I had a hankerin’ for some Jeff Buckley “Hallelujah” the other day, so I fired up the ol’ Amazon Music machine and played it. And then it played everything titled “Hallelujah” forever and ever amen, and I listened to every “Hallelujah” cover until it hit Panic! At The Disco’s “Hallelujah,” which isn’t a Leonard Cohen cover at all. Listening to nine different covers of “Hallelujah” in a row may not be a particularly productive use of one’s time but it is not unpleasant.
- The Canadian Tenors
- Kelley Mooney
- Tori Kelly
- Pentatonix
- Rufus Wainwright
- Leonard Cohen
- Brandi Carlile
- KD Lang
- Jeff Buckley
In our final analysis, Jeff Buckley’s version remains My Favorite Version of “Hallelujah.” KD Lang and Brandi Carlile are awfully close, though. “Hallelujah” needs to have a little grit and gravel to it. The Canadian Tenors are lovely singers, but they do not bring the grit nor the gravel. See also: Tori Kelly or Pentatonix.