A huge choir performed Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ to honor his 90th birthday.
Leonard Cohen wrote ‘Hallelujah’ in 1984. Since its release, many artists have covered the song, and it’s been used in lots of movies and TV shows. It became even more popular after Jeff Buckley’s version in 1994, introducing it to new listeners.
Choir! Choir! Choir!, led by Canadians Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, organized this special event. Since 2011, they’ve traveled the world turning regular audiences into impressive choirs. Their approach lets everyone join in, not just trained singers.
For this tribute to Cohen, Goldman and Adilman gathered hundreds of singers of all ages and backgrounds. The mix of people made the performance even richer, showing how Cohen’s music speaks to everyone. As the leaders guided the big group through the song, something magical happened.
The performance started with the well-known opening lines of ‘Hallelujah’:
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
As strangers’ voices blended, you could feel the power of the moment. The haunting melody and Cohen’s poetic words seemed to come alive when sung by such a large, united group. The harmonies added depth to the song, making it even more emotional.
What stood out most was how everyone in the audience became part of the performance. Instead of just listening, each person helped create the music.
The performance reached far beyond those who were there. A video posted on YouTube quickly got over 750,000 views and many excited comments. People around the world wished they could have been there to experience it firsthand.
One viewer on YouTube wrote, “Wow! Just imagine the power they felt all around them while singing.”
Another person wrote, “It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.”
Someone who attended the live event shared, “What a great night that was!! Thank you!”
WATCH: Massive Choir Sings Stunning Rendition of ‘Hallelujah’
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