Hallelujah (song) facts for kids
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Hallelujah is a very famous song by the Canadian singer and guitarist Leonard Cohen. It mixes folk and rock music styles. The song was first released in 1984 on his album called Various Positions.
After it became super popular from being in the movie Shrek (which came out in 2001), many different artists have recorded their own versions. Some of these artists include Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Allison Crowe, and k.d. lang.
The Story Behind the Song
The song "Hallelujah" uses ideas from old stories. For example, it talks about David, a king who played music that pleased the Lord. It also mentions Bathsheba, who was seen bathing on a roof. These parts of the song add to its deep meaning.
When Leonard Cohen passed away in November 2016, "Hallelujah" became even more popular. It appeared on many music charts around the world. For the first time, it even entered the American Billboard Hot 100 chart, which lists the most popular songs.
Leonard Cohen worked very hard on "Hallelujah." He wrote about 80 different versions of the song! He even once sat on the floor in his underwear, hitting his head, trying to get the words just right. This shows how much effort he put into creating this special song.
Different Versions
Many singers who cover "Hallelujah" mix lyrics from different versions that Leonard Cohen wrote. Sometimes, they even change the words themselves. For example, Cohen's original song has the words "holy dove." But the Canadian-American singer Rufus Wainwright changed it to "holy dark." Another Canadian singer, Allison Crowe, sang "holy ghost" instead. These changes make each artist's version unique.
Song's Success
"Hallelujah" has been very successful on music charts around the world. After Leonard Cohen's death, the song reached high positions in many countries. For example, it was number one in France and reached high spots in Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. This shows how much people love and connect with the song.
