“Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen is a classic and beautiful song known by hundreds of thousands of people. It’s been covered numerous times from people like Pentatonix, it was sung in the children’s film ‘Sing’ by Tori Kelly, and of course, everyone knows it from ‘Shrek.’ However, every single person always manages to put their personal touch to it, something that makes it unique to them, and it’s like you’re listening to a brand new song.
Whether they changed the melody, added harmonies, sang it in a higher key, or had an angelic and unique voice that made the song sound different, the song touches you all over again
In the video down below, nine-year-old Lena Preslar, a young girl, sings a different version of the song, but one just as beautiful. Kelley Moon wrote this version in 2006, and she kept the melody but changed the lyrics. These lyrics are about Jesus Christ and his moments and journey before he was nailed to the cross.
Lena sang this song at church on Easter Day as a way to honor Jesus. Let’s talk about the video!
The video begins with the piano playing the classic beginning you’ll recognize right away, and Lena is staring down at the stand in front of her, with a sheet of the lyrics right in front of her. She looks confident, and we wonder if she’s even feeling the tiniest bit nervous inside.
Finally, she begins. Her voice is confident and holds—no shakes in it whatsoever. Even her hand as she holds the microphone is steady. As she gets to, “They nailed him to a wooden cross, soon all the world would feel his loss,” she sings higher, and it’s perfect! There’s no flaw or crack in her voice, and she reaches the notes effortlessly. For such a young girl, this is impressive.
She continues to sing the song with no problem, and we already know she has a future in the gospel industry if she ever chooses to sing for a living. Later in the song, at the four-minute mark, Lena goes even higher! She holds these notes for even longer, and you know her parents are endlessly proud of her.
At the end of the performance, she finally smiles shyly as the church members scream and clap for her!
If you’d like to hear Lena cover this song so amazingly, watch the video down below!