Best Version of Hallelujah?

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This is a fantastic song originally composed by Leonard Cohen and many performers have covered it.

I'm posting the original version by Cohen followed by my favorite cover of it and a few other excellent covers of it.

Which one is your favorite version and why?

Leonard Cohen's version (original)

K.D. Lang's version

Jeff Buckley's version:

Rufus Wainright's version:

John Cale's version:
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Jeff Buckley hands down.
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Jeff Buckley hands down.
      why? and did you know that Jeff Buckley's version came after John Cale's version?
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    • Profile picture of the author Simo
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Jeff Buckley hands down.
      Karen,

      I came specifically at light speed to write this but Steven beat me to it. Jeff has the best vocals for the job and his version of this song is awesome... Now if only I can go back in a time machine and stop him from drowning in the Hudson River .
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  • Profile picture of the author karlhadwen
    I like the Justin Timberlake version that was recently on the Haiti Donation Show.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
      K.D. Lang, without a doubt. She's the only one with a voice pure and rich enough to do the song justice. Listen to that phrase from around 4:43 to 4:49. It's no wonder she brought the house down with her performance.
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          • Profile picture of the author garyv
            Originally Posted by MarkAndrews IMCopywriting View Post

            Oh bloody hell, why do I do this to myself,
            I'm now blubbering like a baby, crying my
            eyes out, someone hand me a Kleenex
            quick!

            Oh blimey, what a mess!

            There goes my makeup!

            Mark sniffs and dissolves into more tears.

            Not very British I know - sorry folks if I let
            the side down, that was just lovely.

            I enjoyed that.
            Mark, just copy this post so that you can use it after a future football game. JK

            I liked Justin's version as well...

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        • Profile picture of the author Kevin Birch
          Originally Posted by MarkAndrews IMCopywriting View Post

          This is just beautiful and I know on posting this,
          going to find the link...listening to this again, it's
          going to have all 6'6" of me in tears - just an
          astoundindly stunning voice on her (when she
          collects herself together), bear in mind she has
          just won a million pound recording contract,
          ($1.62 million) dear of the wee lass, no wonder
          she's emotional, just have a listen all the way
          through, it'll be worth it...

          Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah

          YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

          WOW!
          I'm voting for Alexandra too - an awesome performance :p

          I was a bit worried about the candles though . . . ooooh the thought of a hot wax huh!
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Originally Posted by Gail_Curran View Post

        K.D. Lang, without a doubt. She's the only one with a voice pure and rich enough to do the song justice. Listen to that phrase from around 4:43 to 4:49. It's no wonder she brought the house down with her performance.
        Spot on, Gail. Jeff Buckley's is a great version, but ever since she recorded this for her "Hymns Of The 49th Parallel" album back in 2004, kd lang has owned the song IMO.

        She imbues it with evidently authentic emotion. Not the "Wow, I've just won some trashy celebrity contest - six months' of fame, here I come" type of emotion (sorry, Mark), but the kind that stems from, it seems to me, an actual empathy with, and understanding of, the song's sentiments.

        And the gal can sing.


        Frank
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        • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
          there are some fantastic versions here...they are all excellent...

          sorry Mark, but Alexandra, in my opinion, was too emotional to do the song proper justice. I would have liked to hear her version without all the drama. :rolleyes:

          Justin's version was really beautiful...

          but...

          I chose K.D. Lang's version because it was the only version that gave me goosebumps. It touched the depths of my soul. I felt her emotion with every fibre of my being. Yes, Frank, she can sing!
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          • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
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              • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
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                • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
                  Karen, here's a vid of kd doing the song on a BBC show in 2004. It's a much more understated performance than the one you posted, but I think it's still charged with a deep emotion:




                  Frank
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                  • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
                    Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

                    Karen, here's a vid of kd doing the song on a BBC show in 2004. It's a much more understated performance than the one you posted, but I think it's still charged with a deep emotion:

                    YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.



                    Frank
                    it's fantastic! thanks, Frank
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          • Profile picture of the author Kurt
            Originally Posted by MarkAndrews IMCopywriting View Post

            Would that be the same trashy celebrity
            contest that got Leona Lewis to fame,
            from office girl to an international super
            star?

            YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

            Or the same trashy program owned by
            Simon Cowell that shot Susan Boyle to
            fame?

            Or Paul Potts, or JLS or any one of a
            number of other very talented British
            stars on to the worldwide music scene
            / stage?

            Maybe yours is just a 'trashy' opinion
            Frank?

            All music and musical artists have their
            place.

            Why not just respect them for who
            they are and the tremendous pleasure
            and hope and inspiration they all indivi-
            dually give to millions of people through-
            out the world?

            Could you put yourself out there like
            that, risking all with a prayer and a
            dream of making millions happy?

            Warmest regards.


            Mark Andrews...

