John Cale - Hallelujah

[gatosandwichera]

Yeah, I think this is the best version, without any doubt. I don't like the original (Leonard Cohen's) at all!!

[glorianocanta]

John Cale, AN ABSOLUT GENIOUS.

[mouniabarakat912]

Violinnn -3

[pheck64]

Woah I knew of the Buckley version and the Cohen original, but I didn't know Cale was the missing link. This is wonderful! Such an incredible musician. And the strings. My God.

[evildevilgirl02]

This is the best version.

[evildevilgirl02]

This is the first song I ever heard that made me cry. Only his version can make me so emotional.

This comment is coming to you from a person who only cries from physical pain.

[DeJacky2k]

eine wundervolle stimme.

[TheCarlosAHA]

hermosa canción!



[lilmissybyebye]

I can't help it. I'm singing along..... ruining the song

[arcravis]

Shrek Bitches!

[boowizard]

definitely the best version of this song!

[estuaardo]

HOOOO!!!



[luisda53]

His voice is so powerful

[marthapanelo]

Omg¡!!!!"!"""!!!!!! I love this song!!!!!!!!!!

[ANXOCUBA]

FOR ME THE BEST IS THE NICK CAVE COVER. obviously, the second is cale and the third is the autor (leonard cohen). But it is not a song, is a mantra. A quiet and pacific mantra in all kind of covers.

[barakobama]

Mr. Cale...Thank you sir!

[JPFields28]

Beautifully done...

[6666hoopick]

Let's face it Cale's strings are sublime, Buckley's voice is dripping with emotion and Cohen has the cool authority but I still think the chipmunks could nail it

[bowery13]

Well Done Mr Cale!!! You look and sound Fantastic!

[syksie333]

the different versions of this song are all fucking brilliant most of the performers do a slightly different version each time is there really any point deciding on a definitive version? NO!!

[081793]

are you people insane? the strings are the best part of this song, absolutely beautiful.

[zany2x]

I just heard this as the credits rolled in "Basquiat." Thanks for sharing it with us here on YouTubeland.

[yrogerg123]

elshaketz, that's not always true. Dylan readily admits that the Hendrix cover is the definitive version of All Along the Watchtower. Sometimes the cover is just objectively better, with a new performer taking it to a level the original artist could not.

[satafama]

love the song!! <3

[quinsmanny]

With all the incredible versions of this, I think this is now in the public domain with fantastic versions done by fantatic artists.

[elshaketz]

a lot of people discussing whos version es the definitive one, i personally think the "definitive one" should be the one of who composed it in the first place, in this case Leonard Cohen.

[MrTweeel]

Cale's version? How 'bout Leonard Cohen's version

[JacobMorrisNinetyTwo]

@MrTweeel They're both good in their own merits. You can't just write off a particular cover because it's not performed by the original artist.

[mancheromanchero]

@MrTweeel L.C.'s version sounds like a biblical porno soundtrack.

[6666hoopick]

@mancheromanchero I agree.. with Pornchus Pilate & Mary Shagdelane

[6666hoopick]

This who's best Cale or Buckley is never ending & tedious now! Sometimes I wish Rolf Harris would do a version to mix it up a bit

[bwidowerob]

@6666hoopick critique your mental acuity...let the musicians play...in the end, nobody really cares what any of us thinks.... certainly not Cohen...who wrote it...!!...play-on garth...;) whatever.............whomever.­..........who cares ?!!!!!!

[danieldrums9]

@6666hoopick leonard cohen's was the best version.....

[steelundergrounder]

@6666hoopick bono done a version :P and he DEFINITELY mixed things up a bit :L personally i think the original is best

[muratovayan]

@6666hoopick Buckley is better!

[tropicocity]

@6666hoopick I think Rufus Wrainwright takes the cake for the best version. Jeff Buckley a close 2nd.

[blulouis1]

@tropicocity Try KD Lang!!!

[webgrecian]

@6666hoopick Love the Cohen original, love the Cale version, love the k.d Lang version, love the Jeff Buckley version, love the Wainwright version - hate the Alexandra Burke version. There are may great and some dreadful versions of this song.

[DoomNyo]

There are moments in this video where you can see pain on his face, as if he is recalling something heart aching during the song, probably what makes it such a great version.

