met this guy at byron writer's fest a few years back during a high school excursion. lovely guy, real intelligent academic as well and very down to earth. underrated voice.
The first time I saw this guy, he was singing this song on Idol. We didn't even watch the show normally, but were channel hopping. I was mesmerised by him and thought he was very sexy in that cute Irish way. My sister had the same reaction. We watched the show from then on as we were so keen for him to win.
I've never forgotten the shocked hurt look on his face at his first audition when Mark Holden told him he was 'butt ugly'. What a pig that man was! Not everyone likes a bland Ken doll in a white suit throwing red carnations around like Holden did during his brief singing career.
i've heard all of the versions discussed here and hands down, no question,the best or shall i say most moving for me was Allison Crowe's live. but so so many of these are wonderful
I've heard you sing this in concert Damien and your voice live is brilliant, much better than anyone else I have ever heard. You make all the other people who have sung this song sound very ordinary.
One of the beautiful aspects of this song is that it is so flexible. The performers interpretation can turn it into an entirely different statement. Like many of Cohen's songs it's going to be around for a long time.
Thank God that Damien has won Australian Idol. He is such a nice singer and his voice is beautiful. Can't wait for his new Album. Hopefully it is out in August 09.
A unique interpretation of the genius behind the song: Leonard Cohen. I enjoy, just about, everyone or anyone who attempts to give the lyrics and melody true justice. It is a most difficult piece of work to play and sing, given the meanings of the poem.
What a legend!! I didn't even know there was an Australian Idol. He was on RTE 2 FM..I think..(Irish radio station) yesterday, chatting away. He's some dote.
Outstanding. The amount of feeling, when combined with such an amazing talent... While I've heard quite a few good ones, I think it suffices to say I'm more impressed with his version of this my favourite song, than I am with any of the countless other versions I've heard, - except for, perhaps, Jeff Buckley's.
Yeah, Damien came out, and did his thing. Plus it's different here on youtube. I can't even imagine what it was like in person but just ona big tv in in the luge I got shivers and thought he was amazing. Most of the time all the versions of Hallelujah I hear sound the same. But I liked this one a lot.
@Scroozin Totally agree, except I would definitely insert Rufus Wainwright between Buckley and Lang. He is the first one who made me cry singing this song with just his piano accompaniment (see list to the right, Irish performance.) I can't seem to chose between Rufus and K.D. So I guess I get two for the price of one! And your line, "Mere mortals cannot do it justice..." is spot on.
@gerrygke Great performance I agree. The only criticism is that he sang "the major myth instead of 'major fifth' ". It's understandable to forget a word or two in such competition.
Haha - I kinda agreed with you on that. On another note, I still like Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah. So far, NOONE had been able to surpass his version - not even Damien's version (nowhere near in fact)
@finecreature Pretty sure the lyric is 'Major Lift' And that's exactly what he says, 'Well it goes like this, the Fourth The FIFTH, The Minor FALL, and the Major LIFT. He did it perfectly, you have really bad hearing..
lmao teste popping .. anyways i just wanna say i think this song is one of those songs that are perfect in there imperfection.. there is no "right"way to sing it everyone interprets it differently and delivers it differently,the song means different things to different people
Not bad.... i was surprised - and here i was logging in to tear apart when i recognized that it was an idol stage. just goes to show - the irish are the best musicians on earth ;-p
Of course Jeff's version is the definative- but it goes on, and on, and on lol. Damien also has a natural falsetto so it suits him perfectly, he isn't copying.
While hearing a song, i appreciate beeing surprised and moved... That isn't the case here, even if he's vocally gifted. Better listen to Dylan's version, the best ever done in my opinion...
tried to make it his own and didnt pull it off. In saying that, he did deserve to win idol and he's done brilliant stuff since. Though Kurt Nilson and company do do this song amazing justice
I'm sorry but when Jason was singing this, he wasn't just singing, he was feeling it. The start kinda delineated from Buckley's only because I think Damien couldn't follow through.
@limeyygirll This is what Hallelujah is like. It was meant to be slow when it was written, cause it's an emotional song. The guy who wrote Hallelujah sings it much worse than Damien did, in my opinion.
never liked x factor hope i never will but he has a f inf amazing voice i love all his songs dont know why i guess cause his fng class wked game is unreal
met this guy at byron writer's fest a few years back during a high school excursion. lovely guy, real intelligent academic as well and very down to earth. underrated voice.
Unbelievable that last note touched my soul
The first time I saw this guy, he was singing this song on Idol. We didn't even watch the show normally, but were channel hopping. I was mesmerised by him and thought he was very sexy in that cute Irish way. My sister had the same reaction. We watched the show from then on as we were so keen for him to win.
