Hallelujah!
Filed under: Music Minute > American Idol > Simon Cowell
Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is #2 on iTunes.
WTF???? What? Why????
Well, it turns out that American Idol contestant Jason Castro performed the song this week and Simon mentioned that the Jeff Buckley version is one of his faves.
The power of Cowell!
We love the Buckley version, but we also love LOVE love the K.D. Lang interpretation!
Posted: March 6, 2008 at 6:21 pm
WTF? WHAT ABOUT RUFUS WAINWRIGHT'S VERSION? ITS CLEARLY THE BEST… STUPID!!
Jeff Buckley was a great musician, I kind of hate that his single is number 2 on itunes because it was mentioned on American Idol. I guarantee that 98% of the people who downloaded that song do not even know Jeff passed away a few years ago.
Also, the Rufus Wainwright cover of "Hallelujah" is great too!
OMG jason castro was amzinggg
with that song
i only knew it cause it was played on the oc at least once an episode
RIP OC
Rufus Wainwright's version is also awesome.
you know absolutely nothing about music. jeff buckley was a god
tony lucca's is the best
Any song Jeff Buckley sang was amazing, the songs "grace" and "so real" are beyond-haunting. love those too.
okay, enough of my comments.
the k.d. lang version is the best!!!!
I think Rufus Wainwright does the best version…
just because KD lang is gay doesnt mean you have to like her version better you big homo.
jeff buckley rules!!!!
Actually the original Leonard Cohen version is superior.
U2's version is awesome, too!!!!!
Jeff Buckley is a legend. I love him.
Re: Andi Bailey –
I think the poster was responding to someone saying that Jeff died this week. They were not calling Jeff a moron, but referring to the poster.
I don't watch AI anymore, but good for Simon. I always thought he understood music better than Paula & Randy.
Hmm…I wonder if Simon rocks out to Buckley's "Eternal Life".
Jeff Buckley and Chris Cornell were the best singers of our time!
I LOVE JEFF BUCKLEY. It's actually one of the best covers in the world. It gives me shivers the whole time. Love the song.
Jeff Buckley was a real talented musician. So sad when he died so tragically and so young. I'm glad to see people remember him and his music after so long. Thanks Leonard Cohen for writing such a great song.
i like the imogen heap version
very haunting. it played when marissa died on the oc.
Fuck that. Go Leonard Cohen.
COHEN ALL THE WAY.
Jeff Buckley's version can't hold a candle to the original by Leonard Cohen, who wrote it. Rufus Wainwrights version is also just as good as Jeffs, if not better.
Both are good. But I really like the John Cale version.
Micheal McDonald's new release "Soul Speak" also has a version of "Hallelujah" and he did an incredible job….put alot of heart and soul into it. Go check it out on ITunes or whatever…..
Oh my god Perez! You of all people are the last I'd expect to insult true talent! As a native Memphian, I KNOW we have the highest crime rate per capita and we suck in general…but now you're insulting our music??? Jeff Buckley lived across the street from my boyfriend in Midtown Memphis and Midtown is one of the FRIENDLIEST gay friendly cities outside of Nashville in this stupid redneck state! Maybe I'm interpreting your comment wrong but it sounds like you are judging Jeff Buckley before you hear him…I know you're into techno and hip hop and all that but PLEASE just listen to his album "GRACE" once….I promise you as a Memphian…hell! I place a promise on our city…YOU WILL LOVE IT!!! Maybe you'll love it so much that you'll be able to use your mediatorial power to give us a good place in the headlines for once. I hope you read your comments because I'm counting on you!
P.S. I still
LEONARD COHEN….the ORIGINAL….the one who started it all…..the best EVER!
I LOVE all the covers…..it's a beautiful song!
jeff buckley's hallelujah is way better than k.d. lang's…is that a joke?
Went to see an Irish singer Katel Kieneg, who just happened to be opening for an artist named Jeff Buckley years ago at a small club in Manhattan and he BLEW me away…a huge fan since that day. Glad I stayed past the opening act. His album Grace is a masterpiece. Check out his music if you haven't yet…BRILLIANT! I miss the beautiful work he would have created.
Check out new artist HANA PESTLE
Hallelujah will be on her upcoming CD and is amazing!!!
you can hear it on her myspace.
No one will ever compare to Jeff Buckley's astonishing "Halleluja".
Re: Melissa – Jeff Buckley died in May.
