“Hallelujah” All Over the UK Charts

Simon’s head has to have exploded by now.

Damn…then Jason should make load of bucks from this song…I think her version is the worst of all i have heard… Even David Choi (not a professional singer i found on youtube) sing better than Alex on this song, IMO.

Being the Christmas week #1 single in the UK is a huge accomplishment. It involves extra media coverage and has special awards for it as well. (Since X Factor winners have dominated that spot since 2005, having #2 and even #3 at that time is often just as important these days.)

Since it is usually the top-selling week of the year for music, it is big everywhere, but there is something special about it there. It is just seen as “another #1″ in North America and Asia.

I about cried when I read this. It has to be comforting to Jason after the way he was treated so disrespectfully on idol. I’m glad his song is doing well, and I hope JASON makes a lot of money from it!

what has this to do with jason making alot of money? hallelujah is not ‘jason’s song’ i love his version and have it on my mp3 player but its not for sale anymore that i know of and again its not “his song”???

i dislike alexandra’s version of this song

Jason doesn’t own this song, neither does he have a cover of it available, and he wasn’t the first person to have the idea of covering it… so why would he make money from it or why he’d feel conforted by that?

well, at least people are listening to a great song.

well, at least people are listening to a great song.

Amen!

I love Jason’s version, but it’s not his song. It’s great people are listening to a great song (Buckley), but the X Factor version is far from great. If anything it completely ruins the song, especially by making it a holiday song so to speak, so it just sort of sucks that the messenger is so vapid and meaningless. Good for Buckley and Cohen though.

As for Jason, the only thing that I think sucks is that while he’s far from the first or last to cover Hallelujah, I do believe that it is his success with the song on Idol that caused Simon to pimp it out as a major moneymaker. However unlike the Il Divo and X Factor versions, at least Jason’s version was in the spirit of the original.

Simon has a great knack for taking consumer sheep to the slaughter house. The Pied Piper has nothing on him. Find a song that people love and prostitute it for your own financial gain. Trust Simon!

Leonard Cohen’s song is glorious in its message and in his own unique delivery. Jeff Buckley’s version is wonderful and touches the soul. Alexandra’s version is sung without any real passion but is tons better than the horrible Il Divo rendition…sung by mechanical wind-up dolls. Jason’s version was simple and elegant and was sung with care and caring. To bad it is no longer available through i-tunes. And if Simon owns the rights I am pretty sure Jason won’t be given the rights to record it…a shame really since he probably brought the song to Simon’s attention to begin with.

Tess, Simon did claim the Buckley version was one of his favorite songs. He said this on air after Jason had performed it. So while Simon certainly seemed aware of the song, I don’t believe he saw the dollar signs until Buckley and Jason shot up the charts that week.

My question is it for certain Simon owns the rights to the song? I know it says above, but I’m just questioning the accuracy. Because Jason was allowed to record the song for a movie, so he obviously had clearance for that. Now technically he was still under 19 when he did this and it’s a Mexican movie, so maybe Simon didn’t care?

I’m sure Simon was very pleased that Jason recorded the song for the Mexican movie. It’s more money lining his pockets. I don’t see Simon not giving permission for it’s use.

Wasn’t Leona Lewis supposed to be the biggest/best star ever and now two years later, we have the new biggest/best on the scene. They sure don’t build X Factor/AI careers for longevity do they?

I don’t understand how Simon gets the rights to a song written by Leonard Cohen. But I guess that’s how the music biz works. I think Shrek gave the song huge exposure even before Idol though.

Yeah, I don’t see Simon squelching the generosity when he sees the dollar signs.

My question is it for certain Simon owns the rights to the song?

I worded my post exactly like the source where I found it. Simon owns the rights to Cohen’s and Buckley’s recorded versions. The article doesn’t say that he owns the publishing rights to the song itself. Although he might, it doesn’t say so in the article.

I don’t understand how Simon gets the rights to a song written by Leonard Cohen.

He buys the rights. There was an article somewhere about Cohen’s unscrupulous business manager selling off the rights to his music behind his back. He had to go on tour recently because he’s broke.

