Sort of a poll, sort of a debate, sort of a multiple choice.
The song is Hallelujah
The singers are:
*Leonard Cohen
Rufus Wainwright
Jeff Buckley*
Which one is YOUR favorite?
I’ve never heard the Cohen version, but my personal favorite is Wainwright, simply because of the imperfection of it. It sounds painful to me, which is ideal for the lyrics. My sister, of course, nearly shot me in the face for not picking Buckley.
So now it’s your turn.
Rufus Wainwright. Outstanding.
Makes me cry nearly every time. But I’m a wussy girl type
Jeff Buckley. No doubts in my mind. The way he makes that guitar sing. Haunting. Beautiful. Magic.
Oh, and Bono did a version too, on Cohen’s Tower of Song CD.
Jeff Buckley. Ethereal, poignant, gorgeous. I have never heard Wainwright’s version. (Or did I? Wasn’t it on the Shrek soundtrack?)
I love Leonard Cohen’s deep, mournful voice, and obviously his songwriting skills are sublime, but Jeff Buckley’s voice matches this song so well.
While I am a huge Buckley fan, I promise not to shoot anyone in the face if they disagree. 
Cohen wrote it. He gets my vote.
And Wainwright changed the lyrics-- points off for that.
I’m with the Wainwright version on this one.
I don’t know which version it is, but I like the one from the Shrek soundtrack the best.
Oh! It appears to be Rufus Wainwright!
WAINWRIGHT TAKES THE LEAD.
YOU HEAR THAT SIS? SUCK IT!
I don’t think so. Cohen wrote a zillion verses for this song; he even uses different words on his own live version compared to the studio original. Wainwright probably just uses a different selection of verses.
I vote for Laughin’ Lenny, too.
OK, the version actually in the movie Shrek is not by Wainwright, unlike the soundtrack. Anyone know who does that one? I think I like that one best.
Not that I don’t absolutely adore Rufus! “Complainte de la Butte” (Moulin Rouge soundtrack) is sublime.
My answer to the question, “If you had to choose one person in all of history to have an affair with, who would it be?” has been and will always be Leonard Cohen, circa 1965. Just so you know how much I love him.
Now with that said, I have to go with Jeff Buckley’s version. No less than a solo voice from the angelic choir.
Rufus Wainwright? Don’t make me giggle.
Yeah, I’m talking about the version that’s in the movie, I just assumed that the soundtrack would have the version in the movie. Well, whoever did it, I really liked it.
but the lyrics of hallelujah don’t call for a perfect angelic choir. It’s a tortured, broken song and should be sung as if the person is just barely holding it together, I think. I enjoy Wainwright because his voice ocassionally sounds strained or cracked with emotion.
The version in the movie is by John Cale.
Ah, true, jarbaby, but Jeff Buckley’s death imparts a certain poignancy to everything he sang, which makes up for his perfect voice in this song.
Thanks Biffy!
Hmm, this is a tough one. I’m not sure I’m actually able to pick one of them as my favorite. The versions differ too much.
I heard his excellency Jeff Buckley’s first - fell in love (that is really not like me, well sometimes a girl gets carried away…).
Then I made the acquaintance of the great lover, Mr Cohen, and my romantic vein was ripped wide open. I dare say I was severely wounded, but in a good way. Oh the hopelessness, the sincerity, the beauty! (What is this? I’m rambling! Well, I guess that’s the impact of it.)
The rendition by John Cale also struck me as powerful (maybe not to the extent of the above though). Funny to hear it made it to the soundtrack of the movie about “the green swamp-goblin”
So, now I think I might have a date with Mr Wainwright soon… (Warning! emotional slush ahead!)
Sigh… I fear there is no remedy for the true heartfelt feeling of that wonderful song.
yup, ion, the version actually in shrek is by the velvet underground’s john cale… but while that version is my second favorite, jeff buckley’s is still my absolute favorite. it just kills me every time…