Monday, May 26, 2008
Below is Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah". Andrew Sullivan posted a number of different versions of the song on his site last week, and at the end of the week he linked to an essay that discussed the circuitous path this song took before it became embedded in our popular culture. Basically, the Jeff Buckley version below is a cover of a John Cale version of the song that itself was a cover of a Leonard Cohen's rendition of the song at a 1988 concert. Leonard Cohen's original version of the song, done in the 60s, was much different and little noticed. It was Buckley's version that started to achieve popularity and that was the basis for most of the later covers. The song was featured in The O.C. and Scrubs and Shrek, and now is a recognizable pop culture touchstone. The "sad montage" song is what the essay describes it as. Anyway, Memorial Day is as fitting a time for a sad montage as any, so enjoy "Hallelujah".