Leonard Cohen

He just IS super cool.

How did I not fully realize this until tonight?

I bought Cohen's first album in '68. Read his novels and poetry the same year. I love everything he does.

Several popular composers were asked what song they wish they had written: Hallelujah.

Cohen's voice, which speaks or sings the lyrics, has a strong effect on me, too. But my brain is very sound-oriented, so your experience may differ.

I don't know, k!

I'm a fool for Leonard's music. Mostly the more recent recordings these days.
He writes so beautifully. He sings his songs with such feeling. He's just brilliant.
I think I'm in love!

It took me a listen to Leonard Cohen and his interview with Terri Gross to find out how cool he was back in 2009.

Great interview:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102692227
As soon as I heard that his business manager stole millions of dollars from his account while he was on a 5 year stint at a Zen retreat, I went and bought up his double live album:
Live In London

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ZRYQSO/ref=mu_dm_alb_dp

He has a great voice. He is a god with words.

I love his wry sense of humour.
His political nous.
His brilliant, spot-on writing ...
The fact that he doesn't take himself too seriously ..

One of my (many) favourite Leonard songs:



"Everybody Knows"

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died

Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows

Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows

And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows

And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows

The Stranger song

It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter
I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.

Chorus 1:
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.

Chorus 2:
And then leaning on your window sill
he'll say one day you caused his will
to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
an old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger.

But now another stranger seems
to want you to ignore his dreams
as though they were the burden of some other
O you've seen that man before
his golden arm dispatching cards
but now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.

Ah you hate to see another tired man
lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
you notice there's a highway
that is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder.

You tell him to come in sit down
but something makes you turn around
The door is open you can't close your shelter
You try the handle of the road
It opens do not be afraid
It's you my love, you who are the stranger
It's you my love, you who are the stranger.

Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
we'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
I think it's time to board another
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
to get me to the heart of this
or any other matter
When he talks like this
you don't know what he's after
When he speaks like this,
you don't know what he's after.

Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
upon the shore, beneath the bridge
that they are building on some endless river
Then he leaves the platform
for the sleeping car that's warm
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
And you say ok the bridge or someplace later.

I really love the current Cohen most, too!

It was Live in London that I was watching tonight! So amazing... He'd have been about 74 during that concert.

I downloaded that from iTunes a little while ago.

Thanks for that interview, Tsar!

De rien....

yeah, his more recent songs (the past 10 years) are quite impressive but his work from the 70's and 80's is really really good too.(except the one Phil Spector produced---"Death of a Ladies Man") my favorite CD is Leonard Cohen Live recorded in Paris and London I think in the late 70's.

I just bought the Live in London 2008 double disc. I'll start there.

I shall have a look at that, thankee.

interesting story, probably 15 yrs ago I was visiting my brother in San Diego and we went down to a small club in the Gas Light; during the evening Leonard Cohen showed up, got on a small stage with 2 female backup singers, he performed "First we take Manhattan" and then left the stage. Everyone was stunned.

Wow, talk about getting lucky!

Did you have any dealings with Cohen back in your DJ days?