In celebration of CBC Music’s new Killer Covers stream, we’re pitting some of the most famous cover versions against the originals. Once a day for two weeks we'll post an original song and its cover, and you can vote for which version you prefer.
Today, “Hallelujah.”
Leonard Cohen released “Hallelujah” on his 1984 album, Various Positions, and it is considered by many to be one of the greatest Canadian songs ever written. I’d wager most people were introduced to the song through one of its many covers. It has been covered so many times, Cohen himself asked for musicians to take a break from recording it. In case you haven’t heard the original, here it is.
In 1991, John Cale contributed his piano-based cover of “Hallelujah” to a Cohen compilation album called I’m Your Fan. His version was the first notable cover of the song, and it formed the basis for most subsequent covers.
Probably the most famous version, Jeff Buckley’s stab at “Hallelujah” appeared on the late singer-songwriter’s debut album Grace. The guitar and voice arrangement has reached classic status and been included in a number of soundtracks.
Canadian troubadour Rufus Wainwright recorded a piano version of the song that was included in the soundtrack of the 2001 animated movie Shrek. Wainwright also performed it in the 2006 Cohen documentary, I’m Your Man.
In 2004, k.d. lang released her version, accompanied by piano and strings, on a collection of Canadian covers called Hymns of the 49th Parallel. Lang also brought us the most famous live performance of “Hallelujah,” a goosebump-inducing rendition at a certain sporting event in 2010.
Check back tomorrow for another cover song matchup.
Related:
Cover Wars: 'Lovers in a Dangerous Time'
Cover of the week: ‘Layla’ by Eric Clapton, Clapton and Clapton
Usher covers 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster the People