Thu 6/30 @ 7PM
While Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), known for his dark, intense compositions, never became a huge, hit-making star, he had a large network of admirers, many of them other musicians who recorded his songs. One of the best known is “Hallelujah,” a powerful piece beloved of singers everywhere. The long, challenging and often reinterpreted song, originally released by Cohen in 1984, gained more fans with recordings by artists such as John Cale, k.d. lang, Rufus Wainwright and especially the late Jeff Buckley. Bob Dylan performed it in concert as early as 1988 and Bon Jovi and Willie Nelson have performed it as well.
July 1 is the official release date of the film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, by producer/directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and consulting producer Alan Light, author of The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah.” It looks at Cohen’s whole career and life through the lens of his best-known song, as well as through the voices of his noted admirers. Approved by Cohen before his death, the filmmakers also drew on his journals, notebooks, photos, interviews and archival footage.
The day before the official release, the three filmmakers will be at the rock Hall for a preview screening of the film, followed by a Q&A. Tickets are $10.
rockhall.com/events/Hallelujah-film-screening