Fact: The only people in the world that haven’t heard a version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” are living in uncharted territories of New Guinea. Not only is the tune permanently welded to the canon of the greatest songs of all time, but it’s also the most inescapable cover song in recent memory. But you know that of course ‘cause you’re presumably reading this on the internet.
In an interview with Canwest News, Leonard Cohen says he is very happy that the song hit number one and number two in the UK last year (especially because the original album it was on was rejected by Sony in the 80s), but between American Idol, Shrek and all the other programs blasting prominent “Hallelujah” covers, it’s getting a little old. “I was happy about it but it’s I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it and the reviewer said – ‘Can we please have a moratorium on Hallelujah in movies and television shows?’” Cohen said. “And I kind of feel the same way.”
We concur. From now on the only people allowed to sing “Hallelujah” are Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen. And since Buckley’s no longer with us, it’s all yours again, Cohen.