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I could have sworn in the credits it said it was performed by John Cale, but I just checked the website and it says Rufus Wainwright.

Maybe it means sung by Rufus and version by Cale or maybe vice versa

In film, John Cale's version from I'm Your Fan tribute CD was used. But for soundtrack, due to copyrights issues, Rufus Wainwright recorded new version. Note that Shrek was produced by Dreamworks' animated studio, and Rufus is signed to Dreamworks' mjsic label.

Tom,

thanks for clearing that up. When I heard the song in the movie I remembered the version from the Im you fan album. To me they have always sounded the same so I never could figure out where Wainwright came into the picture.

David Perrings

I liked Buckley's version of it as well.

Yes, I know it's been months.
KWM©

It's extraordinary how frequently Hallelujah is being used in films and television, since being popularised in Shrek. Hallelujah, single-handedly, is introducing a new generation to LC's songs, just as we were introduced to them thirty years ago by Suzanne.

In the UK, on Sunday 16 July, the last episode of the third series of The O.C. was broadcast, and suddenly, as Marissa dies in the arms of Ryan, we hear an unaccompanied female (Katherine Williams?), after some humming, sing:

"Baby, I've been here before.
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch,
But love is not some kind of victory march,
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah."

(A few changes from the Cale version, with 'seen' instead of 'known' in the second line, and no 'very' in the final line).

My own children, who had little interest in LC before Shrek, immediately identified it. The challenge now is to steer this new generation gently towards his other more sophisticated songs.