Music
16 Dec 08

Jeff Buckley may join Alexandra Burke at the top of the charts

In a development that is unprecedented in recent years, two different versions of the one song may end up at No.1 and No.2 in charts in Christmas week.

Midweek figures in the UK reveal that Alexandra Burke's version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' is a certain No.1 come the end of the week. However, there has been a curious twist to the ascension of this decidedly carnal hymn to the top of the charts, with Jeff Buckley's version of the song, which appeared on his 1994 album Grace, being downloaded in vast numbers.

"Alexandra's cover of 'Hallelujah' has to be a massive favourite for the Christmas No.1," says Gennaro Castaldo of HMV. "The track has already been downloaded over 150,000 times, and it remains hmv.com's fastest-ever seller, but it's been such a bizarre year that I always thought that there could be some kind of twist. And it looks as if this may come in the guise of Jeff Buckley's classic cover version of the same song.

"An internet and media campaign to get people to download it seems to be bearing fruit, and the track has climbed into the provisional 'midweek' charts. It's now at No.3, just behind Leona Lewis – so we suddenly have the very real prospect of two different covers of the same song occupying the no.1 & 2 slots in the Official UK charts. I don't think this has ever happened in UK Chart history, and certainly not for Christmas."

There has been a reaction to the extent to which X Factor has taken over the Christmas singles market, with many in the business viewing it as an unhealthy development.

"Just when it looked like the X Factor had taken all the unpredictability out of Christmas, the Charts are coming back to prove they're always capable of throwing up a surprise," Castaldo adds. "Who knows? There could be an even bigger twist to come if the Jeff Buckley campaign gathers pace, although the idea of Alexandra not making it seems unthinkable – especially with the CD single release still to come. But you never know, it's been a strange year."

Of course there is one major beneficiary of all this chart action – Leonard Cohen, who wrote the song.

"He must think Christmas has come early," Castaldo concludes.