I’m surprised at myself for agreeing with this piece in the Guardian’s sometimes enlightening, sometimes ridiculously comment fishing Comment is free.. section.

The commenter laments the loud chorus of complaints about the UK X Factor winner (Idol-similar competition) singing Leonard Cohen’s beautiful song Hallelujah as the final single. I cringe when I hear covers like that, we had a hit in Norway with the same song starring Idol winners and ephemeral pop sensations, but as much as I cringe it really doesn’t detract from the original or one of my more favourite versions.

(I have to admit nothing beats the original to me, there’s something about Cohens voice and phrasing that fits that song so well)

It reminds me of a friend of mine who complained about the Swedish band Kent after they started getting into heavy rotation on a Norwegian hit radio station and “everyone” started liking them. What value did the music have to start with if external factors like that can cheapen it?

        Cohen hits again