Best. Song. Ever.

[Yossarian]

ok, stiff competition for that title, but Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen HAS to be up there in the top 5 or so.

agreed?

[QuikSand]

One of my very favorites. I don't think his rendition is the best, but it's a gorgeous song.

The version by, I think, John Cale, is the one that gets to me the most. But Jeff Buckley's is moving, as is Rufus Wainwright's. Incredible song.

[JeeberD]

No, this is the best song ever...

hxxp://www.fuzzymuffins.com/media/fuzzy_muffins_boom.mp3

[terpkristin]

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
But Jeff Buckley's is moving, as is Rufus Wainwright's. Incredible song.

Never heard Buckley's, but I really like Rufus Wainwright's. It's on the Shrek soundtrack, and is one song that gets routine playtime on my iPod.

Jeebs.....that song is....interesting.

/tk

[QuikSand]

Am I correct in recalling that through Rufus's version is the one on the soundtrack, that's not the one that is actually used in the movie?

[kurtism]

Huge fan of the song, no matter who sings it. Put me down for the Buckley version, though - of all the artists who left us too soon, Buckley is the one I still miss the most. Grace has been on my "Desert Island" list since the first time I listened to it.

[kurtism]

Dola, spinning the Wainwright version, it is clearly not the one in the movie...

[DaddyTorgo]

okay i was wondering if this was the song you guys were talking about...the one I was thinking of. And it is.

Yeah ummm...definately not even close to the top 5, although I suppose that's subjective and it depends on what your criteria are.

is this some sort of religious thing or something though? cuz if so i'll bow out.

and i really don't want to start a flame war over which song is better...suffice to say this song just doesn't do it for me. I mean it's okay, but it's nothing special.

[DaddyTorgo]

Double dola, from the answering my own question file (Thanks, Google!): The in-movie version is Quik's favorite, by John Cale.

BUSTED UP YOUR DOUBLE DOLA!!!! :D:D

[kurtism]

Double dola, from the answering my own question file (Thanks, Google!): The in-movie version is Quik's favorite, by John Cale.

[ISiddiqui]

John Cale version does indeed kick ass.

[DaddyTorgo]

Not for me personally. I've been playing it on guitar and I'm going with his non-religious lyrics (he did two versions).

I love the sentiments of hallelujah meaning in this context celebration. The lyrics about two lovers "and every breath we drew was hallelujah" is just so damn perfect as to what you feel in the moment

fair enough. i was just curious if that is what was motivating people. musically it is a very well constructed song, i will agree, and certain people (wainwright) do sing it quite well

[Yossarian]

is this some sort of religious thing or something though? cuz if so i'll bow out.

Not for me personally. I've been playing it on guitar and I'm going with his non-religious lyrics (he did two versions).

I love the sentiments of hallelujah meaning in this context celebration. The lyrics about two lovers "and every breath we drew was hallelujah" is just so damn perfect as to what you feel in the moment

[QuikSand]

I think it's tough to render the song completely non-religious... though it has taken a lot of variants in its time. I'm not a religious person by any stretch, but I find it extremely moving, in just about any form.

k.d. lang did a good version on her Canadian songbook album in the last few years, as well.

[Ksyrup]

Interesting that Rufus has done a ton of soundtrack songs, but his version of this one and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother from Zoolander were only on the soundtracks of those movies, but the original versions (I think) were used in the actual movies. Rufus' version of HAHHMB was even played during the credits of Zoolander, while the original was played during the movie. I wonder why.

[Ksyrup]

Oh, and Buckley's version of Hallelujah is widely considered to be the best by a long shot, though I enjoy Rufus' more.

[Celeval]

John Cale version does indeed kick ass.

Yeah, although iTunes doesn't carry that version.

[QuikSand]

If anyone managed to locate John Cale's version, I'd be very appreciative. Not for sale on iTunes nor any other source I have seen, short of buying the whole album, which I have yet to do.

[chinaski]

theres not a whole lot better than Leonard Cohen.

[kurtism]

Interesting bits about the tune: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah_(song)

[Celeval]

If anyone managed to locate John Cale's version, I'd be very appreciative. Not for sale on iTunes nor any other source I have seen, short of buying the whole album, which I have yet to do.

It's closer now - it's on iTunes as a part of the "Scrubs" soundtrack, but not available for individual sale. (At least, it's /a/ Cale version, I'd imagine the original... sounds right from the preview). $10, haven't decided to quite do that yet, since I don't know if I know any other music from that CD.

[QuikSand]

*sigh*

[FrogMan]

if you don't mind allofmp3.com, there's a couple version of John Cale's Hallelujah on there. One's on the Cohen tribute album and the other the Scrubs one (a live one apparently)...

FM

[stevew]

The Buckley version is amazing. That CD has 2 of my top 10 faves on it probably(Last Goodbye as well).

[QuikSand]

The aforementioned Cohen tribute album "Tower of Song" includes a version by Bono, which is...uh... very experimental. I hate it.

[mckerney]

Another great cover of a Cohen song is Jonathan Coulton doing Famous Blue Raincoat (http://www.jonathancoulton.com/mp3/Famous%20Blue%20Raincoat.mp3)

[Yossarian]

There is a rather thorough history of the song (including short audio clips and data detailing usage in film and television) at:

http://www.clapclap.org/2007/04/hallelujah.html