When American Idol contestant Jason Castro sang a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in the semifinals a couple of weeks back, he apparently touched off a new revival of the song: The Jeff Buckley version of "Hallelujah" hit the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Music Store download charts following Castro's performance and remains in the top 30 almost two weeks later, and Castro's own version has also been selling well.
Apparently, this "Hallelujah" rediscovery isn't unusual. The song, once a cult favorite, tends to reappear every few years as different generations discover it through avenues ranging from Shrek to The OC.
That got me thinking: Do you have a go-to version of "Hallelujah"? Do you prefer Cohen's original take, or Buckley's well-known version, or John Cale's, which has been featured on Scrubs? Or is your favorite another cover altogether?
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I love the Rufus Wainwright version!
1Jeff Buckley's is great, but the Rufus Wainwright version was the first one I heard, so I really enjoy that one. Imogen Heap's version is pretty intense too.
2What about K D Lange!!! Hers is amazing!!!
3the RW version is horrendous, I don't know why it's popular at all. so very weak. Buckley owned everything he touched musically. He made that song his own, even Leonard Cohen said so.
4rufus wainwright's version is one of my favorite, but since i've heard regina spektor's version it has become my all-time favorite.
i've actually blogged about in october of 2007. here's the link to that blog if you want to her version: http://teamsugar.com/group/720061/blog/723094.
5*want to HEAR her version......
6Definitely the Rufus Wainwright cover! I originally first heard the Jeff Buckley version on The West Wing, but someone told me it was Rufus Wainwright, so I downloaded it by Rufus. That one song, though I was initially misled, led me to a now life-long obsession with Rufus Wainwright. So yeah. Rufus all the way!
7I strongly believe that most of these people that have been doing versions of this song are largely because of Jeff Buckley. The song was on his album from '94 and is his most revered song, no doubt. Also, I didn't hear Randy OR Simon mention any other musician's version to be their favorite. Also, I didn't think Jason's version was that great, he cracked in the end.
BUCKLEY IS KING.
8The Rufus Wainwright version. I know I already commented, but then I went to listen to it and I was reminded why I LOVED it.
9Jeff Buckley's is beautiful. Imogen Heap's cover is also haunting. I think both of them interpret the song in different ways, as did Rufus Wainwright. It really shows the power of singing, that people can take an absolutely gorgeous song and transform it and make it different.
10I voted for Jeff Buckley, but I think that there are a whole group of musicians who have done the song justice.
Gavin Degraw also has a great version!
11Buckley. I'd love to hear Chan Marshall cover this, though. I bet she'd do a wonderful version.
12I love Imogen Heap's version. It's a really nice, kind of haunting version.
13I really like Jason Castro's version; I also like Brandi Carlile's version. I think Aimee Man or Jenny Lewis could rock this song too.
14I totally love Leonard Cohen, but Jeff Buckley's version is seriously great. I had to put it on now.
15The Buckley version is great, but I've got to agree with most of y'all- Rufus Wainwright's is the best!
16I agree with you, lesley1216 -- I love Gavin Degraw's version!
When I mentioned this poll to my musician hubby, though, without hesitation he answered, "Buckley. Definitely."
17Jeff Buckley makes me melt! No other version even comes close to his. No doubt in my mind, no second guessing, no take backs. AMAZING!
Man, now I have to go listen to Jeff Buckley. Such a shame that he died so young. If you have never heard his stuff please please please check it out.
18Rufus and Brandi Carlile!
19Rufus Wainwright does an awesome version, as does K.D. Lang.
20Jeff Buckley's version is untouchable. He was such an amazing, emotionally expressive singer. I heard Leonard Coen's version at work the other day and realized how much I prefer Buckley's version more than the original. It's very rare that that happens, and just goes to how how talented Jeff was. Another person we lost much too soon.
Like the person before me said, if you aren't familiar with Buckley's work PLEASE take the time to check it out. You won't regret it.
21Jeff all the way. Cohen is a great songwriter, but Buckley made it come to life
22rufus.
23Allison Crowe's version I love most. She's amazing. Thanks for reminding me that Gavin deGraw sings it too. I haven't heard his version in a while. Hallelujah is a great song in so many ways!!
24i LOVE this song; its one of my favorites. jeff buckley's is so hauntingly beautiful, but rufus wainwright's is also incredibly good. i love both versions.
25I really, really loved this song the first few dozen times I heard it - and I think it was probably the Buckley version that I heard. Sadly, this song has become so incredibly overused on various TV shows, I can barely listen to it at all anymore. They always seem to pull it out when they really want to crank up the emotion and drama of a scene - rather than letting that flow from the script or from the actors themselves - and it ends up feeling manipulative to me. YMMV
26willie nelson also has a version on "songbird"
27Jeff.
28when i heard it on The O.C i truly fell in love
rufus wainwright's version is my fav
29I have loved Rufus's version for years. I've seen him do it live twice, and I think he might be the one who re-ordered the original verses. Also, it is my FAVORITE song to karaoke, and where I go, they have Rufus on the books. I can't believe someone sang it on IDOL. Seriously. I'm glad it's going to be more popular now, but I haven't heard the new version yet, so I'm wary. *grin* Just you guys wait for my version to hit!
ok.maebe
30Rufus Wainwright's is the best! His version was the one featured in Shrek.
31I love the Imogen Heap version as well.
32Rufus Wainwright!!
33too bad the o.c.'s not still around so this version could play while someone dies dramatically.
34Buckley, Buckley, Buckley - it may just be my favorite song on earth
35Jeff Buckley's!!! Love this song...
36Buckley wins!
37Obviously Jeff ... especially the live version on his Mystery White Boy tour album ...
38Love the Rufus Wainwright version, so beautiful...
39Jeff, of course. He had one of the most beautiful voices ever. I love the original and the John Cale, too.
The Regina Spektor version is pretty good but I didn't like the Rufus Wainwright version, even though I'm a big fan of his usually.
40Buckley for me too. It's one of my favourite songs of all time.
41Buckley's version is gorgeous. But I adore the last verse of the original version:
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Which seems to be left out of every version since. I'm a lyrics person anyway when it comes to most music, so I'll give credit to Cohen all the way.
42Rufus Wainwright. Definitely the best.
And I completely agree with EllaB; that is the best verse in the song, yet no one but Cohen ever uses it. I don't understand why, as it is truly beautiful and moving.
43This is my favorite song ever. Jeff Buckley's makes me want to cry, STILL, after all of these years.
Brandi Carlile's version is also amazing and Damien Rice just performed the song at the RnR Hall of Fame when Cohen was inducted.
44Jeff Buckley's version.
45Love the way it's used in "The Edukators", very beautiful. Though, I guess, sometimes it feels a little overused...
I like the Rufus version. I can't believe he wasn't a choice!
46My favorite is the Rufus Wainwright version - though Buckley's is a close second.
47Jeff Buckley definitely. Is it just me, or do all the subsequent versions of Hallelujah try to copy Buckley's tone and pacing? I sort of feel that there's only the original, the Buckley, and the imitators. (The imitators sound good, don't get me wrong).
48Buckley for sure. Grace is such a ridiculously good album.
49Jeff Buckley without a doubt. His version is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.
The only time I've ever cried when a famous person passed away was the day he died. If you're a Jeff Buckley fan, I hope you've heard Duncan Sheik's wonderful tribute "A Body Goes Down." One of my favorite artists paying tribute to another favorite.
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