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Nhi (Olivia) Dao

Prof. Kiewitz

CCP English 1201

13 February 2022

Comparing Two Versions of Hallelujah

There have been many different covers, versions, and music videos made with the song

Hallelujah. Hallelujah was written by Leonard Cohen and released in 1984. Since then, Jeff

Buckley and Pentatonix have released their own versions of the song with different tones and

music videos. The song Hallelujah in both versions used the same lyrics but it was the tone and

emotion that it made you feel that was the biggest difference, the version sang by Jeff Buckley

creates a sad, darker, and somewhat sorrowful tone while the one sang by the acapella group

Pentatonix is more empowering and uplifting. Both versions of this song share the same lyrics

and try to create a narrative around love. The two versions share the same main purpose and

claim, they achieve these purposes through different tones and moods but are both equally

effective.

In many ways these music videos are similar but a big difference between them is that the

tones and settings in each of the music videos create very different moods. The moods that are

created through the visual and auditory art in both songs help connect with their audience in

different ways. Although these two versions share the main purpose of distilling a painful but

passionate love they do so in different ways and therefore the intended audiences would be

different. Jeff Buckley set a more gloomy and sorrowful mood by creating a dark and less flashy

music video. Along with Buckley’s music video the tone of his voice as he sang the song was

much more quiet and whispery. Now, compare that calm and gloomy mood to Pentatonix’s
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united music video with all of its singers and the passion that is shown through the way they sang

the lyrics. Pentatonix’s music video and singing creates a more hopeful mood. One thing that ties

these two versions together very strongly is the lyrics that they both share. Although they do

create different moods through their tones and music videos, the lyrics behind all of that are

extremely touching and still do create a serious and deep meaning to both versions. For example,

in both versions of Hallelujah this verse is used and the meaning behind the lyrics are so strong

that the tone and mood do not affect its meaning and purpose to the listeners;

“Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya

She tied you to the kitchen chair

She broke your throne and she cut your hair

And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah” .

In Jeff Buckley’s music video, there is a minute at the beginning of the video that is only

instrumental and shows clips of him playing and looking down.The setting of this video was also

in doors and there isn’t much color as it only shows brownish black colors. As Buckley sang the

camera would zoom into his face and guitar. Not only was this a factor in the mood of his song

but the tone as he sang was whispery and as if he was tearful. Buckley’s music video also ended

with a very long 50 seconds that created an extremely empty feeling. In Pentatonix’s music video

they are standing in unison, in front of the sun, in an open field, Scott Hoying’s voice sings as the

other members slowly and gradually join in to create a more powerful sound. As Pentatonix’s

music video progresses the members move closer and closer to each other. The tone of this music

video is also much different than Buckley's; they are louder and stronger compared to Buckley’s
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soft and whispery singing. The most empowering part of this music video would have to be

Kirstin Maldonado’s part where she starts off with a very still tone and then gets louder while

making her voice stronger. The ending of this music video also leaves off with them all standing

together and singing along with each other while the sun sets behind them.

The descriptions of the music videos above show how extremely different these two

music videos are, one is dark, quiet, indoors, and doesn’t show much color while the other is

bright, louder, outdoors and shows the sun behind them. The tones make a very big difference on

the mood that is being set, if someone has a quiet and whisper-like voice and tone the mood that

it is giving off would be more sad while a song with loud and stronger voices that includes a

bigger range in pitch changing would create an empowering mood. If you examine the postures

of the musicians in both music videos you can also tell that in Jeff Buckley’s video he is more

slouched and looking down compared to Pentatonix’s music video, the musicians are head high

with straight posture. These details all come to show that the music videos use the same lyrics

while adding different aspects to create different moods to the same words. Overall, the two

moods that are created connect with people in completely different ways. The people they

connect to may be of any race, age, or social class but their mood and past is what affects what

they may want to listen to, therefore when people are looking at these music videos their mood

or the type of songs they typically go for may affect which one they listen to more.

There is significance behind understanding how the mood a music video creates may

affect the audience it attracts because people may connect to one more than the other depending

on what type of mood they are in or the type of songs they may like. Many people compare these

two versions but when comparing them you have to understand that there is a big factor that may

affect which you choose is better. It is also important to think about when watching a music
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video because you can examine what the song writers and musicians had to consider as they put

the song together. Songwriters and musicians are similar to writers in this sense, they have to

consider how others will connect to the tone, sound, and setting of the video they make. Being

able to analyze music videos deeper will help you understand what to do when you are reading

and writing as well.

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Works Cited

Music, Jeff Buckley. “Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Official Video) - Youtube.” Youtube, 25 Oct.

2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4.

Pentatonix. “Pentatonix - Hallelujah (Official Video).” Youtube, 21 Oct. 2016,

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ.