Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

[Lady Freedom Returns]

ENJOY!

[erinlough]

1. Thanks, my favorite.

[Aristus]

2. Yep. The best.

Jeff Buckley's plaintive, mournful version is considered the definitive rendition, and I think it's superb (especially with the added poignancy of his tragic, untimely death). But Leonard Cohen's original is excellent for all of its own reasons. I love the gospel-style choir accompanying his world-weary vocals.

Good selection, LFR!

[a la izquierda]

3. Love this version...

But I love Jeff Buckley's just a little more.
k.d. Lang's version at the Vancouver Olympics was also excellent.

[nolabear]

4. Possibly the best song in the world. I'm one of those crazy collectors.

I only have about 15 versions but if you google it you'll find people who have an astounding number of recordings. I love Leonard's and Jeff Buckley's and kd lang's and Rufus Wainwright's and oddly the first one I ever heard was a weird little number by Bono, who chants it rather than sings it.

There's something so essentially human about the hallelujah raised in pain and fear and awe. I'm an agnostic, but this touches my soul.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

5. You'd have to be dead

to not be moved by this rendition!

Thanks LFR!