Alexandra Burke ’s rendition of remains one of the most commercially significant releases in UK chart history . Released as her winner's single following the fifth series of The X Factor in 2008, it transformed Leonard Cohen’s poetic composition into a record-breaking pop phenomenon. A Historic Chart Battle
Despite being released in late December, it was the top-selling single of 2008 in the UK. Production and Arrangement
Unlike the sparse, folk-inspired originals by Cohen or the haunting, guitar-led version by Buckley, Burke's "Hallelujah" was produced by as a "powerhouse prayer". Hallelujah! No 1 for Burke, and triple hit for Cohen
By January 2009, it had sold over one million copies, making Alexandra Burke the first British female solo artist to achieve a million-selling single in the UK.
It secured the coveted 2008 Christmas Number One spot and held the position for three weeks.
It became the European record holder for the most singles sold in 24 hours, with 105,000 copies sold in one day.
For the first time since 1957, two versions of the same song occupied the top two spots on the UK Singles Chart. Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
The popularity of the covers also brought Cohen’s 1984 original into the UK Top 40 for the first time, reaching number 36. Record-Breaking Sales
