Never OT: Hallelujah!
 

The first time I heard this song I cried. I cried again watching this video. A giant has passed.

Hallelujah! is my mantra song. It is full of life and sadness and blood and guts and sex and love and grace and redemption and gratitude.

A book has been written about it. He wrote a total of 82 verses for it, of which only about 4 or 5 are performed. I’ve searched for them with no luck. A book of only the verses would be an immediate best seller.

"And even though it all went wrong. I'll stand before the Lord of Song, with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah".

Sad day for music lovers - He was so prolific yet I don't think he receive the recognition he truly deserved. There was a lot of discussion here when Dylan received the Nobel prize - I stated then that my second choice would be Leonard. He was more than just a songwriter. His biography was a great read but sad in that he got screwed out of a ton of money.

H!
 

A top 10 in my list of songs for sure. The Jeff Buckley version just kills me.

I think my favorite version is the John Cale.

Was in Seattle around a decade ago with my wife and saw that there was a k.d. lang concert down the street. Grabbed some tickets on a whim and joined a largely lesbian crowd at the local theater. I really only knew of "Constant Craving." She sang "Hallelujah," and it was the most moving performance that I've ever seen. Just stinking amazing. Her delivery, the power of her voice, and, of course, the lyrics, were just stunning. I've seen her several times since then, and it's no different. Brings tears to your eyes and goosebumps to the back of your neck.

this "new" favorite version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRfJ6-qkr4

Amen.

This is interesting.

http://www.newsweek.com/60-versions-...-ranked-303580 Bono later apologized to the world for his cover.

And yes, the k d lang cover is one of the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

That's pretty cool. A lot of love in that room.

Jennifer Warns did a CD a few years ago called 'Famous Blue Raincoat' that was all Leonard Cohen covers. Great songs and a lovely, syrupy voice with beautiful phrasing...really great CD, IMO.

The song has been "covered" everywhere. I even heard it while watching Scrubs one time.

There was a play named the Last Goodbye that included the song. It was a mash up of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with Jeff Buckley music. It wasn't performed all that many times though I caught it at the Williamstown theater in MA. a few summers ago.

Reviews were mixed at best, but I thought it was a great combination.