Home » Justin Timberlake Hallelujah Performance Gets People Talking

It is all over the Internet. Everyone is looking for Justin Timberlake's cover of Hallelujah that he performed for the Hope for Haiti Telethon.

Here is the video:

Hallelujah was written by singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and was originally released in 1984. The amazing thing about this song is that every time someone performs it, it inevitably has different lyrics.

However, it always has the same effect. The song is powerful no matter the singer. The lyrics are explosive and moving.

I remember the first time I heard the song was actually in church on a Sunday. I went home and searched it along with eventually bought it and downloaded it.

That is the effect of the song. It is actually the most covered song by Cohen and has a list as long as the census of performers who have covered it.

I actually wasn't impressed with Timberlake's cover. To me, it seemed the passion was lacking almost as if he didn't realize or know the meaning behind the lyrics. 

The lyrics in the song is what moves people. Even when the lyrics are different. Here are the lyrics from the 1984 version: http://leonardcohenfiles.com/album8.html#6

My favorite cover is actually by Jeff Buckley. Buckley was among one of the highest sellers of the song. 

For those who do like Timberlake's performance, iTunes are selling the song as part of an album from the telethon. All proceeds are donated to charity.