Look at the version of Hallelujah by Rufus Wainright. I think its an even better version.
perez you definitely gotta download the rufus wainwright version, it is better than all of them i think! check it out!
ok im commenting again because im a HUGE bon jovi fan and i cant believe i got to give jon credit for it, i absolutely love his voice and it truly is a good version
The rufus wainwright version is the best hands down, sorry folks!
ummm what's with you Perez? how could you compare any version to the jeff buckley version? seriously this coming from the person who thinks 'Girls aloud' and 'the spicegirls' is actual music. stick with what you know best, bitchy gossip (which i love by the way).
love.,
I lost my virginity to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujiah
Why is it hot on itunes?? Because 4months ago in the swedish version of idol, a girl sang it and sweden fell in love with her.
Everyone is playing it here in sweden.
I like "Dream Brother" myself. Actually all of Jeff's music is phenomenal, especially GRACE. Maybe Simon isn't a total cockroach afterall. KD Lang can't hold a candle to his version of "Hallelujah". We get it, P. You're gay.
Gavin DeGraw's version tops all of them
wow. how can you not mention Leonard Cohen? Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, umm…kd Lang? They are good, but ridiculous to mention even in the same sentence as Leonard Cohen, in referring to quality.
Next you should compare Avril Lavigne to Bob Dylan. That would be a new classic.
I can't believe Perez is getting an A&R/label… he has okay taste in music, but finds out about good bands like…2 years late, and doesn't even get around to finding out about half of the good ones. ridiculous.
Nope, the Gavin DeGraw version is the hottest one.
Yeah for Simon for pointing out true talent….Jeff Buckley was an awesome musician who often goes overlooked. I am happy that people are discovering his music. I am sure he would have been proud.
HAHAH I was wondering why that was number 2 on itunes.
Jeff Buckley will always reign as a phenomenal artist. If this opens more people up to his amazing talent, then I guess it's good. I just can't stand Simon.
wow, i thought that was JAMES FRANCO
The Irish are a bunch of fucking no good for nothing drunks.
Simon should so check out KD's
I prefer the rufus wainwright version…
Re: Melissa –
No, actually Jeff Healey died this week idiot
Jeff doesn't look like James Franco
James Franco resembles Jeff
I have always thought that Jeff Buckley was the greatest and most passionate singer that we had been lucky enough to be alive in his heyday!.. The first time I heard his beautiful voice I found myself crying!. . Leonard Coen is an amazing artist as well, I can just really relate to Jeffs version…. The best Jeff Buckley song by far, is : "Satisfied Mind" the accapella version they played at his own funeral…RIP..
Re: Melissa – Jeff Buckley Died in 1997 in Tennessee…He drowed in the Wolff River……you Idiot!
Re: Deryck – youre an idiot deryk..your band sucks too.
If you like the Buckley version you should listen to the Bradi Carlile version. That song and all her others are simply amazing especially if you are a Buckley fan.
Jeff is and always will be a farking legend! I think its awesome that people who may have never heard his version are wanting to, nice to know the next generation are being inspired by such a talented man, even if it is a cover.. when he sings, you stop what you are doing.. and you listen, close your eyes, turn your head and let the chills come over you… he will always be up there for me… along with Kurt C and Lennon… Legends…
There is no way that Jeff Buckley can be topped..
his voice is amazing. his song puts me to tears..
his version is perfect. KD who?? i just listenned to hers just to be fair— nope, doesn't even compare.
Jeff Buckley is amazing.
R.I.P Jeff Buckley. The most brilliant, moving, spirited musician that has ever lived. My heart craves to hear his exquisite voice again. His version of Hallelujah is haunting and an inspiration to all of the muscians who followed to cover the Leonard Cohen classic. This douche with the poo strings for hair on AI butchered this song. He didn't deserve to sing it. And I'm sorry- this is nothing new- didn't like 5 contestants on Canadian Idol cover this song as well?
finally a real musician on here. Check out Grace- jeff Buckley is amazing and heartbreaking
Oh That was SO Real
I like this version but I think people were trying to find Jason Castros version.
bon jovi covered that too. it is an amazing version.
um. what about the leonard cohen version? it is HIS song/poem. I would like to see the american idol do a version of 'everybody knows'. now THAT would be interesting…
You want a haunting Buckley album? Try Sketches disk 1.
No one can beat Jeff Buckley's version. His version is hauntingly beautiful. May Jeff Buckley rest in peace. A truly great artist gone to soon.
The Rufus Wainwright version is also amazing!
