Anyone who has had to split up with friends to search for a car in a parking garage and then had to call out knows what great acoustics those places have. Apparently, so does Josiah Johnson of The Head and The Heart. In this video he sings a new song in a parking garage. Nice.
The song is untitled on YouTube, but it is possible the song might appear on the band’s upcoming album, Let’s Be Still, which will be released on October 15 as the follow-up to their self-titled debut album released in 2009. The previous album featured the beautiful “Sounds Like Hallelujah,” so we are looking forward to the new CD. The Head and The Heart formed in Seattle, where the new album was recorded, and features songwriters Johnson and Jonathan Russell as well as drummer Tyler Williams, keyboard player Kenny Hensley, vocalist/violinist Charity Rose Thielen, and bassist Chris Zasche.
What is your favorite song by The Head and the Heart? Leave your two cents in the comments.
At the recent Emmy Awards, someone came up with the idea to sing Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” while they showed images of the stars who died during the past year. It was an odd choice, showing that the producers had only listened to the single word of the title without listening to the words of the lyrics. People often comment that Cohen’s song is overplayed. While I have yet to grow tired of it, if you are looking for another outstanding song with “Hallelujah” in the title — or if you are just looking for a great catchy pop song — check out “Sounds Like Hallelujah” by The Head and the Heart.
“Sounds Like Hallelujah” has been on my iPod repeat playlist for more than a year, but I recently noticed that a local station, WFUV, has been playing it fairly often lately. It is a great song, and I cannot get it out of my head. So if your local radio station has not yet played it, give the song a listen.
Like the Leonard Cohen song, “Sounds Like Hallelujah” is not open to simple straightforward interpretation. While the sound is joyous, the lyrics reveal something more complex. One commentator has argued that the song is best understood in the context of the themes of the entire CD, providing an epiphany toward the end of the album. Momma don’t put no gun in my hand I don’t wanna end up like these men
I’m not walking away I’m just hearing what you’re saying For the first time Sounds like hallelujah for the first time
“Sounds Like Hallelujah” is off of the band’s self-titled self-released first CD. The band re-recorded the song for a remastered release of the CD this year, which partly explains the increase in airplay. Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell formed The Head and the Heart in 2009. The band, which is based in Seattle, includes Charity Rose Thielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley, and Tyler Williams.
What do you think of The Head and the Heart and “Sounds Like Hallelujah”? What do you think it means? Leave a comment.
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