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A Beautiful Version Of A Beautiful Song

A Beautiful Version Of A Beautiful Song

by | Nov 13, 2016

It was solemn and beautiful after weeks of yelling, shouting and well politics. Saturday Night Live has always drawn in a lot of viewers based on its politics, and it’s impersonations of politicians. This year with Trump, played by Alec Baldwin, Bernie Sanders done wonderfully by Larry David and of course Hillary Clinton performed by Kate McKinnon.

Last night’s opening was beautiful, and it was right. Kate McKinnon, dressed as Clinton, seated at the piano and just singing Leonard Cohen’s Halleluja. First, I didn’t know she could sing, but she sang it beautifully. It was just her, a piano and a little bit of help from the backup band.

https://youtu.be/9LkDbhb4dqo

 

It was incredible because of the time. There are protesters all over America protesting the election of Donald Trump. There are some reports of violence against others stemming from the election. Then there is the death of Leonard Cohen the night before. The timing was perfect for it.

The song has been overkilled by Rufus Wainwright, and also beautifully done by Jeff Buckley, but the words, the tones and everything else make it a great song. Kate McKinnon’s version as Hillary Clinton seemed pained and it gave the song the depth. Especially when she sang the lines:

I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

At the end of the song. She turned around and said, “I’m not giving up and neither should you.” It’s a message of hope which is needed as America seems to be more divided than ever. Her version and the way she sang it gave the feeling it needed.

It was just beautiful. It almost brought a tear to my eye.

 

 

 

Published in Hot Takes