[MisterMorizon]

Rufus has this very pathetical despair thing in it. Which suits him, I love Rufus. Jeff Buckleys version is incredible, his voice is so soft, but it's a song to lock yourself in a small room to. This version goes more for an artsy approach and it was the version to inspire every other version. Therefore I like Buckleys and Cales version equally, that is: incredibly much.

[soupyshorts]

Check out my version of this song, its in the video responses, or type "Matt Radford Hallelujah" in the search window

[multical100]

I think this song speaks to musicians in particular...

[seanofthedead90]

This song is great because each version is very different. Buckley's is a haunting, almost tragic version. Cale's is a lowly-sounding depressed version, Wainwright's is more charged with desperation.

[eliranos100]

i love this song

[59771006]

It's John Cale's verison of this song that you hear in the first Shrek film.

[DancingberryyxD]

HALLELUJAH:3

[harataikiphilosopher]

he certainly has the same nose as cohen! haha, a very good version, my third favourite version after Jeff Buckleys and the Leonard Cohen original (in interchangeable order dependant on mood), it is equal with the Wainwright version.

[tink6114]

For Rich (cavey) with all my love for always our song xxx

[thatisraelikid37]

beautifully haunting

[tomascury1]

BEST VERSION EVER!!!

[arjunholmie]

Cale>Cohen>Kate Voegele> Almost all others > Alexandra Burke. Thumbs up if you agree

[LulaAndLuna]

Most Beautiful ......... :0)

[l3igshea24]

Amazing...

[ZClabatti]

De Goddelijke Dans, met een beetje zout en peper. Zarija Clabatti 

[amesiasc]

Love it, make me smile :)



[BanjomanMike]

I find those horrendous strings unbelievably annoying! Have a listen to John Cale's version with piano only. About a thousand times better than this "cat's being strangled" piece of $#!+ !!!

[eklarabella]

@BanjomanMike Love the orchestration, think it really enhances the song, best version ever!!!

[BanjomanMike]

@eklarabella Fair enough. That is proof that musical taste is very individual. I normally like violins and cello's too.

[OneWayStop]

>> "While Jeff Buckley's version is usually thought of as definitive it, and most others, are derived largely from Cale's version."

Both versions rip me apart. I've been in love many times and have lost so many times.

Cohen 's lyrics and song shoot an arrow into every heartaches I've lived thru ... all within less that five minutes.

[MunChiiesXox]

@OneWayStop you know if you want to reply to someone you press reply.

[04DJones]

Rhys Ifans on Cello...

[threevisionsgodpark]

Beautiful song

[CreepieTheMuppet]

Is this from 'fragments from a rainy season'?

[BJustinT]

Search up Anthony Neely(倪安東) hallelujah, I reckon he did the best cover of the song!!!

[BOKNOWSCOMPUTERS]

thuembs up if scrubs or also shrek made you watch this video

[BattenburgBoy]

I don't like the violins in there =/ Just John and his piano is all I need.

[anitamellingsamsgirl]

I love Jason Manns version of this, if you haven't listened to it you should try it. Absolutely wonderful voice.xxx

[MrMusicboxing]

please kd lang shes ok.. .. she has never written songs as great as john cale songs ex .. i keep a close watch or many others... to many to list.. not to mention i feel his voice is the best for this tune by far ....after all johns a voice of the bbc glenn leslie

voice of the bbc ... glenn leslie

[condreye]

 The string arrangement reminds me of the playing he did in '72 on Nick Drake's second record.l

[buritta89]

whoever did the version first, Jeff Buckley put it on guitar, gotta love him for that! XP

[bellybroom]

i thought bono`s version was the definitive one...... joke!

[rainyseasons22]

Definitely the most beautiful version of the song... John Cale's music is worth getting into. Even if most of it is very different from this piece, it's equally rewarding. You should search for a page called "I bet I can't find 100.000 people who know John Cale!" on Facebook for news and great videos related to John Cale.

[basher1956]

kd Lang's version is surely the best?

[dp38104]

Anyone can do this song as long as they remember not to be bigger than the song itself.

