"Bad" Songs Actually Being Great In Right Hands. Examples Abound

This uniquely styled French woman named Nathalia performed
the campy song "YMCA" the France's version of "The Voice"
and turned the song into a sexy tour de force. 

Sometimes, over the years, a song becomes a big radio hit and I wonder why.

The tune in question often seems, at least to me,  lame, annoying, unoriginal.  The song gets inexplicably stuck in my head, and my mood sours for the entire day.

I've learned, though, that some of these "awful" hit records are hits because they are actually well-crafted songs. It's just that the rock or pop star that recorded the song didn't get it quite right. At least in my opinion.

That could be why these songs get stuck in my head - the classic earworm.  At some level, the public gets that these songs are somehow good, and they latch on. These songs become big hits. And earworms. For a reason.

I'm a big fan of those talent shows like "The Voice" that's broadcast all over the world and "(Insert Nation Here)'s Got Talent." Contestants often play around with these popular songs. They change the tempo, or the pitch or they strip the tune down to the bare essentials.

That's when I understand these "terrible" pop songs are actually quite good. Which is why I encourage people to give these music reality shows, and these different versions of "bad" songs a chance.  I've got a few examples that you should watch and listen to.

In 2016, Jasmine Elcock, then 14, went on Britain's Got Talent and performed the Cher song "Believe."

Elcock was smart enough to slow the song way down, strip away the Auto-Tune. the dance track and all the bells and whistles and reveal "Believe" for what it is: A beautiful, introspective and heartbreaking song. Elcock even had the judges and stage hands in tears. Watch and listen:



Then we have that Britney Spears song, "Oops, I Did It Again," another lightweight, fluffy song

In Germany's version of "The Voice," back in 2016, Vera Tevares turns what felt to me in Spears' version like a cold, manufactured pop song into something truly sexy. She also ditched the Auto-Tune in Spears' rendition. What is it with this awful Auto-Tune anyway?  It doesn't improve things. Watch and listen to this much better version.



Speaking of sexing things up, we should turn to a woman named Nathalia, who appeared on the French version of The Voice back in 2017.

She sang, of all things, the Village People classic, "YMCA."

Yeah, the Village People song is fun and campy, a staple of every bad wedding reception you've ever attended.

Nathalie combined a jazzy vibe, that sexiness and a wonderful vocal range to wow the judges and the audience with this song. This is my favorite video in this post. By far.  Watch and listen:



I kind of like, but don't love this next song, "Highway To Hell," originally done by AC DC.  The song has become kind of a cliche, frankly. And the performer who sang this on 2018's Britain's Got Talent didn't really change it up all that much, as in the performances above.

But considering it came from Jennie Darren, a nice, demure 68-year old Britsh retiree, it makes it totally fun and new and refreshing. Be patient at the beginning of the video, and you will be rewareded. It turns into proof that as I advance into old age, there's hope for a rock and roll life yet:



I'll conclude with a song I actually truly, really, love, pretty much whoever performs it.  "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen has been done many, many times by contestents on talent shows around the world.

Most of the contestants use the song to showcase their range, their pipes, their belting out songs, like this stunning performance by Emmanuel Smith on Britain's The Voice 2019.

In 2018, Mennel Ibtisse took a completely different tack with the song.  She remained seated, and did a subdued, but absolutely gorgeous version of "Hallelujah." It will move you to tears:



So yeah, go on line and look for versions of songs you don't really like.  You'll be surprised and rewarded.

Autistic Girl Wowing Us With Her Rendition Of "Hallelujah"

Kaylee Rodgers, who has autism and ADHD
gives an incredible performance of "Hallelujah"
in a viral video. 

Social media and YouTube is hot with yet another viral version of the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah" and it's a good one.  

It's done by a 10 year old girl at the Killard House School in Donaghadee, Northern Island.

On the face of it, she does an awesome job, by any standard. You can watch the video at the bottom of this post.

What's really amazing is the girl, Kaylee Rodgers, has autism and ADHD.

I have ADHD and can barely get my act together. Throw autism on top of that and you get a performance like this? Incredible!

According to the BBC, music teach Lloyd Scates spotted Kaylee's talent and convinced her to sing solos. She was extremely shy and quiet when she first arrived at the school, and the singing is developing her voice and confidence.

"She always loved singing, but it wasn't until she started at Killard House School that she really came into her own," said Kaylee's mom, who gave loads of credit to Scates. "He's like her safety blanket. He's amazing."

So is Kaylee. Give her a listen and hear for yourself:

SNL's Cold Opening Gives One Chills After Trump Win, Cohen Death

Kate McKinnon,  dressed in her Saturday Night Live
Hillary Clinton charactoer, performs Leonard
Cohen's "Hallelujah" on SNL Saturday

The cold opening of Saturday Night Live is usually a laff riot.

Not last night. Kate McKinnon, who always plays Hillary Clinton, appeared in her Hillary outfit and sang a durge of sorts.

Playing the piano, McKinnon sang Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Cohen died this week, and some people worry that American democracy died with the election of Trump. We'll see.

But last night, for the first time, Saturday Night Live's opening made me want to cry. See for yourself:

Rufus Wainwright And 1,500 Magically Sing Cohen's "Halleujah

A crowd gathers in an abandoned Toronto
power plant recently to perform the
Leonard Cohen classic "Hallelujah"

I know, I know, I'm supposed to be sick of Leonard Cohen's classic song "Hallelujah."

After all, everybody and their brother have done it 

But it's a great song, no matter what.

Some people do it better than others, but I found a cool recent version of it.

In the video below, Rufus Wainwright leads 1,500 or so peoplein an abandoned Toronto power plant to do a version of "Hallelujah."

The acoustics in the decrepit industrial building are awesome, and the light coming from the half-shattered windows in the structure add a beautiful visual element to the video.

The video and song was organized by Choir!Choir!Choir! a drop-in weekly singing event in the Toronto area. (Actually, it's up to two nights a week now.)

Enjoy this version of the song in this viral video:

Christmas Performances That Are Different Than The Usual Boring Stuff

A fun Christmas performance  

Hat tip to my husband Jeff Modereger who found this unique performance of the "Hallelujah Chorus"

It was done by a group of high school students acting as monks who had taken a vow of silence but still had to present a Christmas show.

The video was first uploaded to YouTube about six years ago, but it's getting renewed notice lately.

Jeff got this from a site called faithtap.com which has a variety of fun and inspiration videos to waste time with if you're not in the mood for controversy or negativity.

There's another video of the "Hallelujah Chorus" on the site that was done as a flash mob at a shopping mall that's worth watching, too.

So I'll give you both. First, the "monks" then the shopping mall for your holiday enjoyment.