We’ve seen 1999 members of Choir! Choir! Choir! perform “When Doves Cry,” a moving, mass tribute to Prince. And they’re now back, 1500 strong, with Rufus Wainwright at the helm, singing Leonard Cohen’s beloved and oft-covered song, Hallelujah.” Performed at the Hearn Generating Station in Toronto, it must have been a wonderful thing to experience live in person.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletter, please find it here. Or follow our posts on Threads, Facebook, BlueSky or Mastodon. If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, and Venmo (@openculture). Thanks!
Interesting. I didn’t see one black face in the entire crowd. Sad.
Great song, but not one that lends itself to this setting.
Jeff Buckley, K D Lang and Leonard Cohen, in no particular order, is way ahead of this version.
Wonderful setting. Unfortunate that the mixer didn’t lessen the guitar. Hard to hear the strength of so many voices when the mix isn’t quite as it could have been. Enjoyed it anyways.
Agreed… the lack of diversity was distracting, at best
It seems to me that sounding like or looking like the Mormon Tabernacle choir was not the point.
Throughally enjoyed it!
Lovely. Every time I think this song is played out, I’m wrong. Gives me chills every damn time.
As for the crowd’s lack of ethnic diversity, who gives a shit? They’re not handing out college scholarships here, it’s a voluntary art event that I’m sure did not bar people at the door based on ethnicity.
I thought this was fantastic! I LOVED it!
To all the naysayers: keep your negativity to yourselves. This is a weekly choir that is diversified, allows anyone, young, elderly, different cultures, & is aprox 1900 strong. To the person that “didn’t see one black person”.…they are in this choir. Did you notice the camera was onstage & could only pan out to the first few rows of people signing? Out of 1500? No wonder you didn’t. They’re in the choir, just 400 were missing that night & you didn’t see everyone in the room.
Really a stupid comment. Maybe next time you would like to put a sign in every person telling if they are christian, jew, gay, lesbian, latin, healthy, thin, bald…
that was an answer for everett
““Beauty is as Beauty does.”
interesting perfomance
The only better thing than listening to it would be to sing it out loud with 1,499 of your friends. In Canada!
Alas, I am no musician.
So I would have filmed in B/W.
Looking at any mid-range crowd shot (e.g. see 2:12), the ethnic mix seems to be fairly close to the average demographics of Toronto to my untrained eye.
Norma
It was beautiful however I agree that KD Lang and LeonardCohen are the best of the best. I will listen to Jeff Buckley.
Thank you Cathy. Very nice rendition.
I have yet to hear a version of this hymn that didn’t reduce me to helpless tears. I marvel at Leonard Cohen.
“Who gives a shit?” (Re: the lack of black folks being present here)? People who are blCk Nd people who love block people, THAT’S who “should give a shit!” If this song is thought of as worshipful at all, let it be authentic and ask ourselves why weren’t our black brothers and sisters represented here? We can do better and I hope Rufus et al do better down the road on this front.
Amazing how some people look for the holes in something lovely.
Amazing!!!!!!
I love this. Goodness knows I love a mass chorus. Singing together is so empowering and healing. Please come to Asheville, NC and make sure to let me know! <3
Denice
my first, second, and third thought, too: a lovely song, and how terribly segregated we are.
I had goose bumps throughout the entire performance. I just LOVE hearing this performed!!!!
My heart is saddened to read the posts preceding mine about diversity.….not once did I look a skin tone/type.….I just LISTENED. That’s what is wrong with America today.
I too noticed that immediately
If it was an all black choir would anyone have mentioned there not being a white, Asian, Latino, etc, etc. sometimes people need to shut their opinionated mouths and just enjoy something that is beautiful. Idiots.
As a regular singer with C! C! C! And one of the 1500 that sang here, the diversity is what was made only be those who chose to participate. I know a number of gay folks in our group as well as Arabic and Jewish (the 2 leaders are both Jewish, one is also Japanese). Whether you saw any black or brown or aboriginal people in the video is certainly not intentional. All are welcome to sing with the choir and a number of black and Asian and gay and straight and.…… and.….. and.….. people do every Tuesday and Wednesday evening and every chance we get to sing together! You don’t need a passport. You just need $5 for a lyrics sheet! You want to see more black, red, yellow, green or purple faces? Just bring yours. We don’t care what colour it is. We only care are you H, M or L? (High, Medium or Low voiced)
thank you for setting some of these fools straight
This moved my soul to tears the first and every time I hear it. Thank you.
Just found this — gave me chills:)
You don’t get it, do ya? At least you know it was a stupid comment.
Broken.
KD Lang does this song in a way that no one else can touch. Compared to her, all versions are lesser. Even Leonard Cohen said that.
Phenomenal! This song is beautiful. We are blessed to have it available so beautifully performed by many. I am so pleased to hear this rendition performed by many voices. How we will miss this wonderful man!❤❤
Everett: Always looking for an issue.Why couldn’t you just let us enjoy this for what it was. Maybe you’re tone deaf and can’t carry a tune.
I could listen to this all day long. Just beautiful!! And everybody looked like they enjoying themselves and were immersed in the experience. I’d love to be a part of a massive choir like this. It’d be so much fun!!! And all the people I’d meet. What an incredible opportunity.
Strangely,that is the first thing i noticed. May i suggest to invite a more varied crowd to these events. It’s wonderfull to hear..just think how much better it could be with the inclusion of black voices.