowe's signature, if a singer who defies description as stubbornly as she does has a signature... Cohen's original version is a spoken poem, all of the meaning contained in the words. Crowe's version is a living thing, a meditation and a celebration and a benediction." ~ anacronym (Canada)
"Crowe's warm, natural, passionate - and need I add lovely? - voice are perhaps shown to best effect on another glorious standard, Leonard Cohen's magnificent and deeply spiritual quest for faith, Hallelujah." ~ Martin Levin, Women's Post (Canada)
"j'ai rarement été bouleversée à ce point par une voix féminine. Pure comme de la glace, puissante et même violente sur la reprise de l'Hallelujah de Leonard Cohen." (en Francais - English translation follows) "I have never been so moved by a woman's voice. Pure as ice, powerful and even violent on the cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah." ~ SplinterMuse (France)
"(Jeff) Buckley especially just blew the song to pieces and every artist after him has tried and failed to put it back together. Until now. Allison Crowe manages to pump 'Hallelujah' full of all the soaring vocals and raw emotion that it requires. And the result is a big beautiful lump in the throat." ~ Muruch (USA) blog praises the Buckley and Crowe versions as very different, each great in its own way
Allison's hometown covers the whole of Canada - from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island to Corner Brook, Newfoundland. It's a land rich with songs of glory, joy and rare, natural, beauty.
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Added: 2 years ago
Views: 1,920,244
Allison Crowe, a child of the '80s, performs one of her favourites of that era in concert
Allison Crowe, a child of the '80s, performs one of her favourites of that era in concert - a cover of Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman's "Time After Time". (A song being heard in the repertoire of Lauper on her "True Colors" tour. This vid audio recording is heard on Allison Crowe's "Little Light" CD album.)
This recording (thanks Scott LJ for the audio!) comes from the same pre-Christmas '06 concert as does the version of "I Never Loved a Man" also here on YouTube. With this song, there is no concert footage available, and, so, inspired by the example of Cylune, one of the great artistic Web 2.0 vidders, I've made my own, very simple (primitive?!), vid to accompany the music. Thanks muchly to Steve for capturing the images of Allison's hometown glory - in Canada's Winter time!
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 47,386
This funkily lo-fi recording is from a concert just before Christmas 2006 (more hometown g
This funkily lo-fi recording is from a concert just before Christmas 2006 (more hometown glory - Winter). Allison Crowe performs "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" - a song written in the '60s by Ronnie Shannon, and which was a break-through hit for Aretha Franklin.
Bob Muller, curator of cover songs at JoniMitchell.com says: "it takes a lot of self-confidence to tackle Aretha's version of "I Never Loved a Man..." but Allison does and nails it just as good as the Queen of Soul herself. Her piano playing is equally exquisite. Treat yourself to one of the mightiest talents on the singer-songwriter scene today."
Cheers to Del and Scott for capturing this happening. Warmest thanks to web creator extraordinaire Cylune for enabling this video to be enjoyed as it is ( :
Another live, first-take, recording of this song appears on Allison Crowe's "This Little Bird" CD album.
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 30,745
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Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs, live-in-the-studio, The Beatles beautif
Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs, live-in-the-studio, The Beatles beautiful In My Life. "There are places I'll remember/ All my life though some have changed..." wrote John Lennon ~ and, with Paul McCartney contributing on the musical side, the song marked a beginning of a more literary creativity for The Fab Four. This song is found on Allison Crowe's "Tidings" album.
"In My Life, looking back at life... is perfect (for the season of joy and peace)." ~ Allison Crowe
"You're about to hear from one of Canada's very best artists. I first heard her live at the lift-off for our beloved colleague David Grierson... I made her promise not to make us cry, but she sang this Beatles tune." ~ Shelagh Rogers, CBC Radio Host & Public Broadcaster (Canada)
"A stone's throw away at the village hall, Canadian angel Allison Crowe gave one of the weekend's most magical moments, earning one of few encores for her solo rendition of Lennon's In My Life (a song inspired by Durness)." ~ John Lennon Northern Lights Festival review in The Scotsman (UK)
"Songwriter and mistress of coversongs Allison Crowe beat out Johnny Cash, Ben Lee, Chantal Kreviazuk and Shawn Colvin covers of In My Life at the last minute. Buy or download all Crowe's albums via Rubenesque - her own label - and you'll know why this Canadian youngster is one to watch for the next half-century." ~ Cover Lay Down blog (USA)
"Crowe improves upon a classic" ~ John Kimantas, Nanaimo News Bulletin (Canada)
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Added: 2 years ago
Views: 168,884
Canadian indie singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs Pearl Jam's song Release ~ live at
Canadian indie singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs Pearl Jam's song Release ~ live at the Worldwide Jammer Convergence, Seattle, in the Summer of 2001. Pearl Jam fans (Jammers) from over 30 U.S. states, Canada and other PearlJam-friendly locales came together for this event. Pearl Jam and singer Eddie Vedder are among Allison Crowe's major inspirations.
Jammer Pam Abramowicz captured some of the Convergence on video-tape. This concert footage, lo-fi and grainy in appearance, builds with intensity.
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Added: 2 years ago
Views: 31,290
From Allison Crowe's album "This Little Bird" comes this jaunty take on relationships.
From Allison Crowe's album "This Little Bird" comes this jaunty take on relationships.
Here's a version recorded live, in June 2006, in Canada's most easterly province, Newfoundland, for the über-popular Rogers tv program, Out of the Fog. Hosts Krysta Rudofsky and Paddy Daly ~ marking his first week not on hockey programming ~ along with Producer Mike Fisher and his team are ace!
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Added: 2 years ago
Views: 25,840
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Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs, live-in-the-studio, "Whether I'm Wrong"
Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe performs, live-in-the-studio, "Whether I'm Wrong" - her song featured by the UNESCO-endorsed New Songs for Peace project. This song is found on Crowe's album "Secrets" and, a different, also live, version is on her double-CD-set "Live at Wood Hall".
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Added: 2 years ago
Views: 26,171
This is the first national television performance by Canuck singer-songwriter Allison Crow
This is the first national television performance by Canuck singer-songwriter Allison Crowe. Broadcast across Canada on January 28, 2002, this live segment introduced a country to the singer-songwriter from Nanaimo, B.C. Show host is Vicki Gabereau ~ Canada's "Queen of Chat". Allison Crowe is accompanied on her song "Crayon and Ink" by bassist Dave Baird and drummer Kevin Clevette. The song appears on Crowe's debut EP, "Lisa's Song + 6 Songs".
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 8,017
This video accompanies the song "Scared" ~ recorded live-off-the-floor in 2001 by Allison
This video accompanies the song "Scared" ~ recorded live-off-the-floor in 2001 by Allison Crowe and her trio for Crowe's debut disc, "Lisa's Song + 6 Songs". Filming was done entirely in the downtown streets and dock area of Nanaimo, British Columbia - chasing pavements in Canada's "Harbour City".
When it premiered as part of an Urban Industrial show presented by Crimson Coast Dance Society, Allison said: "This song is about not being afraid to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, to speak out even in the most adverse of circumstances. It was a wonderful gift from Angela Kendall and Brian Dutkewich (of transmission 2 video)." Allison Crowe plays piano and sings, Dave Baird plays bass, and Kevin Clevette is on the drums.
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 8,216
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