Canadian singer songwriter Leonard Cohen has died at age 82. The musician poet wrote many songs made famous by other people, including the reality show staple, “Hallelujah” that was a hit for Jeff Buckley.
Read his obituary at Hollywood Reporter
Leonard Cohen, famed musician, has died, according to his website. He was 82.
“I get tagged as an art-song intellectual,” Leonard Cohen observed during the early ’80s. “But I’ve always tried to have hits.”
Cohen — who died on Thursday — didn’t have any of those. But the poet, songwriter and singer wielded enormous influence as a kind of pop music laureate, writing literate, evocative material that was admired and frequently recorded by others. In some cases they even became hits — “Suzanne” and “Bird On a Wire” for Judy Collins, for instance, or “Hallelujah” for the late Jeff Buckley — and other artists’ regard for Cohen has been chronicled via multiple high-profile tribute albums.
Here’s the reality show performance that
UPDATE: Jason Castro and his siblings Michael and Jackie posted an impromptu performance of Hallelujah
In 2008, American Idol season 7 singer, Jason Castro was the first reality singing show competitor to perform “Hallelujah.” From there it went on to become a staple of American Idol, The Voice and X Factor singers here in the US and across the pond.
American Idol season 9 winner Lee Dewyze sang “Hallelujah” in 2010
And American Idol 15 singer, MacKenzie Bourg sang it on the Farewell Season in 2016
Months after Jason Castro performed it, Simon Cowell nabbed the song for eventual X Factor UK 2008 winner, Alexandra Burke. The song was her coronation single.
Team Christina Aguilera’s Matthew Schuler sang “Hallelujah” when he competed on The Voice 5 in 2013.
The Voice season 8 singer, Team Adam Levine’s Joshua Davis, sang “Hallelujah” in 2015.
https://youtu.be/vIRvsQMg9io
In the fall of 2015, Adam Levine brought the song back once more for The Voice season 9 winner, Jordan Smith. Each time a The Voice contestant sang “Hallelujah” it shot up to No. 1 on the iTunes chart.
https://youtu.be/yorVD7blSY8
On The Voice 3 finale, the judges and finalists sang “Hallelujah” as a tribute to children killed at Newtown.
On the short-lived X Factor USA, Season 2 runner-up, Carly Rose Sonenclar sang it in 2012.
https://youtu.be/LKozX5BoDNs
And Jeff Gutt also sang “Hallelujah” on the final season of X Factor USA in 2013.
Not sung in competition, but The Sing-Off 3 winners, Pentatonix, have just released “Hallelujah” as a lead song from their latest Christmas album.
There are many more versions from singing shows around the world! Too numerous to post here. Cohen had been robbed of the publishing rights to all his music. He’s been quoted on record saying if he could, he’d limit the number of covers. The song is beautiful, but it has been over-exposed.
I’ll leave you with the most well loved cover of all, from Jeff Buckley.
And of course, Leonard Cohen’s version. Rest in Peace, poet.
