Rice Delivers A Memorable “Hallelujah” As Fitting Tribute To Cohen, Buckley

One of my favorite songs of all time is “Hallelujah,” the haunting piece written by Leonard Cohen and vaulted into renown thanks to the version performed by the late Jeff Buckley. With a voice alternately described in various quarters as “ethereal,” “striking,” “multi-octave” and the “greatest of all time,” Buckley owns the unquestioned, defining performance of the song, a brilliant interpretation that seems tailor-made for Buckley’s wide-ranging, unique chords.

Since Buckley’s death in 1997, there have been a host of artists who have attempted covers of Cohen’s original song. Until Irish singer Damien Rice took the stage at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on March 10, they had all fallen far short of Buckley’s efforts. As a tribute to Cohen’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rice put forth perhaps the most worthy version of Buckley’s interpretation of Cohen’s song. Known for beautiful, haunting songs such as “Delicate,” “Blower’s Daughter,” “Cold Water” and “9 Crimes,” Rice told the audience that if he were to “float off on a balloon” and could bring only one artist’s music, it would be Cohen’s. Rice’s emotional, moving rendition of “Hallelujah” certainly reveals his true respect and admiration of Cohen … and at the same time, Buckley.

For context, there’s a link to the definitive Buckley performance of the song here, a link to other renditions of the song here and a video of a different version sung live by Buckley: