This weeks 405 Debate is another ‘Who’s version is better?’ affair. This time its a four way wrestling match to see who’s version of ‘Hallelujah’ is the best!
Take a listen below and give us your opinion!
Leonard Cohen (Original Version)
[audio http://captainsdead.com/weedking/cohen/2/06%20Hallelujah.mp3]
Jeff Buckley
[audio http://broadcasterhouse.com/carrotrope/buckley/10%20Hallelujah.mp3]
Beirut
[audio http://www.whokilledthemixtape.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/beirut-hallelujah-leonard-cohen-cover.mp3]
Rufus Wainwright
[audio http://www.anyones-guess.com/listenhere/rufushallelujah.mp3]
Let the debate begin!
32 responses so far ↓
1 Aaron // Oct 2, 2008 at 10:14 am
Gavin Degraw also did a great cover of this song.
2 Cobwebs // Oct 2, 2008 at 11:36 am
I am a huge Rufus fan, but I prefer the ethereal quailties of Jeff’s version
3 Davida // Oct 2, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Allison Crowe’s album version is my favorite.
Leonard Cohen’s version of Hallelujah on his current tour is terrific, too.
Can’t say any version is “greatest”, it just depends what you like. The song is awesome.
4 oliverx12 // Oct 2, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Always gonna be Buckley for me but the Beirut version has grown on me!
5 Yvash // Oct 2, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Buckley’s version.
Cohen didn’t realise it at the time, but he wrote it for Jeff.
6 wil // Oct 2, 2008 at 3:35 pm
my mother used to play leonard cohen to me when i was a wee babby. so i’m biased.
although overplayed, Buckley’s version is pretty much the epitome of music, i remember hearing Mark and Lard play it on radio one after Princess Diana died, twas pretty intense, considering i’m not a royalist.
i really like the beirut version, and there’s a David Bazan version floating around the internets somewhere thats real nice.
7 Aaron // Oct 2, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I for some reason, cant seem to get into Beirut whatsoever.
8 oliverx12 // Oct 2, 2008 at 4:05 pm
How can you not like Beirut???
9 Aaron // Oct 2, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I’m not a fan of his voice.
10 Hanan // Oct 2, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Buckley, but Beirut is a close second
11 Anonymous // Oct 2, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Buckley just made the whole thing so much better, he even added new lyrics
12 will02 // Oct 2, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Buckley made it all the better, he even added new lyrics which I find a lot more moving than Cohen’s, as brilliant as the originals were.
13 wil // Oct 2, 2008 at 6:28 pm
i thought that John Cale added the extra verses and Buckley played that version?
I’m not disagreeing with you though, Jeff Buckleys voice is teh sex
14 Winter1610 // Oct 2, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Ah, it has to be Leonard Cohen’s . Please someone tell me when a cover has actually been better than the original?
(Geoff Buckley’s is far too overwroght and precious, made all the more darling by his poor death - btw I blame the industry here.
Cohen’s is a delicate poetic heart wrung poem - not someone audititioning for an off broadway opera.)
15 Jennie // Oct 2, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Rufus Wainwright. The emotional nuances of his voice raise the song to a level of poignancy the others don’t come close to.
16 dick // Oct 2, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I’m with the Master — especially as he is delivering it on the current tour. Jeff’s version is certainly beautiful and moving, and it is understandable it gets so much movie and tv use.
Haven’t checked details carefully, but think Jeff’s recording added lyrics LC was using on his live tour, that were not on the original studio version. Still think all the lyrics belong to Cohen.
17 stephanie // Oct 2, 2008 at 9:44 pm
It’s Buckley for me. Big thanks to Cohen though for composing such an astounding/canonical piece of music, but man…Buckley’s version and the solitude it evokes always wins me over.
18 Anna // Oct 3, 2008 at 12:54 am
Ooh Rufus. Definitely.
19 Jeremiah // Oct 3, 2008 at 1:57 am
I’ll have to put in my vote for Buckley’s version, I can’t help but give it my full attention each time I hear it.
20 Joni // Oct 3, 2008 at 5:38 am
My vote would have go to Rufus, who also sings distinctive interpretations of other Leonard Cohen songs. But the best version I ever heard was by k.d.lang at the ceremony inducting LC into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
21 itallstarted // Oct 3, 2008 at 5:41 am
Rufus, but the Beirut one is also great. Regina Spektor also does a lovely version.
22 stephanie // Oct 3, 2008 at 6:45 pm
oooooo, Regina Spektor’s version is beautiful. i’ve never heard her cover of Hallelujah before, but i’m loving it.
23 wil // Oct 4, 2008 at 12:08 pm
in hunting for regina spektor’s cover i came across this blog with a lot of different interpretations…
http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/02/mokb-covers-project-hallelujah-repost.html
the susanna and the magical orchestra version is now my favourite.
24 maudie // Oct 4, 2008 at 1:22 pm
gotta be buckley for me. cohen’s original is undoubtedly beautiful but the buckley version makes something inside me swell.
25 K // Oct 10, 2008 at 5:59 am
Buckley’s version hands down. That said, no one but Cohen could have written a song like this.
26 oliverx12 // Oct 10, 2008 at 6:05 am
That’s a really good point K, thanks for your comment!
27 Hakubi // Oct 10, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Jeff Buckley, no contest.
28 Anonymous // Oct 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm
the best version other than jeff buckleys is Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy!
29 Martin // Oct 11, 2008 at 12:55 pm
myles kennedy the alter bridge singer sadly to say is my fave but only as i seen him live and not buckley who is also a strong contender!
30 David Bauwens // Oct 12, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Buckley’s version is cheesy & pathetic, I hate it. don’t like Rufus’ either. The original can’t be beat, but Beirut’s is certainly acceptable.
anyone into Marissa Nadler’s cover of ‘Famous blue raincoat’?
31 oliverx12 // Oct 13, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I really like Marissa Nadler but i’ve never heard that song before. Any good?
32 Dolan // Oct 15, 2008 at 9:21 pm
None of the above; David Bazan’s version is superior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BULNO7CwDDE
Leave a Comment