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The Compass: Soul Music: Hallelujah

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Leonard Cohen - Singer and Musician

14/04/2016 GMT

Hallelujah

Soul Music

BBC World Service - The Compass, Soul Music, Hallelujah

The emotional impact of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah first released in 1984

Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was almost ignored when first released in 1984. Singer Brandi Carlisle, James Talerico and  Jim Kullander explain their deep relationship with the song.

Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' took him years to write. It originally had as many as 80 verses. Recorded for his Various Positions album, it was almost ignored when first released in 1984. Only Bob Dylan saw its true worth and would play it live. John Cale eventually recorded a version which was heard by an obscure musician called Jeff Buckley.
 
The song has been covered by hundreds of artists including Rufus Wainwright, K.D.Lang and Alexandra Burke.
 
We hear from those whose relationship with the song is deep and profound - singer Brandi Carlisle listened to it over and over again as a troubled teenager; it became a sound-track to James Talerico falling in love and Jim Kullander made a connexion with the song after the death of his wife.

(Photo: Singer-musician Leonard Cohen performs at Radio City Music Hall, in New York City, 2013. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

The Compass: Soul Music

A series of programmes about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

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