10.000 Coverversions: Where's Hallelujah?

I received several reactions on the 10.000 Eurovision coverversions top 10 list and posts, most positive (thanks) but there are a few things I’d like to clear up.
The top 10 of most covered Eurovision songs is the top 10 from the list of Eurovision coverversions I have been keeping track of since about 1989.
So 18 years of keeping and collecting information from record collections, internet sources and especially information that was sent to me by other collectors over those years.
I can just do so little to answer the question ‘Why is Hallelujah / Congratulations etcetera not in the top 10?
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הללויה
The composer of Hallelujah, Kobi Oshrat allegedly claimed some years ago there were 500 versions recorded of the song, (something with a lawsuit over recording rights was going on) but I have only been able to find info on 120.
Same with 'Sir Cliff's Congratulations just missing out on a top 10 spot with 140 listed versions.
Titles like Hallelujah, Congratulations, La La La, Romantica etcetera are not the easiest to research on the internet and of course there are more versions of these songs than I have listed. I’m not claiming my lists are in any way conclusive, but I think they are the only ones of its kind you’ll find anywhere so please appreciate my work and make use of it while you can.

Here’s the list of Hallelujah’s, currently the 17th most covered Eurovision song in the 10.000 coverversions list. The song was written by Kobi Oshrat with lyrics by Shimrit Orr.
If you think the song belongs in the top 10, start sending your versions and information to me.

And to listen to some music here's two versions of the song, hard to pick any favorites though, as most are even cheesier than the original.
Eydie Gormé & Steve Lawrence first released the song under the name Parker & Penney (7" USA Warner WBS 887) but it can also be found on LP/CD releases under their 'own' name.
The Crossfire track is a powermetal version, although it wouldn't be out of place in a 70's broadway musical either. Sung in Hebrew.


Hallelujah! - a document.. 
Word.doc featuring all versions by Milk and Honey plus a list of coverversions of the 1979 Eurovision winner from Israel.

Екатерина Черноусова
A sublime Jazz version (in Hebrew) of Hallelujah is available at a russian Jazz site. The site in Russian and English features a version by The Rooms (Комнаты) featuring Ekaterina Chernousova from their 2005 CD Im Telech and is something different from the usual hands in the air versions of the song. (for the downloads scroll halfway down the page)
In the Eurocovers post Noisy Israeli's you can find some coverversions by Australian punkers YidCore including their ultimate partyversion of Hallelujah.
For a groovy Thai movie version of the 1978 Israel winner A Ba Ni Bi check out this Eurocovers post.

FINWEEKS: From Hellas to Hellsinki: Hard Rock Hallelujah!

With this years Eurovision stars arriving in the Finnish city of Helsinki it's time to take a look at some coverversions of the song that finally brought the victory to Finland after 40 attempts.
Mighty Monsters Lordi's Hard Rock Hallelujah may have changed the face of Eurovision, or not, it's only one year ago, but it seems Eurovision 2007 sees more music styles than ever competing for the cup, or at least a place in the final.
It's clear you don't need a typical Eurovision song to enter, or even to win, so several countries are riding the 'New Eurovision Wave' (a.k.a. NEW). Some examples: Andorra sends a few Blink/Sum punky brats. Hungary throws in a Janis style blues belter, Germany rolls out the Big Band and Bulgaria goes all Ethnic on Acid. and there's Scooch.

So it's fitting that Hard Rock Hallelujah has been covered in a variety of music styles from cha cha cha and mediteranean club to some smurfsounds and a Nerd-testosterone filled male choir version.

The first version that popped up just days after Lordi's triumph was an unforgettable TV performance by the Tehnikaülikooli Akadeemiline Meeskoor, a male choir from the Tallin Technical University (Estonia). It wasn't released on CD but is worth checking out on YouTube. (update: The choir released the track as an extra track on cdsingle Kolm Piiska, see comments)

Gorgeous Maarja (Maarja-Liis Ilus) performed a soft ballad version of HRH in the National Estonian final proving again that she is the most lovetastic Estonian singer in the world. (also on Youtube)

And then there's a few versions from Finland. The Ratzz are an animated band of rats who turned it into Hard Ratzz Hallelujah, sung in Finnish. (CD Hard Ratzz Hallelujah 2006 Bonnier music) - The Ratzz Myspace

That other Finnish vermin, Pikku Orava The Cellphone Chipmunk will release a full version of HRH on its forthcoming album Mei Siedie (Out in Germany 25-05 on EMI). For Germany Pikku Orava also sports the title 'Das Heavy Metal Eichhörnchen' (The Heavy Metal Squirrel)
Jope Ronuansu is a Finnish comedian and his version is probably funny. I didn't find any info on a CD release.

A club CD in Italy features a dance version of the song. Some illustrous types called Frodo United totally screwed up the metal classic and made it, well…, listen for yourselves. (CD Sexy hitmix 2006 summer edizione (VA))

The best and seriousest version of Hard Rock Hallelujah is by Nat Newborn and Big Time, a big band with a groovy cha cha version. Remember Mike Flowers Pops?

You can hear the song at the Nat Newborn site. It's out on his Finnish top 10 album 'On the rocks' which also includes a version of Sata Salamaa, the Finnish entry of 1987. The album is available at CD-ON.

More Finland related covers to follow in the coming weeks.

Related Eurocovers Posts:
Pikku Orava's version of Dschinghis Khan
Puppet On A String in Finnish