Which song by Leonard Cohen is covered in Shrek by Rufus Wainwright?

Rufus Wainwright covers Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on the Shrek soundtrack.

The song appears during the emotional sequence showing Shrek and Fiona growing closer while Shrek struggles to express his feelings. Wainwright’s version is used on the soundtrack album, while the film itself uses a recording by John Cale for the corresponding scene.

This distinction creates a frequent mix-up: many listeners associate Wainwright’s recording directly with the movie because it was included on the commercially released soundtrack. Both versions are covers of Cohen’s song, but they are not the same recording.

Leonard Cohen originally wrote and recorded “Hallelujah,” which later became one of the most frequently covered songs in popular music. Its inclusion helped give Shrek’s soundtrack a more reflective moment amid the film’s comedy and modern rock songs.