The 25 Most Exquisitely Sad Songs in the Whole World: No. 7
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (122)
'Hallelujah'Jeff Buckley (1994)
The Breakdown: Leonard Cohen's existential hymn addressing an old fling becomes a heavenly, if unanswered, prayer in the hands of the ill-fated Buckley.
The Waterworks: "Love is not a victory march/It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah."
Casualty Count: One crisis of faith.
Listen to 'Hallelujah'
Buy it on iTunes
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Reader Comments(1 of 7)
KJSat 8-18-2009
I'm afraid that I have to go along with the fact that Rufus does the song the best. Great song--staggering lyrics.
gabeat 8-22-2009
it doesnt matter that jeff Buckley covered it. it should be listed under Leonard Cohen. he wrote the song, and personally i think his version is better. his voice is so low. its amazing.
JoAnnat 9-22-2009
Leonard Cohen and I go back many years, and I love his stuff with all my heart, but if you want your guts torn out, listen to kd lang. This song was never done better than by her. As far as that goes, she sings "Crying" with and without Roy Orbison better than anyone alive, or Roy.....
Lizat 10-08-2009
YES!!
Love the jeff buckley version!
but Imogen Heap's version is definitley the saddest!
Completely acapella, and that girl's voice is so haunting it just sends chills down your spine!
Julietteat 10-25-2009
I'm singing this song in choir and I got a solo! Yay!
This song is amazing but I like the Rufus Wainwright's version a bit better.
It is a sad song :(
thekeepersat 11-06-2009
can't we all just agree that we all like different versions and it doesn't matter who sings it the best, because in the end all that matters is the words of the songs. if not for the words, then why would there be so many versions? the words are what matters most. lets just agree on that
mistiat 5-05-2007
absolutely my favorite song-i love this...
sandyat 5-05-2007
i chopped my dreadlocks off to this song...
sunshineat 10-15-2009
lol wow that deep
charlesat 5-05-2007
this is sad. it is on the o.c. like 5 times.
SCat 5-05-2007
Absolutely an excellent choice, but again, I'd have to put another Buckley song ahead of this one. To me, "Last Goodbye" gets me every time. Feeling the sadness when you're just not with the person you thought... "why can't we overcome this wall/Well, maybe it's just because I didn't know you at all"
Angelat 5-05-2007
Reminds me of Shrek...Great song.
Donnaat 5-05-2007
Sad yes, but the most beautiful song in the world. Jeff Buckley's version is better than anyone's!
Jasonat 5-05-2007
I love this song in Shrek. It's one of the best, saddest songs ever.
Joshat 5-05-2007
Rufus Wainrights versionis better and anyone who thinks diffrently should kill themselves.
Clinton in 2008!!!!
joyat 5-05-2007
leonard knows the words to open your soul and show you where it hurts, still...
joshat 5-08-2007
i think of shreck then scrubs then my ipod then the version from shreck and on scrubs album but i like this version 2
joyat 5-05-2007
only leonard knows how to open your soul and show you where it hurts, still...
Redneck Womanat 5-05-2007
I only ever heard it in Shrek, but I like it.
sandyat 5-05-2007
OK kids, Rufus, KD lang, and this guy Jeff Buckley do a good job,but the guy who wrote this song, The Master Himself old Leonard Cohen does it best! His voice is so rough and raspy, he almost sounds like he's been gargling with Draino. His 2 disc set of his greatest hits will knock your socks off.