            Not sure about the Brit version, but during the auditions for American Idol, the way Simon Cowell treats many of the people is way below "trashy" and borderline sadistic. Simon obviously doesn't agree that "all music and musical artists have their place".
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    • Profile picture of the author Consultant
      Yeah my wife *really* liked the JT version. I like the Jeff Buckley myself - haunting. Still gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it!
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      • Profile picture of the author amdofcerulean
        i don't see any basis for a debate. although leonard cohen deserves all the credit for writing the breathtaking lyrics and melody that have captivated so many talented musicians as well as avid listeners, jeff buckley's version of the song may as well be a separate entity all together. the song was meant to be sang by the voice of an angel and thats exactly what jeff provided. it is the only version that contains a truly nerve-swelling longing to be connected to the source. while the other versions are simply sang, jeff manages to cry out the vocals with unequivicol emotion. the tremble in his voice can actually draw tears as it puts you in the shoes of narrator. no other version has or will ever capture the essence of "Hallelujah" the way Jeff did in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lynette Crase
    For me it is Rufus Wainright's version probably because it reminds me of
    watching Shrek with my son when he was younger. He's 20 and all grown
    up now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by Lynette Crase View Post

      For me it is Rufus Wainright's version probably because it reminds me of
      watching Shrek with my son when he was younger. He's 20 and all grown
      up now.
      yeah...I know how you feel...my son just turned 18...already!
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I love Leonard Cohen and I think he sings his song the best.

    John Cale would be second best IMHO.

    Halleluliah!
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    This is my 10 year old homeschooled daughter's favourite song at the moment, so this thread is really useful.

    "Finish that page of maths, and you can watch one version. Finish the next, and you'll see another!!". Should get some good schoolwork done today.

    Last year's "Australia's Got Talent" winner was a 15 year old who sang Halleluja beautifully, with a touch of Italian in it.

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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      This is my 10 year old homeschooled daughter's favourite song at the moment, so this thread is really useful.

      "Finish that page of maths, and you can watch one version. Finish the next, and you'll see another!!". Should get some good schoolwork done today.

      Last year's "Australia's Got Talent" winner was a 15 year old who sang Halleluja beautifully, with a touch of Italian in it.

      YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.
      wow! 15, eh? What a talented young man!
      thank you for posting this, Audrey
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      This is my 10 year old homeschooled daughter's favourite song at the moment, so this thread is really useful.

      "Finish that page of maths, and you can watch one version. Finish the next, and you'll see another!!". Should get some good schoolwork done today.

      Last year's "Australia's Got Talent" winner was a 15 year old who sang Halleluja beautifully, with a touch of Italian in it.

      YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.
      WOW, that guy is like another jjm neighbors(sp?)! Of course, marks speaking voice is better, but the accent wouldn't quite fit this song. Like Jim Neighbors, he left the accent out, but they BOTH sung with a nice deep, and shocking voice! SO, did he win? Did he end up putting any of the judges in shock the first time?

      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Cohen is the classic, and I've liked k.d. lang's voice since Shadowland came out, but this is pretty good too:

      (skip to the third video if you want to jump right to my favorite version)

      Hallelujah (shrek song) Best version! - YouTube

      The girl singing this version is just 8 years old:

      8 yr old Rhema sings Hallelujah..heart stopping..she gets into it at 2:17 secs. - share - YouTube

      This is my favorite version:

      Hallelujah - Tiffany Jo Allen - YouTube
      I think the 8yr old embellished too much, and her voice could be stronger. After it broke at one point, she tried singing harder with more embellishment as if to try to show she had a strong voice. Maybe when she's 10. 8-) The woman did a good job, but I still like the basic style better. 8-(

      The canadian group was nice also.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author blackscorpion
    I think Jason Castro on American Idol did a terrific job, it was the first time I heard that song and could never forget it.
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  • Profile picture of the author fitz10
    Jeff Buckley for sure!

    But that pains me because Velvet Underground (John Cale) is my favorite band and I do love Leonard Cohen. Actually, I love Rufus too. So they're all good artists, but I have to say Jeff Buckley wins for me hands down when it comes to this song.
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  • Profile picture of the author duncanb
    Jeffs Version!
    We should poll this!
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  • Profile picture of the author clickbump
    Great song with biblical narrative to boot...

    I like Rufus version of the ones you posted. One that you should check out is Gavin Degraw's version. Does it justice, IMHO...
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  • Profile picture of the author albertosm
    Leonard Cohen... original is always the best
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  • Profile picture of the author albertosm
    i also like the shrek version
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    Quite like the version with Alexandra Burke
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Cohen is the classic, and I've liked k.d. lang's voice since Shadowland came out, but this is pretty good too:

    (skip to the third video if you want to jump right to my favorite version)


    The girl singing this version is just 8 years old:


    This is my favorite version:

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  • Profile picture of the author HorseStall
    I'm a fan of Lee Dewyze's version it just seems heartfelt.
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  • Profile picture of the author Link Money
    Hi Karen,

    My what a fabulous way to take a half hour off from writing, posting, tweeting, backlinking and checking stats. Love all the versions, but maybe Russell's with the running lyrics was my fave.

    Now just gotta go find a girl with a new kitchen chair.
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  • Profile picture of the author JBorhez
    As with MOST songs the original is always the best.

    Cover-wise:

    Jeff Buckley hands down.

    Decent versions:

    Tim Minchin

    Tim Minchin - Hallelujah Video

    Myles Kennedy

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  • Profile picture of the author JennyBizz
    OMG - What is wrong with you people? Where are all the Damien Rice fans on this forum?!

    Damien Rice - Hallelujah - YouTube
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    I LOVE the one on shrek! I just LOVE it!


    I think it is better on shrek. 8-(

    While we are at it, the redone version of "somewhere over the rainbow", on "fifty first dates" is my favorite version of that song also!

    It's too bad. This is the right "over the rainbow", but it is more about the singer and culture than the song. 8-(




    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author visimedia
    Jeff Buckley hands down.
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  • Profile picture of the author ry6782010
    Jeff Buckley. But, I love Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge period.
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