Best Versions of "Hallelujah"

Hajj "Hallelujah" is one of the most famous and most covered songs. Which one is your favorite?

The Top Ten

1 Peter Hollens

Jackie Evancho and Peter Hollens is the best duet of "Hallelujah" ever.

Peter and Jackie meld well together in this beautiful song.

Jackie Evancho and Peter Hollens recently reprised this live on stage in Portland OR. Fantastic performance! - BobG

Good version!

V 14 Comments
2 Jeff Buckley

I would for sure rate the Leonard Cohen and KD Lang versions above this one.

I shed my tears listening to this. Lol no, but seriously everyone think this is his song. Same thing happened with hurt 'by' johnny cash

Jeff brings the emotional quality into this song, that others fail to do. You feel this song, when he sings it.

Would rather hear this from his father [Tim Buckley], who was actually much better.

V 7 Comments
3 Leonard Cohen

Absolutely nobody can top the guy who actually composed the song, and lived the events that inspired it.

Over 480 different cover versions of this, topped only by "Yesterday" and a couple of Christmas carols. Leonard Cohen makes everybody else sound like an amateur.

Leonard's is the original against all other versions must be judged. It spoke to me immediately.

Of Course, Jeff John And Rufus's Versions Are Also Good, But Leonard Does It The Best! - Bndspitw

V 5 Comments
4 Rufus Wainwright

The BEST version ever!

5 KD Lang

The only person other than Cohen who really emotionally knows what this song is. Is it a coincidence that they are both Canadian?

When asked to sing this at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver with Lang, Cohen deferred saying something along the lines of "You have KD. What do you need me for? "

Her version at the 2010 Olympics tops them all!

Deep and rich

V 2 Comments
6 John Cale John Davies Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground.

Simply the best version.

Amazing. Should be #1.

7 Willie Nelson
8 Bon Jovi

How is this different from the Jon Bon Jovi version

9 Allison Crowe

Communicating emotion without sentimentality is an unique gift and talent of Allison Crowe. She's able to perform Leonard Cohen's song in her unique way which reaches so many people who desire such authenticity.

10 Pentatonix Pentatonix Pentatonix is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, consisting of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee.

I love this band and their songs are amazing especially Say Something and Hallelujah. Another favorite is Imagine. They truly are amazing and the song is just so precious. I hope they have fun on their tour I (i've said it a lot, I know) Love them so MUCH! they make me cry sometimes

When you listen with headphones the beautiful harmony is even richer!

This may be the best version of this song ever

Every single song by Pentatonix is AMAZING!

V 1 Comment

The Contenders

11 Bob Dylan
12 Susan Boyle

Gorgeous, sublimely nuanced performance

13 Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake is an American singer-songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. Born and raised in Tennessee, he appeared on the television shows Star Search and The All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child.
14 Regina Spektor Regina Spektor
15 Norah Jones Norah Jones Norah Jones is an American singer, songwriter, pianist & actress. She won several awards and sold more than 45 million records worldwide. Billboard named her as the top jazz artist of the 2000–2009 years.
16 Neil Diamond Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career that began in the 1960s.
17 Jon Bon Jovi

This must be by the tribute band, since the great version actually by Bon Jovi is already listed.

Bizarre that this on here twice.

So good that its listed twice.

18 Celine Dion and The Canadian Tenors
19 TakeNote

This is the Clemson TakeNote a cappella singers. From their 2007 album "Now That We Have Your Attention".

Available on iTunes:

BOCA 2006: Best of College a Cappella, Track 12.

This is the Clemson TakeNote a cappella singers. From their 2007 album "Now That We Have Your Attention".

20 Il Divo

Even without "understanding" the non-English lyrics, I was crying before the end of the first verse. Their rich voices and phenomenal balance of volume is non-equaled.

21 Chester Bennington

This has got to be one of the most emotional covers for this song. Chester sang this at Chris Cornell’s funeral, and you can tell he was hurt. Chris wasn’t just some celebrity to him. He was pretty much family. - 3DG20

22 Theory of a Deadman Theory of a Deadman Theory of a Deadman is a Canadian post-grunge band. Formed in 2001, the band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as 604 Records. They were discovered by Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger.

More people should hear this version!

23 Paramore Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro.
24 Roy and Rosemary
25 Jeff Gutt
26 Crystal Bowersox
27 Kate Voegele
28 Andre Rieu
29 Lee DeWyze
30 Tori Kelly
31 Myles Kennedy

The best singer ever, very good version

32 Bono
33 LeAnn Rimes LeAnn Rimes Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian, known professionally as LeAnn Rimes, is an American country and pop singer.
34 Savannah Outen
35 Jotta A.
36 Panic! At The Disco Panic! At The Disco Panic! at the Disco is an American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 and featuring the current lineup of vocalist Brendon Urie, accompanied on tour by bassist Dallon Weekes, guitarist Kenneth Harris, and drummer Dan Pawlovich.
37 Amaury Vassili
38 Matthew Schuler
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