Perhaps, in the deepest sense of the term, Leonard Cohen IS a folk artist. More than that he is a poet extraordinaire. If you truly want to honor him in a "Hall of Fame" his would be sui generis, that is, a unique category. His earliest roots are in Rock so why not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I wouldn't walk from here to my bathroom door to see Madonna but Leonard Cohen, I wish I could afford to go.

Cohen writes from a great depth of heart. He uses points of view that most of us can readily relate to but we never knew it could be shown with words and music. Cohen's work ARRESTS you attention, grabs you and makes you look at the tragedy and the beauty which IS life. Yes, Hallelujah!* Just a broken Hallelujah, life in the minor key which begs resolution but is denied the same.


* The word "Hallelujah" appears in the Bible only four times, all in the Book of the Revealtion of John, the Divine and it means "Praise ye the Lord (Jah, short for Yahweh, the God of the Jews).