I've never forgotten the shocked hurt look on his face at his first audition when Mark Holden told him he was 'butt ugly'. What a pig that man was! Not everyone likes a bland Ken doll in a white suit throwing red carnations around like Holden did during his brief singing career.
Kerensa Birch this is so funny because that’s my second cousin my mums cousin 😂😂I only found out he was famous 😃
Cian Fox he’s my uncle 😂 sooo yeah!
damien is one of the greatest singers i have ever heard
This is exquisite!! Nice to see its back up for the world to see - at least for now.
He has a really great voice :) God bless.
Great voice, such texture and emotion.
what a beautiful song and a great inspiring singer. He has really touched my heart with his heart rendering version
Awesome Bard!!!! Wow!!! Love his rendition of this song!!!!
Why are there so many dislikes?! His voice is like flowing silk in an ocean of goodness!
Probably because they didn't like it🧐
i've heard all of the versions discussed here and hands down, no question,the best or shall i say most moving for me was Allison Crowe's live. but so so many of these are wonderful
I've heard you sing this in concert Damien and your voice live is brilliant, much better than anyone else I have ever heard. You make all the other people who have sung this song sound very ordinary.
One of the beautiful aspects of this song is that it is so flexible. The performers interpretation can turn it into an entirely different statement.
Like many of Cohen's songs it's going to be around for a long time.
I reckon this guy's voice perfectly suits this song; gentle yet magnificenylt powerful. And it even surpases Buckley and Cohen.
Thank God that Damien has won Australian Idol.
He is such a nice singer and his voice is beautiful.
Can't wait for his new Album. Hopefully it is out in
August 09.
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
Very well sang Damien, nice voice !! Greaaat !
A unique interpretation of the genius behind the song: Leonard Cohen. I enjoy, just about, everyone or anyone who attempts to give the lyrics and melody true justice. It is a most difficult piece of work to play and sing, given the meanings of the poem.
love life dreams happiness everything word that says something good comes up in you with this song and his voice
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
His voice is so beautiful, I love him.
I like it by everyone , Jeff , Rufus, Kd, Leonard, Bon Jovi, Justin, Jason Castro......it's just a heartfelt song...........great post !
He really is amazing.
wow just as good as crying, i had tears in my eyes he was so good nd i went 4 dean
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
What a legend!! I didn't even know there was an Australian Idol. He was on RTE 2 FM..I think..(Irish radio station) yesterday, chatting away. He's some dote.
well i like it - it gives me shivvers every time i watch it. he really does have quite a voice.
Wow what a voice.My hubby and i just went to Damien's concert in Melbourne and i got his new book and a pic with him so love his voice :-)
still gives me goosebumps
You should listen to his song tonight. Brilliant. He's got this in the bag.. Its incredible expect a touchdown.
Voice of a Irish angel 😇❤
WOW incredible. What a honey.
Outstanding. The amount of feeling, when combined with such an amazing talent... While I've heard quite a few good ones, I think it suffices to say I'm more impressed with his version of this my favourite song, than I am with any of the countless other versions I've heard, - except for, perhaps, Jeff Buckley's.
love this song
an awesome rendition...worth revisiting :)
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
Absolutely brilliant.
this is wonderful, melodic and soothing especially suited to his accent so everybody just shut up with the negative comments
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
Realy enjoyed your show at Moloolabah Yaght club last night, Damien!
Thanks for sighning my poster and DVD, bro.
I saw his concert last night
he is coming to WA!!! i was gonna go but i'm going away when he comes- to all those damien leith fans- get there now!!!!! :) just a heads up
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
Very nice, the end was absolutely great. :D
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
sensational - i'll buy all his albums!
Loved it
awesome voice Damien leith
He has a realy nice voice!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, Damien came out, and did his thing. Plus it's different here on youtube. I can't even imagine what it was like in person but just ona big tv in in the luge I got shivers and thought he was amazing. Most of the time all the versions of Hallelujah I hear sound the same. But I liked this one a lot.
@Scroozin Totally agree, except I would definitely insert Rufus Wainwright between Buckley and Lang. He is the first one who made me cry singing this song with just his piano accompaniment (see list to the right, Irish performance.) I can't seem to chose between Rufus and K.D. So I guess I get two for the price of one! And your line, "Mere mortals cannot do it justice..." is spot on.
how many people try and copy this song, at least he made it his own, i say well done great job
man can this guy sing or what?
blows me away every time
@barclay212 I've heard him sing it at his concerts and he sings it better than anyone else I have ever heard sing it, his voice live is amazing.