[80093]

:'o

[BOKNOWSCOMPUTERS]

thumbs up if shrek brought u here

[K6A6H6R]

@BOKNOWSCOMPUTERS fuck shrek'

[Lifeismusiconly]

Don't matter who's singing...This song is perfect <3

[dogloversab]

dunno why im crying cuz of this beautiful song thanks 4 the post but i can even eat my delicious sweet potatoe muffin :*****(

[armchairjohnny]

Favorite version of this song, truly masterful. Cohen's original is a close second.

[jvsjingles]

Regardless of who does it better or any of that....this is a friggin fantastic song

[aokateoleary]

Does anyone know where this was filmed?

[deadalive85]

One of the best versions ever. 

[bigwordssmallbrain]

i call this song shrek song or scrubs song

[SuperSoloTV]

the best version

[janeciss]

I love this version!!!

[tommym1966]

I first heard this on I'm your fan. A collection of Cohen covers back around 1990. Great version.

[andtheycameindroves1]

nice, pretty arrangement here ;-) I love the strings & piano ;-) Jeff Buckley's version is the signature, most beautiful, artistic piece but this is just so soft & delicate.

[Matshoppahulle]

@andtheycameindroves1 John Cale made it solo with piano long before Buckleys

version. John Cale made the signature version that is now played by everyone.

Quite different to Cohens original, even Cohen has played Cales version live.

[Matshoppahulle]

If you like the haunting strings: Check out Velvet underground,

Venus in furs, with John Cale on viola.

[mankydave67]

My favourite version. Jeff Buckley just came along and copied Cale's version, IMO.

[franckyjo01]

Belle version.

[SuperSoloTV]

I raped the replay button

[afleausa]

Looks like the bad guy from 5th Element!!!

[israelcont]

ZoRG jajajaaj so true

[TrissyEnchanted]

@afleausa Lol...Jean Baptiste Emanuel ZORG! haha... yea he does

[LockePhilote]

Ive always preferred this arangement to Buckley's. I love Buckley's voice, but this arrangement always sounded better to me for some reason.

[Kat122451]

Cohen wrote it, Cale rearranged it magnificently, Buckley knocks it out of the park, KD Lange gave it a soulful edge, Wainwright made it accessable to everyone and Timberlake used it for a great cause.

HOWEVER, the first 3 artists are responsible for the haunting beauty which is this unbelieveable song. Hats off to Cohen though.

[jamesfreeman96]

colh31 would not know emotion if it kicked him in the face, his comment proves it

[kiwipreacher]

Not bad, but nowhere near as good as Leonard Cohen himself.

[BWMcT]

Dare to remain dry-eyed...

[MrKgather]

great song

[NamidamoTooku]

T^T they don't know how amazing this song is in this century OMG it makes me tremble ...

[luxford60]

While Jeff Buckley's version is usually thought of as definitive it, and most others, are derived largely from Cale's version.

Marvellous song anyway and until a couple of years ago I thought that it cold never be done badly.

[capofcoffy]

@luxford60 well what made you change your mind??cause i still think it cant be done badly.

[canreymaster11]

@capofcoffy oh it could be done badly, but then the rest of the world as a whole would rise up and bury the blasphemous vile misused song and forget it existed, and go back to cale and jeff and the rest of everyone who did it right.

[UniverseIsPacman]

@capofcoffy ALEXANDRA BURKE AND SIMON COWELL! Proved it could be raped for cash profit, and done tremendously badly.

[Elainea1957]

@luxford60 I agree Buckley is great....but Lang also has an exceptional version.

[pamicocci60]

@luxford60 Jeff Buckley's version is considered "definitive" only by Jeff Buckley fans. Nobody does Leonard Cohen like Cohen himself.

[luxford60]

@pamicocci60 I have heard that Leonard Cohen is among those who consider the Buckley version to be the definitive one.

[BlackMonk66]

@luxford60 That doesn't sound like him-he tends to prefer people who sing like Dylan to people who have traditionally "good" voices- but I'm sure he praised Buckley's version. He can be very classy that way.

[painxtreme]

@luxford60  Id beg to differ, I believe Leonard Cohen did, and does the DEFINITIVE version of it.

[emilovesyouxp]

@painxtreme

Compare every single cover of this song to Cohen's (the original) and Cale's (the original cover). They will all sound like Cale's, that's the only reason it is the definitive version. I still love Cohen's of course.