Jeff Buckley was one of the most incredible musicians to come out of the 90s. If he hadn't died so young, the whole world would know what an amazing talent he was. He is one of my all time favorites, his music is full of raw emotion and feelings. If you aren't familiar with him, I recommend "Last Goodbye," "Hallelujah," and "Grace."
umm perez, how could you possibly forget the version by the only guy to ever try to rock with julie garland–rufus wainwright…
Jeff Buckley…aaaah. I need to listen to Grace now, but maybe follow that up with some Leonard Cohen. The original is amazing, but Buckley's cover of it is perhaps the greatest cover, ever. Nirvana's " Oh, Me" unplugged gives it a good run for it's money, but not quite.
Rufus Wainwright's version on the Shrek soundtrack. That the best version.
Might I ask why Perez's response to this is: "WTF???? What? Why????"
Something with substance and total talent appears on the charts, and that's his reaction? News flash: Jeff Buckley was before his time and his tragic, untimely death was a devastating event in the music world–and still is.
Dear Perez,
Grasp some musical concept outside of what's hot right NOW and go buy a copy of "Grace."
did anyone actually know that its leonard cohen who wrote it?
love you perez but the Buckley version is THE BEST!!!!!!
Check out Brandi Carlile's live version of "Hallelujah" on youtube–phenomenal.
KD Langs version sucks. People have loved Buckley's version for years, it's not because of Simon, it's b/c Jason did such a great job singing it. Jeff was a man who you can't compare other's to, he took Leonard Cohen's classic and turned it into gold. Nothing can even come close.
I noticed that!!
I like the Rufus Wainwright version myself.
Wow. I love Jeff.
Re: karebear – I agree, despite the fact it was on the soundtracj for Shrek 2 its a beautiful song and Rufus' vcersion ios amazing. However, the best version I EVER heard was by my Friends wifes brother. He is UNBELIEVABLE. He performed it for her at her wedding, amazing really.
JEFF SHOULD NEVER BE MENTION NEXT TO AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!!!!!
YOU STUPID AMERICANS LISTEN TO REAL MUSIC NOT TO KARAOKE IDOL
The Jeff Buckley version moved me to tears the first time I heard it.
This discussion shouldn't even be happening. Jeff's version is obviously superior to any other version (Cohen's comes close) and it wasn't even close to his best song. The fact that Jeff's name was mentioned by Simon on American Idol horrifies and saddens me. Although it's probably the best thing that's ever come out of that talentless crapshow.
best version of this song would be John Cale's. He of the velvet underground.
Re: Melissa – I really hope you're kidding because Jeff died in 1997.
WHat about Ari Hest!???!?!?!? That is where it is at.
jeff buckley was fucking brilliant.
rufus did an incredible cover as well, and as much as i adore him, i very much prefer jeff buckley's version. it's pretty much angelic.
Re: amusely – Jeff Buckley did not die this week you fucking moron. He drowned in the Wolf River in May of 1997. Please don't ever utter the name of Jeff Buckley again.
rufus wainwright's is the best!!!!!!!! duh!!!!!
Rufus Wainwright's version is beautiful, don't you think?
I love KD Lang, but Perez knows nothing to compare her version to Buckley's. Hers is quite forgetable, and his just makes you want to weep. The
Perez doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. Jeff Buckley is fine, and this is a decent cover. His father, Tim, was for a time an excellent songwriter and musician. k.d. lang = starbucks music.
You have terrible taste in music and everything.
Jeff buckley was a genius. :'(
AMEN!!! Leonard Cohen wrote it (bless him), Jeff Buckley bettered it, Brandi Carlile made it hers, but k.d. OWNS it…check her out on YouTube…THAT is ART!!!!!!
i was actually introdouced to this song durring the summer and was surprised to see so many different versions have been done.. one of my favourites was done by Imogean Heap. Altho i agree with simon my absolute favourite was Jeff Buckley
Thank God someone has mentioned Leonard Cohan. He's the artist who wrote this song!
Jeff Buckley's version is the best male version of Hallelujah. Rufus Wainwright doesn't come close and Leonard Cohen, while a great song writer, is not a good singer. The best female version is by Patricia O'Callaghan, a Canadian as well. It's on her Real Emotional Girl cd. It'll make you cry, it's so beautiful. KD Lang doesn't have the voice for this song. O'Callaghan is operatically trained and does amazing things with this song.
Rufus Wainwright's Hallelujah is the best.
um…yeah the rufus wainwright version is by far the most beautiful song ever recorded by a human.
Jeff Buckley is fantastic with this song. It makes me cry everytime I hear it it is so touching. I played it at my wedding reception. So moving.
Jeff Buckley is amazing in general BUT I have to say, the Leonard Cohen version will always be #1, I mean he did write the song…
It kind of annoys me that they didn't know what ACTUALLY GOOD music was until…. 14? years later. Ugh.
actually it was randy who said he liked the buckley version - not simon