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1. stephanie says – reply to this
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   first

2. skinnygirluver says – reply to this
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   American Idol is dead.

3. DANIEL says – reply to this
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   1st BITCH'S

4. skinnygirluver says – reply to this
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   Simon Cowell is a tool.

5. elli says – reply to this
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   I'm sorry but the K.D. Lang version has NOTHING on the Jeff Buckley version. They're not even in the same league.

6. me says – reply to this
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   love love love it!

7. Princess Stevie says – reply to this
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   I love that song!

8. jen says – reply to this
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   Jeff buckley was a talent person not some lamo that has to appear on a reality show. That song is pure class. This man inspired a generation of singers so its great that he will be noticed again in 2008. RIP JEFF

9. She she says – reply to this
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   It sucked!

10. mare says – reply to this
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    aw i love me some k.d. lang. gunna look it up.

11. julia says – reply to this
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    why is simons head so square!!

12. me says – reply to this
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    why didya change the pic? ICKOOOO!

13. sveta says – reply to this
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    first?

14. Sha says – reply to this
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    I love this song!

15. lexi says – reply to this
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    the original Leonard Cohen version is the best, hands down.

16. karebear says – reply to this
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    The Rufus Wainwright version is outstanding as well. Really simple but beautiful piano on it.

17. Sharon says – reply to this
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    I'm partial to the Rufus Wainwright version myself. But Buckley's is pretty good.

18. BeeJ says – reply to this
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    Rufus Wainwrights is pretty awesome too!

19. Kallistos says – reply to this
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    k.d., absolutely the best now, and probably for ever.

20. me says – reply to this
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    the original from LEONARD COHEN is the best one for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

21. kelly says – reply to this
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    Perez, you should hear the version Brandi Carlile does — awesome!

22. Jeff all the way says – reply to this
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    I adore his version. There is something so haunting and incredible about it. Sadly, I think his tragic death adds another layer to the song.
    Not that anyone cares, but Jeff's father, Tim, was also a musician. His best song, in my opinion, was called Song of the Siren. Basically, it's about going on a swim to his death. Jeff died in a river when he got pulled under by the wake of a passing ship. Eeery.

23. rachey says – reply to this
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    Um, Buckley's is WAY better than kd lang. she's kind of a hack…and frankly, i think the american idol guy kind of sucked at it

24. lauren says – reply to this
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    this guy's version is OK. but jon bon jovi's version kicks ass.

25. hey says – reply to this
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    I just noticed that

26. jason castro is yummy. says – reply to this
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    i love this song…
    it makes me cry every time i hear it!!
    it also reminds me of 'the one that got away'
    jeff buckley was an amazing musician.

27. johnny knoxville says – reply to this
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    Jeff is KING! Tom Leykis for President.

28. liv says – reply to this
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    i like jeff buckley's version but rufus wainwright's is also good

29. cDQ says – reply to this
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    ya

30. Lilu says – reply to this
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    Jason is gorgeous, love his version!

31. Rich says – reply to this
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    i'm shocked that you aren't taking credit for this!

32. me says – reply to this
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    That fucking ROCKS!! I LOVE Jeff Buckley. So sad he's gone!

33. REN says – reply to this
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    WHO CARES?

34. love this song says – reply to this
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    gavin degraw also has an awesome version of this song.

35. ursaminorjim says – reply to this
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    Ugh. Stick with the Leonard Cohen original or the John Cale cover, kids.

36. ct114 says – reply to this
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    I personally like Rufus Wainwright's better.

37. Megan says – reply to this
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    While I love both of the versions you mentioned, there is something to be said for the original Leonard Cohen version. He may not be the world's greatest singer, but I still love his voice.

38. danielle says – reply to this
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    simon cowell is great.

39. Me says – reply to this
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    You should hear Bon-Jovi do it! It is awesome!!!!!!!!

40. SuperStarSteve says – reply to this
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    Simon looks like a total "top" in this picture.

    Just saying.

41. baron says – reply to this
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    Gay!

42. TheMediaLies says – reply to this
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    The Imogen Heap cover is also beautiful. Think The O.C. when Marissa dies.

43. michael says – reply to this
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    The best is Rufus Wainwright!

44. Anne says – reply to this
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    Have you ever heard Jason Buckley sing Hallelujah??!!!!!!!! IT will blow your fucking socks off! You're such a complete idiot Perez…

45. ursaminorjim says – reply to this
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    And for those who didn't know, the Rufus version is just a lame copy of the Cale version (who didn't want his version released on the "Shrek" soundtrack, although it was used in the film).

46. mmmhmm says – reply to this
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    KD Lang is terrible. I understand the desire for solidarity, but she is not automatically amazing just because she is homosexual.

47. Obama bin Laden says – reply to this
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    That song is so maudlin and melodramatic! It is a piece of cloying crapola and the only people who like shiz like that are cutters and queers.

48. Dustin says – reply to this
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    Rufus Wainwright takes all!

49. Linda says – reply to this
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    After Simon mentioned Jeff Buckley, I went to CDNow and listened to his version, as well as others. NO ONE compares to K.D. Lang Did you see her sing it on Good Morning America? Awesome!

50. Doug says – reply to this
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    Do yourself a favor and buy the entire album, Grace. It really is an all-time classic.

