Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)
"Hallelujah" is a song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album Various Positions (1984). Achieving little initial success, the song found greater popular acclaim through a new version recorded by John Cale in 1991. Cale's version inspired a 1994 recording by Jeff Buckley that in 2004 was ranked number 259 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
| "Hallelujah" | |
|---|---|
Artwork for 1984 Dutch single | |
| Single by Leonard Cohen | |
| from the album Various Positions | |
| Released | December 1984 |
| Recorded | June 1984 |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Length | 4:39 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Leonard Cohen |
| Producer(s) | John Lissauer |
The song achieved widespread popularity after Cale's version of it was featured in the 2001 film Shrek. Many other arrangements have been performed in recordings and in concert, with more than 300 versions known as of 2008. The song has been used in film and television soundtracks and televised talent contests. "Hallelujah" experienced renewed interest following Cohen's death in November 2016 and re-appeared on international singles charts, including entering the American Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.