Hallelujah

Just to remind you, Our Throwback Thursday features a favorite song, something about the song and a cover version of the song. Today's song has a complicated history because both the original version and a cover version are equally famous - Leonard Cohen's famous Hallelujah and Jeff Buckley's equally famous cover of the song. We'll play two live versions this first go around. -





The melody has become a favorite in churches across America, where instrumental versions are often played by organists and bell choirs. Musically, it fits right in with traditional hymns, but the lyrics, although filled with religious imagery (especially the title), are rarely appropriate in this setting, since it is definitely not a worship song.



Jeff Buckley heard the song in the early '90s and began performing it at his shows in and around New York City. He included it on his 1994 debut album Grace, but the song didn't gain widespread attention until after Buckley's death in 1997, which sparked renewed interest in his work..



It was very tough choosing just one cover version of the song, given I already choose the most famous cover version. I could have gone with K.D. Lang's moving 2004 version, the brooding John Cale version, or Jake Shimabukuro's haunting instrumental version. But I believe I had to go with Rufus Wainwright and the 1,500 other choir singers version. I believe they did Mr. Cohen's song some justice.



Demand Euphoria!