The world lost a true musical poet when Leonard Cohen passed away at the age of 82. Known for his deep voice, raw emotion, and soul-searching lyrics, Cohen left behind a legacy of songs that will be cherished for generations. From “Suzanne” to “Dance Me to the End of Love”, his music touched on love, loss, faith, and the human condition with rare honesty.
Among all his songs, “Hallelujah” stands apart. It’s one of those rare pieces of music that seems to live its own life. Though it wasn’t a huge hit at first, over the years it became one of the most covered songs in modern music. You hear it everywhere—especially on talent shows. If you love shows like The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, or The Voice, you already know: Hallelujah shows up often. And each time, it somehow hits just as hard.
That’s because the song carries real weight. It’s spiritual, emotional, even a little mysterious. And when someone sings it with true heart, it connects—every single time.
One of the best examples of that happened during the X Factor UK finale, when Alexandra Burke delivered a performance that still gives people goosebumps to this day. After being turned down in an earlier season, she came back years later and gave everything she had. Her version of Hallelujah wasn’t just beautiful—it was powerful, raw, and personal.
From the very first note, she had the whole room in silence. Her voice moved with such emotion that you could feel the story behind every word. By the time she reached the final chorus, there were tears in her eyes—and in many of ours too. Simon Cowell, not known for being easy to impress, sat speechless. All he could do was watch.
That moment helped her win the competition. But more than that, it became part of the song’s history. Her version joined a long list of emotional covers that have kept Hallelujah alive for new generations.
If you search Hallelujah on YouTube, you’ll find millions—literally millions—of views across dozens of performances. That’s not just because it’s a popular song. It’s because it carries a kind of energy that speaks to something deeper in all of us. Every time it’s sung with truth, it becomes new again.
And Alexandra’s performance is one of those special versions that makes you stop and listen.
You can enjoy her breathtaking performance below.