51. Jaysus says – reply to this
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    Jeff B & Idol - ARGH *shudder*

    Keep anything to do with JB away from that glorified karaoke competition

52. amy says – reply to this
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    nobody cares if Simon likes the song. Jason Castro sang his heart off to that song. He's the one that put a renewed interest in it, (it's a great song) and made it hot again. not Simon. Jason is great I hope he goes all the way.

53. Cha Cha says – reply to this
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    Have you heard the Heidi Montag version? It will blow your mind! It is even more awesome than Ali Lohan's version.

54. kate says – reply to this
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    Rufus Wainwright's is the best

55. kj says – reply to this
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    um. what about the original? Leonard Cohen is one of the best song writers ever. period.

56. alex milstein says – reply to this
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    I like the Leonard Cohen version myself. But he only wrote it. And his version only was the inspiration for others to cover it.

57. johnny says – reply to this
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    jeff buckleys and rufus wainwrights versions are both amazing….but dont forget the incredible leonard cohen who wrote the damn thing

58. RUFUS ALL DA WAY says – reply to this
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    rufus wainrights version is by far the greatest

59. hmmmm says – reply to this
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    Jeff Buckley does have the best version, in fact not enough people know about him….K.D. Lang's voice is flat and unattractive…she butchered that song.

60. rita says – reply to this
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    i adore rufus, but i prefer jeff's version to all of them. it sickens me a bit, though, to think that simon cowell and american idol viewers are responsible for this. ugh.

61. Clay says – reply to this
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    Jonh Cale's version is the best.

62. Drewgo says – reply to this
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    K.D. Lang is great, but Jeff Buckley's version is incredible….. And while we're on the subject, go out and buy his CD (Grace)….it's great….

    I still can't believe he's gone

63. vickierules says – reply to this
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    rufus wainright version, bitches!!!!!!!
    but my fiance will say the leonard cohen version is best

64. nelly says – reply to this
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    Jeff Buckley is just an absolute legend..I have the Live at Sine album and it truly captures the ethereal beauty of his voice and I'm glad there is some recognition for his work even if it is through American Idol lol R.I.P Buckley ps the orginal is by Leonard Cohen

65. MARCELO says – reply to this
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    Rufus Wainwright IS THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

66. migdeal says – reply to this
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    Jeff Buckley was an amazing ARTIST who left us way before his time. You should applaud Simon's efforts to promote real music and his influence on raising music sales..you're not the only one who can do it!!!

67. yeppers says – reply to this
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    Allison Krausse's version is amazing.

68. JSusan says – reply to this
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    Jeff Buckley is my favorite!!!

69. A-bomb says – reply to this
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    You MUST check out Ari Hest's version. It's perfection.

70. marna says – reply to this
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    What about Allison Crowe. The best!

71. duh says – reply to this
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    come on.
    leonard cohen WROTE the song, that song is beautiful.
    I give him the most credit,
    It takes a genius to write a song like that.
    i like Buckley, but the original is best.

72. rurururufus says – reply to this
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    um hello the rufus wainwright version SO tops all of the others.
    AMAZING.

73. SelbyTiger says – reply to this
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    I have to say that it is one of the rare times that I prefer Leonard Cohen's version of his own song to the many other great versions, including Bono which I haven't seen get a vote here yet.

74. Kelley says – reply to this
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    Try Brandi Carlile's version. It was awesome live.

75. Johnson says – reply to this
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    STFU!!!!!!!!! You seriously lack any credibility as a music critic. First you try and shove some stupid bitch from a reality t.v. show down our throats. Singing about google, for fuck sake! Now you dare to say that there is a better version of Hallelujah, other than Jeff's. You are truly an idiot. Thank you so much. It's very entertaining.

76. mariosmom says – reply to this
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    For once I agree with you, Perez. KD Laing's version is best…..

77. p2 says – reply to this
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    our colorguard did kd langs hallelujah last yearit was amazing! i love that song!

78. FirePie says – reply to this
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    Rufus' version was great…VERY Dramatic, VERY Rufus…but Jeff's was really poignant and way more amazing!

    I *heart* Jeff!

79. abby says – reply to this
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    are people clearly forgetting the imogen heap version!!!

80. eeheehee says – reply to this
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    kd lang, some third-rate american idol hopeful…you can't even compare that to l. cohen and j. buckley's versions. they're on different levels.

    "Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is #2 on iTunes.

    WTF???? What? Why????"

    i can't believe they even asked WHY?? how freaking absurd.

81. Kim says – reply to this
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    Gavin Degraw also does an amazing verison of the song too.

82. el polacko says – reply to this
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    give me leanord cohen's version since he WROTE it ! second place goes to john cale.

83. Anna says – reply to this
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    I CANT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS MENTIONED BON JOVI'S VERSION!!!!!! IT ROCKS….

84. Rachel says – reply to this
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    Excvuse me !!! Its not Simon who got the song to number 2 it is Jason. Thank you very much.

85. Therese says – reply to this
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    ok for all you little babies out there….Leonard Cohen is the author of this beautiful song…so download that…the second best version (well according to me) is Rufus Wainwright…then Jeff Buckley and then Jason Castro…but kd land does a fierce rendention..so check it out peeps

86. Jamie says – reply to this
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    Becaus it;s the BEST