Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: billygoat
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 04:42 AM

Hi Billygoat here from dublin ireland just to let you know im a new member iwas lookong for a song my father sang when he was drunk i loved sitting beside him while he was alive happy and singing brother can you spare a dime and while i was looking the words of this song i came across this site, so hello everybody if you have stories about your mum or dad or family pass them on to a good listener

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 07:42 AM

he makes morrissey sound like steps

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: Arkie
Date: 03 Mar 07 - 12:55 PM

If everyone had the same tastes only a handful of singers would have an audience or every singer would try to sound the same.   What I don't understand is the rabid hatred of folk like Cohen who do have a distinctive voice. I have no great interest in Cohen but have lps and CDs and MP3s and introduced his music to my daughter and son and have sought his recordings since I first heard Suzanne. As was said before his music may sound dark to a casual or accidental listener but he displays no arrogance and is quie humorous at times. Consider the lines from Chelsea Hotel:

"I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 12:22 AM

Watching/listening to the 'I'm your man' dvd as we speak.......the best.! This man is wonderful........and so self deprecating........he has a fine sense of self.....

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: KeithofChester
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:31 AM

There is a 30 minute programme on Leonard Cohen's songwriting on BBC Radio 2 this evening at 7pm.

Programme Link

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:46 AM

I like the way L.C. always seems to see the world through morose colored glasses! ;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:21 AM

Good one, Art!

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,JohnnyD
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:24 AM

Has anyone listened to / seen the recently released DVD "I'm your man"? What comments?

JD

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: JeremyC
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 02:09 PM

What a coincidence, I just watched it the other day, and now I run across this thread.

I watched it at the recommendation of a friend of mine. In a nutshell: I loved the interviews with The Man himself, and I hated nearly all of the performances, with the stand-outs being Nick Cave faking his way through "Suzanne" (it sounded like he didn't know the words, and he was so far off sometimes, I'm honestly surprised it was included) and Rufus Wainwright's godawful version of "Hallelujah." This one was so bad, I turned on the commentary to see if the director had an excuse for leaving it in, and to my surprise, she said it was better than Jeff Buckley's version.

The songs are great, but while there were one or two good performances, it was largely not worth watching. Hell, I was surprised that Cohen liked Wainwright's singing, because to be honest, Rufus Wainwright didn't have a single good moment on the entire DVD. I really enjoyed the performance of "Tower of Song" with Cohen and U2, though. Without a doubt, it was the best part.

In conclusion, I think the people involved were all on crack. If they'd included some decent singers (Bono was hands down the best singer, which says something), I would have enjoyed it much more. As it stands, I recommend watching it and fast-forwarding though the stuff that doesn't include Cohen himself.

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: Roughyed
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 05:22 PM

The Radio programme is available on listen again on the BBC site. www.bbc.co.uk follow the Radio 2 link. The interviewer is pathetic but the music's good even if it is the usual suspects. Sorry a blue clicky is beyond me.

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:15 PM

I agree Cohen with U2 was a highlight -not just the music but the looks on their faces -- you could see them almost saying -- we are singing with Leonard Cohen.......can you believe it??
I particularly liked the outtake version of Tonight will be fine by ? Thompson. I wondered if he is related to Richard Thompson.......

(sorry but I didn't mind Rufus Wainwright's version of Hallelujah -- although k d. lang is the best cover of that that i have ever heard........)

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:20 PM

" I was surprised that Cohen liked Wainwright's singing" -

Just curious - I didn't see the show - what makes you say that Cohen liked it?

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 10:34 PM

I haven'twatched the DVD for a while but I think Cohen made a statement that he liked it......but again, the scene with him singing with U2 was wonderful - they were proud and he was proud........


I think the dvd is well worth buying............

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: C. Ham
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:51 PM

I particularly liked the outtake version of Tonight will be fine by ? Thompson. I wondered if he is related to Richard Thompson.......

Teddy Thompson is the son of Richard & Linda Thompson.

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: JeremyC
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 01:29 AM

Yeah, don't get me wrong, it's worth watching. It's just that most of the performances weren't very good. And yes, Cohen actually said in one of the interview segments that he liked Rufus Wainwright's versions of some (I don't remember which specifically) of his songs. Scary, considering the actual performances I saw.

But yes, the segment with U2 was excellent, although I've never been a fan of Bono and wasn't too impressed with his interviews. They were so happy to be playing with him, though, and they are in fact a good band, so it worked really well. I had problems with most, but not all, the other performances, though. Worth watching, but I wouldn't say worth BUYING. Maybe if you're a die-hard. But then, to me, Rufus was a dealbreaker. Maybe you'll feel differently. I recommend renting it first.

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 08:46 AM

Re: Leonard re: Rufus. I was just wondering if LC was in one of those "what-else-are-you-going-to-say?" situations. He's a very gracious, polite person - at least in public; I don't know anything about him in private - and furthermore, he probably is acquainted if not quite friendly with Rufus's parents, so if Rufus is performing at a tribute to LC, and LC is asked what he thinks of Rufus - well, what else is going to say, other than that he likes/approves of/appreciates/is moved by Rufus's singing/performance/interpretation of his song(s)? Only a complete boor would say anything less ...

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 03:47 PM

And Cohen seems far from a boor......

C. Ham -- thanks so much for the answer on Teddy Thompson -- talent evidently runs in the family.........

I guess I am a die hard fan - the dvd was one of my favorite Christmas presents.........ever!

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 09:49 PM

Watching the video for the 900th time......!

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 09:58 PM

.back in the 70's.
whjen i was into speedy punk..


i just judged Len was music for morbid junkie depresed hippies..


about 15 years ago.

i was bright enough to get the joke..


Len has such a dark daft sardonic humour..



them old records are really funny..

..and what an amazing voice and command of words...

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 09:59 PM

oh..


..and the melodies & the arrangements

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 12:27 AM

Absolutely......

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 11:50 AM

i'm looking for a david porter, formerly of glasgow circaa early 70s who adored LC. Helen, is this your husband?

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 02:10 PM

My attitude to LC was initially coloured by the first two LPs- 'music to cut your wrists by' as somebody here has already remarked. Then,2010, he gave an open-air concert here and just for the hell of it I bought a ticket. It was a GREAT concert (2hours +), his voice has matured since the sixties/seventies and ,considering his age, it's way,way better than Dylan's currently is. It was also interesting to note how old songs such as 'Bird on a Wire' have acquired new lyrics (in part).

Subject: RE: Why I love Leonard Cohen's music!
From: Elmore
Date: 30 Jan 12 - 09:34 AM

I had heard just a couple of songs sung by LC, and was unimpressed. A couple of years ago I saw him on PBS and realized either he or my musical taste had altered. After being together for over 20 years my wife and I finally found some music we both enjoyed. We bought and listened to his last 2 cds (and dvds) almost daily. We're waiting for his latest album to show up in the mail this week. We also enjoy his earlier album,"Ten New Songs" I understand that many people don't like his work, but I don't care.