the buzz log

We know from personal experience how "American Idol" performances can return a great song to heavy iPod rotation. It's happened for us with Paris Bennett's audition performances of the Dixie Chicks' "Cowboy Take Me Away" and Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," when Ruben Studdard covered the Bee Gees classic "Nights on Broadway," and when a pre-scandal David Hernandez lit up the stage with his rendition of The Temptations' "Papa was a Rolling Stone."

This week, we were delighted to welcome our adored Leonard Cohen (+523%) to the ranks of Idol-inspired buzz, courtesy of Jason Castro's lovely take on Cohen's often-covered masterpiece "Hallelujah" (+1,012%). The judges praised dread-head Jason, with Simon Cowell especially professing his love for the Jeff Buckley arrangement of the song. And so the buzz began.

Idol watchers sent Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" to #4 on iTunes. Searchers fanned out over the Web to find "jeff buckley," "hallelujah lyrics," and "jeff buckley hallelujah," with smaller jumps in interest on "john cale," "rufus wainwright," "leonard cohen lyrics," and the "shrek soundtrack." Even Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker took time out to compliment Castro.

And how cool is it that teenagers—especially girls 13-17—showed the most interest in the song? Perhaps they'd be excited to hear that Cohen (who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week) is reportedly heading out on tour this summer. Then again, maybe we shouldn't make too much of a fuss over that news. After all, we do want the Cohen faithful to have a good shot at getting tickets.