ELMHURST — Canadian singer, songwriter, poet, and author Leonard Cohen’s iconic ballad Hallelujah” has been recorded by hundreds of artists since it was first released as a track on his 1984 album “Various Positions.”
The opening line — “I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord …” — includes a biblical reference to King David, who wrote psalms and ruled over ancient Israel.
Cohen, who was Jewish, composed the song that has resonated with other religions due to its strong gospel melody and emphasis on faith.
St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church Music Director Lana R. Kissa was inspired by the Cohen classic and felt that different lyrics would make it the perfect wedding song.
So last year, Kissa released her own rendition of the song that she felt would perfectly fit into a traditional wedding ceremony.
Kissa, who has been the Elmhurst church’s music director since 2004, has written dozens of songs but believes her original version of “Hallelujah” is special.
She noted there are limited choices for wedding songs, so she was looking to create something new.
“I needed something people could easily incorporate for their wedding vows, and I knew Hallelujah’ would have such an impact,” Kissa explained.
While many people want to use the original version for their wedding, in her opinion, those lyrics could be problematic with lines like, “She tied you to a kitchen chair, she broke your throne and
cut your hair.”
So, Kissa set out to adapt the song to reflect the joys of matrimony. Her version is more devout, with lines like, “As the bride is walking down the aisle, and the groom looks up at her and smiles, in solemn prayers the priest is their guide; friends and family by her side, she really is a lovely bride” leading into the “Hallelujah” refrain.
Kissa knew she wanted to pursue a career in music from an early age. She said that growing up, her teachers told her she was talented, which led her to pursue a music degree in college.
Eventually, she earned a master’s. Kissa came to the United States from Ukraine in 2000 and briefly worked at Most Precious Blood in Astoria.
In 2004, she became the music director at St. Adalbert, where she oversees the choir.
As a songwriter, Kissa released her first album, “Cherish” in 2008, followed by a second collection in 2011 entitled “Reality and Dreams.”
In 2019, she released the topical and timely song “Stop Guns,” which she recorded with the St. Adalbert choir.
She said she is very excited about her latest album, “Skipped a Beat,” a remixed and expanded version of an album she first introduced in 2014.
The eight tracks on the album, which was released last year and is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, are piano-driven songs, including the inspirational “Mama Mary” about the Blessed Mother, the new-age “A Holy Grail,” and the catchy folk-inspired closing track “Love Should Be Easy.”
She admits that she prefers singer-songwriters for their depth of music, including Annie Lennox, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and, of course, Leonard Cohen.
“Certain songs are so memorable that you just want to sit and listen to them again and again,” Kissa said. “They are truly timeless and not just flighty songs that come and go on the radio and you forget about them.
I try to write songs similar to the ones written by those legends I’ve admired that make a difference in people’s lives.”