The first time I heard "Suzanne" (in the '60s) I thought it was a great poem, but it wasn't a song. I've listened to many covers over the years, but I haven't changed my opinion. Anyone who thinks he's heard "Hallelujah" sung hasn't until he's heard it sung by k.d. lang.
Leonard Cohen was a great wordsmith, but he wasn't a singer. Like many others, he didn't let that stand in the way of recording his own songs. I greatly admire his body of work. R.I.P.
The same could be of Dylan and Tom Waits. The best version of Dylan's songs were usually the ones people like Jimi Hendrix (All Along the Watfchtower) or Guns and Roses (Knockin on Heaven's Door) covered, but I admit that there is something charming about Waits' unmusical voice for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mhsW5aWJM or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2MjRcVO4g
Cohen was a true poet. he is the best poet