[painxtreme]

@emilovesyouxp I appreciate Cale, because for that recording, he made it his, instead of an emulation of Cohen, but man, Leonard's delivery just puts chills in me, and I like that his voice has just a little of that Tom Waits inflection, delivery and coarseness. Music is beautiful in this way. No one is wrong, like all Art, it is the viewer that defines it for themselves, which is why I said I differ, instead of "you're wrong" cuz it is all subjective, and should be. We are both right. Be Well.

[emilovesyouxp]

@painxtreme

I appreciate both of them. The quality of the music has nothing to do with if it's the definitive version or not. Cale's is ONLY definitive because pretty much everyone emulates Cale. So in that sense, I AM right XD But I will not call you right or wrong if you prefer Leonard's version, I will only say if I agree or disagree. And I disagree, I was always a fan of Jeff's.

[painxtreme]

@emilovesyouxp Quality has EVERYTHING to do with music, but you want to jump up and down and say YAY!!!!

So have it your way, Music can have no quality at all and be "definitive". I really have no interest in going down the rabbit hole of why you like what you do, I was being pleasant. It's called conversation, I know that doesnt happen much here. Never said a word about Buckley, so no idea where that came from. So enjoy what you enjoy, and this is where we stop talking bout it, cool?

[emilovesyouxp]

@painxtreme

I said in the first post that it was only definitive because so many people cover it. That apparently is not going through your skull, so yeah, we should stop talking about this. And I only brought Jeff Buckley into this because he did my favorite version.

[painxtreme]

@emilovesyouxp You mean emulate Cale, I assume, since it would be covering Cohen. Not a great thing to say for the cover-ers . My opinion stays, outside of Classical and Standards, which Cohen's version approaches, an Artist should take risks in covers, making it their own construction, otherwise is has 'Holiday Inn Lounge Syndrome" I think Standards should remain true, otherwise, play with the canvas. Sometimes the cover is best known due to a more charismatic performer. No one formula.

[emilovesyouxp]

@painxtreme

Yes, I did mean emulate, thank you for correcting me. And I agree that people should take risks while performing covers, as I usually can't sit through an entire cover. But I thought we were done here.

[painxtreme]

@emilovesyouxp I wanted to be sure that in my long windedness, I didn't overlook anything, and to wrap up any loose ends. Ultimately, we agree on principle, but have different favorites. The reason I had wanted to stop was because I can get passionate in debate, but in the long run, it wears on my soul to argue too much.

[bigedf]

@luxford60 What changed your mind?

[BOKNOWSCOMPUTERS]

@luxford60 lol who the fuck is jeff buckley what a joke

[Imbubbaboyd67]

Nice version but I prefer K.D.Lang's

[auxemoron87]

my favorite version of this classic. jeff did it good, and lenord wrote it, but Cale gave it such depths. "Love is not a victors march, its a cold and its a broken, hallelujah"  that hits me the hardest, notyong is perfect, its being content and sighing "shit", followed by a ciggy. Love this.

[batman2909]

I thought it was written by Simon Cowell? Howdoitrollface?

[emifaltaderespeto]

i love his voice ... is very powerfull ... !! john is amaizing :)

[guitarsrock1987]

that is the most kick ass hair cut i've ever seen :D

[wilwest11]

Man, John Cale arrangement on this song is Outstanding, vocals, strings, piano, Unbelievable Thank you John Cale

[NiktonK]

I don't see the hair ~ I can't pay attention to insignificant things when listening to a brilliant song played by a great musician with such a gorgeous voice!

[JustJust87]

The only bad about this video is all the dislikes and his haircut.

[Flamehopper]

This is one of my favorite songs! If you haven't seen the cover of Hallelujah by Casey Pitel, go watch it now! Its fantastic!

[fek2000]

As of March 18, 2011 there are 260 idiots among us. I kid you not.

[JACCO20082012]

His hair could be an act of its own, i think. I sure as hell couldnt pay attention to the song.

[bigedf]

@JACCO20082012 Have you ever seen Cab Calloway? Man, I couldn't tell who was the star, him or his hair.

[cabbitsd]

@SebTheOtaku I worded the comment the way I did for the benefit of anyone reading my original comment who may not know that it is in fact John Cale.

[cabbitsd]

@SebTheOtaku I mean no disrespect... but is that a serious question? I believe the answer is kind of self evident... I mean John Cale, in this vid, is in fact the dude at the piano.