He´s so cool
I like this guy... he adds like a yodleing sorta style to it. Its different from other singers.
Brilliant
I am just mesmorissed by Damiens Voice, Just listened to 4 other artists singing this song, not a patch on him!
@gerrygke The lyric is 'Major Lift' And that's exactly what he sings. That's also the original lyric.
Fantastic.
@gerrygke Great performance I agree. The only criticism is that he sang "the major myth instead of 'major fifth' ". It's understandable to forget a word or two in such competition.
this song is perfect
sooo fkn good :D
brilliant!
I think Jason Castro just out did your performance on Idol mate. Should listen to it. It was awesome.
listen to the Canadian Tenors and K.D.Lang sing Hallelujah .Great too!
Haha - I kinda agreed with you on that. On another note, I still like Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah. So far, NOONE had been able to surpass his version - not even Damien's version (nowhere near in fact)
Also worth a mention is Allison Crowe's live performance. Breathtaking!
@finecreature Pretty sure the lyric is 'Major Lift' And that's exactly what he says, 'Well it goes like this, the Fourth The FIFTH, The Minor FALL, and the Major LIFT. He did it perfectly, you have really bad hearing..
lmao teste popping .. anyways i just wanna say i think this song is one of those songs that are perfect in there imperfection.. there is no "right"way to sing it everyone interprets it differently and delivers it differently,the song means different things to different people
Love the falsetto :)
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
thumb up if you still watchin it in May 2012
Fabulous
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
Super!
I love the version which Alex Lloyd did - also Australian, but so much better :) This is just painful.
Not bad.... i was surprised - and here i was logging in to tear apart when i recognized that it was an idol stage. just goes to show - the irish are the best musicians on earth ;-p
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
OK, except for that last note. YIKES!
I dont know why the judges keep saying that Dean is so good. Damien and Jess blow him out of the water my a mile. Damien to win
My favorite part is the Slim Whitman falsetto at the end.
Still watching in 2013!
tough song. good rendition of it. impressive. and he did ben so i like him :)
Bardzo mi się podoba
Look for:
Hallelujah-Leonard Cohen- Milena Walosik.
antyo: Well, you obviously haven't heard K.D. Lang sing this song!
She's fantastic...the best! Chokes you up!
watchin this in 2011 ! haha
Of course Jeff's version is the definative- but it goes on, and on, and on lol. Damien also has a natural falsetto so it suits him perfectly, he isn't copying.
While hearing a song, i appreciate beeing surprised and moved... That isn't the case here, even if he's vocally gifted. Better listen to Dylan's version, the best ever done in my opinion...
i was never a big fan of this guy until i heard this :)
r dey gonna doo a idol dis yr
I think Damo does this song justice!
ive allways wanted to hear this song with Neil Diamond...ok, this wasnt the place to write this comment....
tried to make it his own and didnt pull it off.
In saying that, he did deserve to win idol and he's done brilliant stuff since.
Though Kurt Nilson and company do do this song amazing justice
Dude he is soo fuckin good
Thank god he won idol!
see what he's doing now, full orchestra at the Qpac, gonna be amazing!
I'm sorry but when Jason was singing this, he wasn't just singing, he was feeling it. The start kinda delineated from Buckley's only because I think Damien couldn't follow through.
Well it doesn't change the fact that I still enjoy listening to him, " tone deaf" or not.
Jeff Buckley...
he was on australian idol :)
@limeyygirll This is what Hallelujah is like. It was meant to be slow when it was written, cause it's an emotional song. The guy who wrote Hallelujah sings it much worse than Damien did, in my opinion.
never liked x factor hope i never will but he has a f inf amazing voice i love all his songs dont know why i guess cause his fng class wked game is unreal
australian idol, his from ireland
Still watching in 2012. LOL
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!
ok you just have to be in a certain mood to appreciate it
@Hvalborg1 This is possibly the best cover since Buckley... I'm guessing you're a fan of KD Lang and Bon Jovi's versions...
everyboby, check out "Amanda Jenssen Hallelujha IDOL 2007" she's awesome!
Thank you very what???
he has got a killer falsetto
this is damien's style of singing as far as i know. im just checking that he was gd at pop, cos i thought he shud stick to this than do opera
listen this:
''Elisa - Hallelujah - Joe's Pub''
still watching in 2013
Should check out Damiens new show at the Qpac on the 8th of December, full orchestra with him. Gonna be amazing, can’t wait!