Teen musicians leave onlookers spellbound with their rendition of Cohen's 'Hallelujah'

The power of art and music lies in their ability to evolve with each new rendition. Leonard Cohen first recorded the iconic "Hallelujah" in 1984, and over time, it has only grown more beloved, with each version offering something unique. While it's hard to match the original's brilliance, 13-year-old Fionn Wheelan brings his own magic to the classic alongside 18-year-old Allie Sherlock during a street performance in Ireland. Sherlock begins the song, setting the tone, but Wheelan's voice elevates the performance to a new level when he joins in. 

Sherlock, who has toured with artists like One Republic, loves returning to her roots, performing for passersby in the streets where she first started in Cork and Dublin. A seasoned musician, she recognized Wheelan's talent early on, calling him "the next Ed Sheeran" in the caption of their YouTube video. But the comparison goes deeper than their shared red hair—Wheelan's voice carries the same soulful quality as the famed British singer.

As the duo sings along on the street, people can be seen gathering and enjoying the melody. One would want to sing along to this harmonious rendition. Listeners were indeed stunned and showered their praise. "You both touched my heart and soul. Don't ever give up, you're so beautiful," commented @rosemariebrindley1169. "It's not often I get chills from people singing, but this kid...WOW you're an amazing singer!" praised @jeribaer8445.

"I heard this song millions of times, but this boy's diction helped me to hear it differently. Beautiful," added @grainneryan5948. "Absolutely beautiful cover! Both of your voices are true gifts. Listening to you both sing almost takes my breath away. You both truly incredible and so gifted. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us," commented @CatieSwolsky-wf9kc. "That young boy’s voice gave me shivers. They both have wonderful voices," wrote @LAStars-sratS. 

Once recorded, "Hallelujah" wasn't expected to be legendary and popular, touching so many hearts. It was not known until 1991 when John Cale released a new version, which prompted another renowned cover by Jeff Buckley in 1994. When it was included on the "Shrek" soundtrack in 2001, the song became a global hit. "Hallelujah" wasn't heard in the United States until another label published "Various Positions." Even so, it failed to make an impression on the radio or the charts.

According to The Atlantic, while talking about the song, Cohen said, "This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that's what I mean by 'Hallelujah.'" Even though Cohen wrote about 80 verses over five years, he cut the song down to four for the final studio version. After the teen musicians shared the harmonious rendition of the iconic track on social media, it crossed eight million views and garnered many likes.  

This article originally appeared on 9.1.23.