Here are the best and worst versions of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'

There are hit songs, tracks by artists that play incessantly on the radio for months at a time before being relegated to the bargain bin. Then, there are songs that win awards, that get polite nods of recognition years later or make it to “best of the decade” compilations.

And then there’s “Hallelujah.” Leonard Cohen’s classic ballad was not even the best-known track on his 1984 album “Various Positions” when the LP was released. Nearly 20 years later, the song has been covered by hundreds of artists.

As the original artist prepares for performances at Radio City Music Hall this weekend, here’s a brief rundown of some of the best-known (and, in some cases, best forgotten) versions, rated with Cohen’s trademark fedoras.