The Mathematical Inspiration behind Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

🎶Leonard Cohen, the original artist of Hallelujah, had a strong interest in mathematics and incorporated a mathematical pattern into one of the earlier versions of the song.

💡The mathematical pattern mentioned in the song is a sequence of chords that splits the circle into halves, then quarters, and so on.

🤔If Leonard Cohen had not changed the focus of the song to love and religion, it would have been a unique piece about math instead.

🎵Various artists have covered Hallelujah, but it's important to appreciate the original version, which was deeply influenced by math.

🎹The video features a live performance of the mathematical version of Hallelujah, showcasing how the song would have sounded if it had remained focused on math.

Who was the original artist of the song Hallelujah?

—Leonard Cohen was the original artist who wrote the lyrics of the song Hallelujah.

What inspired Leonard Cohen to write Hallelujah?

—Leonard Cohen was inspired by a mathematical pattern to create one of the earlier versions of the song.

Is the mathematical version of Hallelujah widely known?

—No, the mathematical version is not widely known as Leonard Cohen eventually changed the focus of the song to love and religion.

How has Hallelujah been popularized?

—Hallelujah gained popularity through various cover versions by different artists over the years.

What can viewers expect in this video?

—Viewers can expect a live performance of the mathematical version of Hallelujah and insights into the relationship between math and music.

00:00The video starts by mentioning a pattern that doubles in size: two, then four, then eight, and so on.

00:05The narrator shares a fun story about Leonard Cohen and introduces the relationship between math and his song Hallelujah.

00:11The song Hallelujah is widely known, but few people are aware that one of the early versions was centered around a mathematical pattern.

00:21Leonard Cohen, the original artist, went through multiple iterations of the song before it became the biblical love ballad we know today.

00:33The video mentions that the earlier version of Hallelujah related to the mathematical pattern discussed earlier.

01:02The narrator invites Matt Parker, a keynote speaker, to perform the mathematical version of Hallelujah on stage.

02:20A section of the song's lyrics is highlighted, emphasizing its mathematical references.

03:18The video concludes by highlighting the uniqueness of the mathematical version of Hallelujah and the importance of recognizing Leonard Cohen's mathematical inspiration.