Halleluujah -

[RGA]

The leader of Canada's official opposition party Jack Layton passed away (Arguably Canada's social conscience party) and Stephen Page of the band "The Barenaked Ladies" was asked to sing "Hallelujah" at his funeral. By no means an easy piece. Stephen did a good job considering he had little time to learn the song and a song he would not have chosen for his vocal range - and he had to look at the sheet music for wording.

Steven Page Jack Layton Funeral : Steven Page sings Hallelujah - YouTube

But there are numerous versions of this song abound and it is interesting that fans call so and so's the best version or the definitive version. Oddly the only definitive version can be the original as sung by Leonard Cohen who wrote the song. Though that doesn't mean the best version.

I like every version but I would hold KD Lang in top spot simply because she has the best vocal talent of the lot - Kurt Nilsen being her equal but he sings it as part of a quartet (this is my second favorite rendition) then Cohen, then I would probably tie the rest with Rufus Wainright last. It seems rushed to me.

So what the hell thought I would put up a poll - favorite version and why.

I chose KD and Kurt Nilson simply because to me it is a vocal heavy song and those two have the best vocals - though Cohen, Buckley and Page give it a lot of "heart."

I just like to see what people look for in a song - looking through the youtube posts you see people saying Buckley is the definitive or Cale, and piles of people who say KD just owns this cover.

Steven's version was linked above - here are the others

KD Lang K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - YouTube

John Cale John Cale - Hallelujah - YouTube

Cohen Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen - YouTube

Buckley Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Original Studio Version) - YouTube

The Quartet version with Kurt Nilsen HALLELUJAH , (shrek song) - YouTube

Rufus Wainright "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright (Irish performance) - YouTube

I must admit that if World Idol is finding people like Kurt Nilsen then I should be watching these shows more. Definitely the real deal on vocals - Kurt Nilsen - "I" Live - YouTube

Note: There are many other versions of this song - Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan. - and numerous others - I basically chose the ones where a youtube version was easily accessible.