Lots of artists don’t own the rights to their own songs. The most notorious being Paul McCartney, who owns the publishing to many songs, but not his Beatles songs. Michael Jackson out bid McCartney and Yoko Ono for them back in the 80′s.

ETA:

ot sure if he still owns the rights now or not,

Michael Jackson owns the Beatles catalog in a joint venture with Sony/ATV

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t understand how Simon gets the rights to a song written by Leonard Cohen. But I guess thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s how the music biz works. I think Shrek gave the song huge exposure even before Idol though.

The same way that Michael Jackson owned rights to the Beatles catalogue for many years… not sure if he still owns the rights now or not, but ownership of catalogues and publishings rights are or can be a fluid thing….. Not sure, but I think Paul McCartney owns the rights, or may have owned them, to the works of Buddy Holley and the Crickets… happens more than we think…..

ETA: We both had the same train of thought MJ!

I know that rights can be bought (MJ and the Beatles, for ex.). I’m just surprised Simon was interested in Leonard Cohen music. Most of it is not really very commercial. If he bought the rights years ago then I’m impressed. I wonder what other music Simon has the rights to. Cohen is back touring and making $ so I guess he won’t need the Hallelujah dough that’s coming Simon’s way.

Yeah, kudos to Jason for helping Jeff Buckley’s version soar on the charts during AI last season, but “Hallelujah” has a long history that pre-dates Jason’s performance. I’ve owned the Buckley version for years, after hearing it more than once on the soundtrack to some popular television shows, and Simon did mention the Buckley version, which even Leonard Cohen says is the definitive version, after Jason covered the song.

Kurt Nilsen (World Idol 2003), Espen Lind (one of David Cook’s collaborators) and two other Norwegian singers did an entire tour (“Hallelujah Live”) and the recording is available here in the US (great version, IMHO). As others have mentioned, Simon’s Boy Toys Il Divo have their own version, and I’m sure there’s a Teletubbies one out there somewhere too.

I bought Leonard Cohen’s original just last week because I wanted him to get his 8 cents or whatever, since I already own 2 copies of Jeff Buckley’s, Jason’s, Brandi Carlile’s, and the 4 Norwegians’. Now I find out it’s Simon who’s netting all the dough. Man is richer than God Himself.

Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights to most of the Beatles songs for 47.5 million dollars in 1984 – 4 songs issued on the Beatles first two singles weren’t included in the package… Jackson receives 50% of the royalties generated by Beatles songs – all by virtue of him being savvy and smart enough to outbid Paul and Yoko for ownership of the publishing rights…. lots of money to be had in this arena, and I guess Leonard Cohen is just as attractive as anyone else, when folks like Simon go looking to enrich their coffers…..

Yeah, kudos to Jason for helping Jeff Buckleyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s version soar on the charts during AI last season, but à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Hallelujahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  has a long history that pre-dates Jasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve owned the Buckley version for years, after hearing it more than once on the soundtrack to some popular television shows, and Simon did mention the Buckley version, which even Leonard Cohen says is the definitive version, after Jason covered the song.

I agree,is true that Jason ´s version is really popular but this song is really old and popular as a cover… it have being used for lots of movies , like Shrek and Pay it Foward, and lots of tv series… actually is surpriseme that lots of people in US seem to never have hear of it before Jason ´s performance in AI… But them again it also surpriseme that Somewhere Over the Rainbown/ What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo ´ole wasn ´t popular either (it was in the soundtrack of Finding Forrester and Meet Joe Black with Brad Pitt!!!!…) and Angels by Robbie Williams…

Smart of Simon to buy the right to this song… after all is a great song… and I have to said Jeff Buckleyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s version is beautiful and the best IMO….

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a Teletubbies one out there somewhere too.

That is just so wrong -_-U

There’s something very unclean about all of this. Simon has the power to make songs into hits with Idol and the X Factor, by choosing the winner’s single (or various other songs for popular contestants), then all that’s left is to wait and watch it shoot up the charts (or the original versions as the case may be). Basically, he’s choosing the songs that will line his own pocket, right?

