The 'Hallelujah' Cover That Had Simon Note As "One Of The Best" Auditions He Has Heard

Jul 24, 2020

When Jeff Gutt invited his family to his The X Factor audition back in 2012, he probably had no idea what the reception would be like. But Gutt soon stunned his parents, his child, the audience, the judges, and even Simon Cowell with a passionate rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Leonard Cohen is a Canadian songwriter known for his soothing melodies and husky voice. But what most people don't know is that he's also the named author of the popular masterpiece, Hallelujah.

Even if you haven't heard of Leonard Cohen, you've most certainly heard this song; you might even be able to hum it to yourself without listening. Over the years, more than 300 artists have recorded Hallelujah. According to Songfacts, it was first recorded by Leonard Cohen in 1984. It was covered by John Cale in 1991, and it was covered yet again by Jeff Buckley. Buckley's version became incredibly popular and was used in the iconic film Shrek.

Cohen wrote 80 different verses for Hallelujah, all of them full of references from the Old Testament. During performances, he would choose his favorites to sing. Only the last verse would be the same between shows.

The singers of this song have different opinions on what it means. Cale thought it was about solemnity and sobriety, while Buckley thought it was about more personal affairs. Another Canadian singer, K.D. Lang, said that she thought it was about the struggle between human nature and the quest for spirituality.

The massive popularity of this song is probably why it's known as one of the greatest ever written. Singer Jeffrey Adam Gutt certainly must have liked the sound when he chose it for his 2012 The X Factor audition.

When he stepped on stage, Gutt told the crowd that he was auditioning to support his son. He said:

"I want to be able to support my son, he's out the back, and he's never heard me sing before."

With the press of a button, the music started, and Gutt began to sing those well-known words. Gutt's voice belted out, and he sang with a fresh passion that hadn't been captured by any of the song's previous performers.

The audience immediately began to cheer and clap for his beautiful rendition of the piece. Their cheers lasted through the performance. In the end, every judge showered Gutt with complements - even the notorious Simon Cowell. Cowell actually called Gutt's audition one of the best he had heard to date. Later, Gutt was named one of the most influential contestants on the show.

Jeff didn't win the 2012 season of The X Factor, but he did finish second in 2013. If you want a real treat for your ears, give this one a listen with the volume turned way up.

Stories like this show how important these songs can be to a culture. Gutt chose this song because it was familiar to both him and the audience. His rendition is beautiful, and his comfort with the material really let him show his natural voice.

Do you agree with Simon Cowell that Gutt's audition was amazing? Tell us about it in your own words. Don't forget to post this video somewhere where people will be able to listen.