[cabbitsd]

@SebTheOtaku I gathered as much from the video title.

[TheShiism]

wat the hell is this

[animalzarg]

sweet lord there are many morons at loose in this shitty world. mr cohen wrote the song,he undoubtedly clever bastard,this version superb,mr cale another clever bastard but all others,including the lame ass mr buckley can feck rite orf

[chrispycritter2]

Obviously there is 259 tone deaf, music challenged morons who have paid a visit to this page. Most of the idiots who hate this version do not even know who Leonard Cohen is. As the years go on the true artists of music are no more!

[cabbitsd]

@chrispycritter2 I disagree very strongly. Music, art, and all its kin are alive and well. Like all worthwhile things, it just takes some digging to find.

[berkheim666]

I was one of those who disliked this, just saying.

Kurt Nilsen (cover of this song) have a much stronger voice than him, this movie is just fascinating. don't get mean a think about giving a arguing answear back, i'm just saying what i mean.. -.-

I you haven't heard about kurt nilsen before, search "HALLELUJAH ( shrek song ) " on youtube.. you'll not get disapointed, i swear.

[misterzeerow]

@berkheim666 you're an idiot. kurt nielsen is a poser who sings this in an emotionless fashion

john cale was the first one to come up with such musical arrangement of this song. it inspired jeff buckley to make his version.

wether its john cale, jeff buckley or even damien rice more recently their version of the song all surpass the sheer performance quality of kurt nielsen.

if you refer this song as "the shrek song" your dislikes and your opinion do not matter.

[berkheim666]

@misterzeerow omfg i'd just said that???!? -.-

I haven't said that Kurt is the one who made this first..?! Like i said "I'm just saying what i mean****"

I saying what i mean, right? and i didn't say that john cale or whatever you're saying, sucks.. They are the ones who MADE the songs, and i SAID Kurt having a better COVER/VOICE(Stronger, much better) than him, of this song u fcking ignoring twat. They are legends, YES. But kurt have alot more better cover of this song.. DONE. FCK OFF.

[misterzeerow]

@berkheim666 hahah calm down bitch boy, you're not making any sense no more.

i got what you were saying in the first place. and i still maintain that you're wrong by being plainly tasteless and ignorant. but hey that's your given right.

jeff buckley has the best cover of this song period.

[berkheim666]

@misterzeerow

lets all litchen to the smart perferct boy, yeah. U're just a random youtube twat, arguing others for nothing stfu n go fck yourself kid.

[misterzeerow]

@berkheim666 haha you express yourself like an inbred person.

[berkheim666]

@misterzeerow :)

[cabbitsd]

@jokrol324 I quite agree. Portions of this performance are particularily great... Case and point: 1:37 starts off REALLY well, but finishes quite weakly. I blame lack of diaphram control do to sitting for that.

(Further evidence of the diaphram control issue can be found all over the piece, but particularily in the unnecessary stagger breath in the Halleileiuja at 3:16, and could be fixed by standing while singing with a pianist backing him up.)

[PolarisNocturnal]

Just a question, what is this song about?

[jsnell126]

nobody can touch jeff buckley's version. nobody. ever.

[behmoth1966]

@jsnell126 Jeff Buckley's version was a copy of john cale's arrangement of this song listen to the original L Cohen's version and look what Cale did to it. you think Buckley has even an ounce of Cales talent? if you do then your delusional

[CattyCatRanch]

@jsnell126,

At one time, I agreed with you. Then . . . I heard kd lang sing it. First on youtube (many versions), then live, in concert. She leaves everyone - even Jeff - in the dust. Sorry!

[DomCrathern]

@cabbitsd Zero stones - zero crates!

[zoedaria]

Are you on drugs or what????????? just goes to show that the world is full of tossers and wankers

[1bargearse]

@cabbitsd BS Thats John Cale you Ingrate

[cabbitsd]

@1bargearse I'm not saying he sings badly, I'm just saying he VERY much resembles Gary Oldman in his "Mr. Zorg" period. I mean nothing offensive by that.

Also, for the record, I love this song, and I like this rendition of it.

[aner187]

very beautiful

[amvscorer]

@cabbitsd I know. I expected him to talk in his accent before he started singing.