Hallelujah

[rubbishwithnames]

Ok, who did the best version?

My vote goes with Buckley. I'm probably going to come in for a lot of crap from Leonard Cohen fans, but JB's voice just makes the song for me. I thought Rufus Wainwright's version was pretty tame in comparison with the other two. Any thoughts?

[EADG]

I liked Wainwright myself, although I prefer Cohen's because it has more instruments. Cohen is a seriously brutal singer though, and that totally ruins it.

[EightMilesHigh]

I like Leonard Cohen, but I prefer Jeff Buckley's version. My reason, you ask?

Buckley's was far more stripped down, giving it a really bare and open version. Cohen's had this deep drum beat and bassline, along with this really over-dramatic choir during the chorus.

[rubbishwithnames]

Yeah exactly, the sparse feel of Buckley's version just makes it feel so much more...heartfelt. For me anyway.

[RollerQueen]

Buckley. His voice gives it a cherubic quality. Cohen's version sounds like a terrible adult contemporary/white R&B mashup that heavily conflicts with the power of the words themselves. He's a better writer than musician. Wainwright's version is middle-of-the-road.

[lilsolsman]

Jeff, he's all angel like. :o

[Mexican Bandito]

The live version that Buckly does is my favorite - there is so much emotion in his voice.
I like the Rufus Wainwright(sp?) version too though....

[I Was A Kaleidoscope]

Buckley.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Jeff Buckley's recording is perfect. I like Rufus' too, because I'm a fanboy, and L. Cohen's version never really had the same impact on me.

John Cale's version sucks.

[br3ad_man]

Buckley. His voice gives it a cherubic quality. Cohen's version sounds like a terrible adult contemporary/white R&B mashup that heavily conflicts with the power of the words themselves. He's a better writer than musician. Wainwright's version is middle-of-the-road.

123

[EonBlueApcolyps]

Buckley's. His voice is so beautiful

[Violent_Bill]

I really like both, but I'd have to say Buckley had the better version.

[Jublian]

Buckley

[indy_undy]

I prefer Buckley's, especially the version on Live at Sin-e.

[Midnight]

Hmm

Buckley's ftw

But I reckon a deeper, more manly voice with the same backing would have been better for the song. I won't know until they record it of course :)

[BringHomeTheBacon]

n00b question. Whose version is on Shrek? I like that one a lot.

[lilsolsman]

n00b question. Whose version is on Shrek? I like that one a lot.

I think it's Rufus.

I'm sure it's not Jeff, but there's a small chance it's Cohen.

[RollerQueen]

According to Amazon, it's Rufus.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Rufus' is on the soundtrack; John Cale's plays during the movie.

[BasShorty]

I think Buckley's version

[BenJammin]

I'm going to have to jump on the Buckley bandwagon here; however, I really enjoy Kd Lang's version of it, too.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I don't think I could enjoy KD Lang's anything tbqh

[RollerQueen]

"tbqh"? Huh?

My mistake, then. I can't watch that movie again.

[BillCosby]

to be quite honest



Buckley, of course.

[cap]

123

321. GO BLASTOFF!!F!(@*!$#(!

Edit:I actually thought it would double quote, I agree'd with what br3ad_man did.

[Tomahawk]

Honestly, I think they're such incredibly different songs, that I have difficulty comparing them. They're both great. Buckley's version is a tad overrated, but still good.

[OrbDragon]

One of the few covers that's better than the original, is Jeff Buckleys version of Halleluja. Wainwrights version is superior to the original too however. I like all three of these versions.

[Naveed Afzal]

Buckleys version is very inviting, most of his music feels very personal for the listener, its like listening to you friends band.

Gavin DeGraw did a cover of it, on Last Call with Carson Daly, and its a real treat, his was the first version that really caught my ear, i had heard buckleys version, but hear DeGraws version gave me something to compare it to.

So I'll say

Buckley
DeGraw
Cohen
Wainwright
Cale.