<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening?</h2>

Shrek is wandering sadly through his swamp. Princess Fiona is about to marry a prince she does not love. As he walks, a sad tune begins to play. 

Many people first heard Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah in the 2001 film Shrek. But Cohen wrote the song many years before, in the 1980s.

He worked for hours and hours to make the song perfect. By the time he was finished, he had 180 different versions. But when he took the song to a record companyA company that makes and sells music. , they did not like it. 

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>

For years, Cohen was very sad. Later, he heard some unlikely news. The makers of a new film called Shrek wanted to use Hallelujah. 

The film, and the song, became a huge hit. In 2012, Cohen toured the world in his 70s singing Hallelujah.

Yes! Leonard Cohen worked hard to write the perfect song. In the end, the makers of Shrek saw his genius.

No! Today, we recognise Hallelujah as a classic song. But without some luck, few would have heard of it. 

Record company - A company that makes and sells music.