Andrea Bocelli and daughter break the 3 million barrier

Andrea Bocelli and daughter break the 3 million barrier

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norman lebrecht

December 21, 2020

A video of father and daughter, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah in an empty Teatro Regio in Verdi’s town of Parma, has been seen three million times in its first week of release.

Daughter Virginia sings in English, Andrea in both Italian and English.

UPDATE: This was my daughter’s debut.

 

UPDATE: See also: Bocelli duets with his echo

Comments

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    Put your glass on Norman, they are in the pit!

    • V. Lind says:

      Indeed — very clearly in several cutaway shots, and there are also glimpses of the conductor when Bocelli is shot from the back, exactly where he should be. I think someone didn’t have his coffee this morning.

      It looks, from the promo material, as if it were pickup musicians.

      Wouldn’t have minded having access to that concert — apparently my favourite Italian singer, Zucchero, was in it.

      Other than which, it sounds very dull. But the kid is sweet. And not an affected little Jackie Evancho — her voice is quite natural.

      The album will top the “classical charts” in no time.

  • Joel A Stein says:

    The live Leonard version from 1993 is hoarse, sexual and impassioned. Most of these endless covers since Shrek and prettified and antiseptic. Please stop the covers. “There was a time when you let me know what’s really going on below, But now you never show it to me do you? And remember when I moved in you, the holy dove was moving too, and every breathe we drew was Hallelujah.”

    • Petros Linardos says:

      I totally agree. Cohen’s Hallelujah is becoming a victim of its success, like so many other musical masterpieces we hear too often, mostly in competent but tasteless performances.

    • Greg Bottini says:

      Gotta agree with you there, Joel….
      “Hallelujah” was rendered uncoverable by Leonard himself.

    • Alexander Graham Cracker says:

      In case you don’t know, that “holy dove” verse is not in the original version, which appeared on Cohen’s 1984 album ‘Various Positions.’ And because that verse doesn’t appear, the original version is the best. P.S.: That verse doesn’t appear in Bocelli’s version either.

    • John Winlow says:

      I have to agree. Leonard Cohen was an odd mixture of libertine/Zen buddhist, who never forgot his Jewish roots. He had a unique talent for tastefully intertwining Biblical stories with sexual innuendo.. His mystical,earthy version of ‘Hallelujah’ remains the best!

    • MacroV says:

      Most covers are not based on Leonard Cohen’s rendition, but on Jeff Buckley. If I’m not mistaken, it was a pretty obscure song before that recording came out. Tragically, he died even before it came out, age 30 (he was swimming in the river in Memphis, IIRC).

    • Hallelujah Police says:

      Leonard Cohen himself admitted that some of the covers on Hallelujah, such as Jeff Buckleys, were even better than his own in an interview to the Canadian Press. He said that he liked listening to good singers singing his songs and next to that he makes money from the royalties.

  • Andrew says:

    Charming. (Even if the song is now overdone and needs a good rest.)

    • Sandra Garry says:

      I have been listening to it forever and will never get enough of it.. I only wish I could hear all 123 verses and learn them all before I die. I love it!!!!! Even in Italian

  • M McAlpine says:

    Can’t see how anyone can have missed the orchestra. Enjoyed the girl singing – she could have done with another verse. Very cute. I was wondering whether the female perched precariously on the balcony was going to jump!

  • Gillian Mcnab says:

    Stunningly beautiful…

  • Lorraine says:

    Beautiful love this song his daughter was excellent brought tears just love his voice and now his daughter

  • Jackie L Ray says:

    So sweet. Talent abounds in this family. Bravo !!!

  • bonti says:

    Music divine!

  • Marie Josette says:

    So Beautiful I Love That?

  • Peter says:

    It really is fascinating how you Norman have no musical sense at all. Not hearing the difference between a real orchestra and an Electric keyboard shows what a hoax you and this blog is over all! Not that I have not recognized that years ago but this is so sad …

  • Denise says:

    His daughter is beautiful!!! I see the family trait in her genes!!! Seems like dad was overpowering her!! But she did wonderfully❤️❤️

  • Helene Webster -Sisk says:

    True version I prefer was David Praise to Jesus Christ, The Beloved Messiah❗

  • MANOLITA CULI says:

    An beautiful rendition of father and daughter!! And there’s nothing like it. And second to none.