The man has far too much power, and judging from Il Divo’s version, he’s not using it for good.

Jolene,

Ever heard of the concepts “personal property” and “capitalism?” Of course, someone who has the rights to something can do with it as he/she wishes, including making money with it. The entire free world is built on it. Would you rather have socialism or communism instead? What is so strange to you about this concept?

edit: Read the guidelines before you post again. Do not question the motives of, criticize or mock your fellow posters. Keep your remarks focused on the topic.

Oh, jimmyboyd2, I know all about capitalism. I’m actually all for it, believe it or not. Sorry my comment made you scratch your head, I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.

Maybe I’m just being childish and naive, but I think there’s a fine line, and I think that line between art and commerce is being trampled here, that’s all. Wait, I must be crazy talking about art in an AI blog.

If Simon can pretty much choose whichever song he wants to become the next big hit, I don’t like the idea that he goes and buys the rights to said song ahead of time from the artist/musician’s rogue business manager in a calculated effort. He sets the rules of the game that allows his own win. Kudos to him for having that kind of power, I’m still free to say I find it manipulative. I don’t think that makes me an idiot, maybe a little too idealistic.

There are such things as monopolies and unfair trade. No doubt Simon has extremely well-paid attorneys who tend his interests, so I’m going to assume he hasn’t broken any laws. Nonetheless, I have to agree with Jolene that what Simon is doing here doesn’t exactly pass the whiff test. OTOH, he’s never pretended to be anything but shallow and greedy.

Hell, I applaud Simon for being the savvy businessmen that he is. There is absolutely no reason not to make money on music. And this is so not a monopoly of any kind. Curse him for being astute. For the record, this song was on Simon’s radar way before Jason sang it on idol. I was youtubing the other day and he was not the first idol to sing the song. Yes, because of him, it rose up the charts, but this song has had this intereseting afterlife and will probably continue to do so. That Simon was smart enough to obtain the rights it a testament to him having the pulse of the people.

Say what you will about Ms. Burke’s version, nobody is forcing anyone to purchase the song, and the amount of hard copies she moved means she has intrigued someone. I thought it was overblown and bombastic, but I think she is an amazing singer, and with some care, she may meet and exceed Leona Lewis’ fame across the pond. She is a fascile singer, with an edge. One of the soul music blogs that I read have their eye on her already. It will be interesting to see what developes for her.

I understand that it’s the music business but I also feel a little queasy about Simon not only owning the shows that make the stars,but the stars and the rights to the music they sing as well. For some reason, I thought the rights to the songs was the only piece of the pie he didn’t get. Greedy guy.

I wonder if the guy who wrote TOML made much $ off that song or if the rights are owned by Simon as well.

I like Ms. Burke’s voice better than Leona’s which tends to be too divaish for my taste. However, I find this to be a horrible rendition of an amazing song. That so many people have bought it just proves to me that many people have all their taste in their mouth.

I believe Jason chose the song to sing all by himself. Simon, being the businessman he is, saw how well it went over. I have a bit of a problem with him choosing a song for the X Factor winner that he owns, but it’s not illegal and doesn’t really surprise me. After all, one can’t have too many million dollar cars Maybe they should have a coronation single…let’s see what she can do with magic rainbows.

It’s a great song, and exposure on Idol never hurts a song at all. I love all the versions that I’m aware of, including k. d. Laing’s, and Brandi Carlyle’s recent rendition. It’s always fun watching songs jump up on the itunes chart as soon as they’re performed on Idol. I actually remember Jeff Buckley’s fans being amazed when his song jumped into the top songs, and they didn’t know why at first. Talk about scratching heads.

Jolene I understand what you mean about Simon and I feel the same way. He’s a shrewd businessman, but like you I put art before profit. In our culture I think we’ve temporarily forgotten the inherent value of art for art’s sake.

The publishing rights (I think as well as everything else) of all Leonard Cohen’s older songs including “Hallelujah” was sold by Leonard Cohen to Sony-BMG. Simon’s company Syco is part of Sony-BMG, and I suspect there is some kind of confusion by the writer of that article and misattributed the ownership of those recordings.