American Idol Propels Jeff Buckley's Version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" to #1 in Digital Downloads

The impact on pop music in the US that American Idol has is obvious through the various pop stars who have emerged after gaining success as competitors on the show. However, American Idol can also influence the success and popularity of other artists tangentially connected with the hit program.

On Tuesday, March 4, competitor Jason Castro performed a version of the song "Hallelujah" written by poet, songwriter, and recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Leonard Cohen (pictured). On American Idol judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell both gave praise for a version of the song by Jeff Buckley that they consider the best recorded interpretation of the often performed song. This praise set a ball rolling that has ultimately resulted in Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" hitting #1 on Billboard's Digital Downloads chart. To date the song has now sold over 500,000 downloaded copies.

Jeff Buckley, son of revered singer Tim Buckley, tragically drowned at the age of 30 in 1997. However, it was after he had released the 1994 album Grace which many music critics consider one of the top albums of all time. Buckley's ethereal singing voice animates the vesion of "Hallelujah" included on the album. Rolling Stone considers Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" to be one of the "500 greatest songs of all time."

Watch Jeff Buckley sing "Hallelujah."

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_{Photo by Vince Bucci / Getty Images}