"Rolling in the Deep" in American Sign Language

I believe each one of us has at least once found the proof to the fact that we don’t value something strong enough until we lose it. To think about, we are so happy to live, to be able to breathe, hear and see the surrounding world, while some people don’t have even that. I’ve always been wondering in horror what it would be like to be deprived of some of the important parts of the world perception like seeing or hearing. And I honestly doubt I would have enough strength to cope with that and be able to enjoy life to the fullest. And people like this are actually not few, and I do look up to them for their willpower and character.

But even more of my admiration is caused by those who have gone a bit further and have made it possible for people who can’t hear to ‘see music’. Here is a great work (and it’s not the only one) that was created by a team of professionals, deaf professionals. The world famous hit by Adele “Rolling In The Deep” was re-created in American sign language. The music video was directed by Jules Dameron with Amber Zion starring as main actress. It is a very emotional thing to watch. I can’t put myself in deaf people' shoes but I do hope that they enjoyed it as much as I was touched by it.

Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah Belongs to Everyone

Hallelujah. A song-legend, a modern timeless hit with a long and most difficult past full of both obscurity and fame. Who could predict that the original song that appeared in 1984 and dragged immense effort out of its author would reach such a peak in world music?

Leonard Cohen did spend a lot of time and energy on writing this song, sitting on the floor and banging his head in despair not being able to finish the work. And even after he did succeed in that, and even after re-writing the verses for 80 times – the record studio did not accept the result calling it awful and not compatible with pop music standards of the time. And so it lay down there in the couloirs for years waiting for a second chance which came with the young and hungry musician Jeff Buckley and his rendition of the song. Since then a wave of recordings flowed, each and every interpreting Hallelujah in a different way – some artists were stressing the religious part, others – the secular. But even now the song remains so universal that it can be played both at weddings and funerals and sound equally to-the-point. Talent shows, movies, church ceremonies, dozens of artists famous and not (Bono, John Cale, Regina Spector, k.d. lang, Timberlake, etc.) – Hallelujah has dwelt everywhere.

In a few dozen years Hallelujah ‘lost’ its owner, it became an international song, belonging to everyone in a way.

Father Ray Kelly sings Hallelujah to the bride and groom

John Legend: “All of Me”

Some say that the key to creating a successful song is first of all hidden in its personal background. That’s precisely one of the reasons why Adele skyrocketed that high with her songs, for example. Not counting the unearthly voice of the UK star, of course.

from music video "All of Me" by John Legend

I believe the element of ‘personality’ is a must  in such a music genre as power ballad. It is in itself a very personal romantic love story told to the public and love stories are hard to be faked – it would be too obvious and unnatural. The piano ballad by John Legend “All of Me” is a very nice example of a successful love song that ‘has it all’.

The song was born as a dedication to John’s wife Chrissy and can’t be more personal (judging by the lyrics and the video). No wonder that “All of Me” knocked off Williams’ “Happy” single from the US Billboard and peaked high in other charts (the UK, Australia, Canada, etc.). Seems like John had been waiting for it for ages – “All of Me” became his first number 1 song.