  • Joanie Goodrow says:

    Fabulous and glorious

  • Sandi Oney says:

    You so can’t over due this song ever!

  • Bill Rose says:

    To you boorish, self- centered, and arrogant (supposed) patrons of the arts . . . why can’t something so simple, so beautiful, be so criticized. If you want to chastise someone, let it be the producer or audio engineer who either did a disastrous job of miking the piece is allowing Andrea’s voice to drown out his daughter’s part. I’m certain that is not what Andrea wanted. To sit and criticize is both unwarranted and unfair. They were trying to create something beautiful and uplifting. I think they succeeded.

    The rest of the world doesn’t care what you think. Get a life!

  • Virginia Rebyak says:

    Precious as Virginia sings with her dad! Love this song.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    It’s a tired old cliche of a song and nobody can make it sound any better than that. Full of bogus refulgences.

  • Anne says:

    Gorgeous!!

  • Laurie ann Deleel says:

    Omg so beautiful, I’ve never heard that song done before sung so exquisitely done brilliant. You both gave me chills. Thank you so much

  • Noose chick says:

    Brooding dark ugly song. I definitely don’t like it.

    I cannot understand why people choose to sing it. Henchman’s song. Go hang yourself.

  • Pethronia Noel says:

    Beautiful duet

  • Paul Mcsorley says:

    Got me in tears, beautiful, the greatest singer I’ve ever seen live

  • Ann says:

    Wonderful. For a little girl she is following in Dadddys footprints. A super video. Bless you bothfor giving me peace.

  • Karen Dawson says:

    Absolutely beautiful

  • Vickie Taylor says:

    Beautiful, as I expected it would be, Andrea sings so beautiful and his daughter has a lot of talent. She has a country sound that I love I hope she continues to sing and perhaps get into the country genre.

  • Jaqui Manuel says:

    I have watched it over and over again. I have watched everything about Andrea Bocelli and family for so long and this has been the cream of the crop. Beautiful!!!

  • Teri Chapman-Avis says:

    Father and daughter duet is beautiful! Every time I hear him sing, he brings tears to my eyes, and this song wasn’t any different. His voice just enthralls me!!

  • Eeic says:

    What a blessing Merry Christmas ❤️

  • Anna says:

    Who sang…white Christmas in his special?

  • Catherine E McKinney says:

    Absolutely wonderful.

  • MacroV says:

    I love to dislike Andrea Bocelli so I kind of hate-listened to this rendition. It’s not bad. I’ll still take Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, KD Lang, and no doubt others, but it could have been worse. It’s a lot better than the Three Tenors singing My Way or Feliz Navidad.

  • ellen giles says:

    I always love his singing and this is beautiful with his daughter the word hallelujah is the highest praise Amen

  • HAYDEE Rodriguez says:

    Mararvilloso!!!
    OTRO! OTRO! MUCHOS MAS!!!

  • Diana Ilecki says:

    This is so beautiful.

  • Margi says:

    The pipes, obviously, run in the family. That is something that cannot be “trained” only nurtured. What an amazing legacy. Great performance by two members of a great family.

  • Peggy johnson says:

    Enjoy!

  • Rich Mecklenburg says:

    5minutes of eyewatering joy!

  • Nel says:

    Absolutely stunning, Virginia is a perfect foil for this duet, loved it❤️

  • Jane says:

    They are incredible together!!!!

  • Megan pangallo says:

    His musisc has always been beauiful and elligant, but when i listen to him sing with his children it trully has me in tears his has the amzing gift of a voice from the heveans but now when he singing with iether his son ir now hid daughter i can hear how much he loves his children though his voice, trully tanderlizing ang carnt wait to hear more.

  • Clazina says:

    This is breath taking

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