Leonard was my man. Still get a tear when I think about him. Things you should realize: Leonard was quite a ladies' man with many beautiful & accomplished women becoming his temporary partners. So just because you think he is old from the photo on the album, don't count him out. In his 60s he was engaged to Rebecca De Mornay. He recorded one album in Nashville, living out in the country. He was always an aesthete with small simple living spaces. Phil Spector produced Cohen's poorest album, Death of A Ladies' Man, put a gun to Cohen's head. Lots of stories and lots of poetry. A songwriter's songwriter.
Leonard Cohen is one of the best poets of our time. I love all his poems and songs, he is a musician's musician, a genius and a legend. I have been listening to him since I was a teen and I am now 73. So he has been a fixture in my life. I usually don't react heavily when celebrities pass but I was devastated when LC passed away. Cohen was a poet and according to him, he had few other talents or abilities. He learned to pick at a guitar and sing in order to use his poetry as a source of income, to provide for his family.
Leonard Cohen is a true Artist - he’s is own category. He was born like this he was born with the gift of a golden voice 😊 Poet ,songwriter,philosopher,lover, seeker of truth and a leader of musicians.
Thank you for reacting to Leonard Cohen. There's not one bad song by him. He may not be the best singer among the songwriters, but he is the best songwriter among the singers.
I very much appreciate Leonard Cohen’s poetry, while Leonard acknowledges he is not a singer, his voice does suit his poetic songs. One of my favourites from this album is I’m Your Man (title track). FYI, for my money k.d. lang’s version of Hallelujah is easily the definitive version, acknowledged by Leonard himself. Superb analysis Justin, thank you and thank you Rob. (Sorry about the late edit)
Yes - he has also released Hallelujah. I just realized that I should have considered some live tracks in this set, my bad... I hadn't thought about the "stylist" angle... Didn't William Shattner get into "artistic spoken performance" at some point, taking it to the extreme? lol
He is one of our proudest Canadian icons. He was a poet whose poems were put to music. You should do Closing Time with the official video or You Want It Darker.
This album was released around the time when Leonard changed his vocal style, from a higher voice to a lower and deeper voice. To hear how he sang in the late 1960s and early - mid 1970s, check the studio version of "Suzanne" or "Bird on a Wire" or "Sisters of Mercy" or "So Long, Marianne", or "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye", or "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", or "Famous Blue Raincoat" or... there are so many great ones 😁
It's not much of a surprise that the focus is on the lyrics given that Cohen was a poet and occasional author long before he took up singing. Check out his bio, I found it to be of interest and you might, too. Btw, his music career got going in the 60's, which was rather late for a guy born in 1934.
hey, If you want to listen to Leonard Cohen, there are his well-known songs like "So long, marianne", "Suzanne", "Hallelujah" "Diamond in the mine", or more rarely performed "Please Don't Pass Me By" ( is Live ). Cohen is a rock poet. It's a shame he left us. If you listen to any of the suggestions, have fun with the music of a great composer and lyricist. Please don't expect hard rock music.
Thank you for your reaction! Leonard Cohen wrote Hallelujah and wrote 80+ verses. Shortly before he passed away he sang a cover of Hurt by 9 inch Nails that is very dark but amazing.
maybe that's not it but what if Cohen starts his notes in almost talking voice but quickly goes to the singing voice and it's as you could hear, on pitch. So he gives the impression of talking and singing at the same time
studying prosody must be interesting, chosing the right vowels and the right chords to evoke what the words are saying or rather the tone of what is being said
bet there's classes about that song so why dont i study that song if it's so interesting huh huh? well that's actually the reason i was youtubing the song as evidenced by the performance LIVE with a large 12-strings mandoling-looking solo ruclips.net/video/T4rf7bAApM4/видео.html&ab_channel=%C5%BDelimirLah
This song actually Cheers me up because its refreshing hearing such bitter, cynic, dark lyrics so it sort of backfires in the same manner that Charles Bukowski is hilarious.
David Johansen would be a great example of a stylist. This is an interesting album. I still don't know who the drummer is on this track. Could be Colaiuta, Brechtlein, or Robidoux. Could be anybody. The oud is a beautiful touch. That's John Bilezikjian.
I was a college radio DJ in the late 80's, and I played the Concrete Blonde version. I loved that song. I didn't know it was a Leonard Cohen song. Shame on me. But since I loved that Concrete Blonde version, this felt like a really cheesy, bad cover. Shame on me again.
What makes you say it's "not close to a good song"? Hypnotic verses, great lyrics, catchy chorus...what part of it isn't "close to good"? Very curious what you mean. Also, regarding him not being a singer...I am reminded of the David Byrne quote - "The better the singer, the harder it is to believe what they're saying". Cohen's one of my fave singers...but so is Tom Waits, David Byrne, Louis Armstrong, Geddy Lee and Bob Dylan...
Leonard was my man. Still get a tear when I think about him.
Things you should realize: Leonard was quite a ladies' man with many beautiful & accomplished women becoming his temporary partners. So just because you think he is old from the photo on the album, don't count him out. In his 60s he was engaged to Rebecca De Mornay.
He recorded one album in Nashville, living out in the country. He was always an aesthete with small simple living spaces. Phil Spector produced Cohen's poorest album, Death of A Ladies' Man, put a gun to Cohen's head.
Lots of stories and lots of poetry. A songwriter's songwriter.
Leonard Cohen is one of the best poets of our time. I love all his poems and songs, he is a musician's musician, a genius and a legend. I have been listening to him since I was a teen and I am now 73. So he has been a fixture in my life. I usually don't react heavily when celebrities pass but I was devastated when LC passed away. Cohen was a poet and according to him, he had few other talents or abilities. He learned to pick at a guitar and sing in order to use his poetry as a source of income, to provide for his family.
Leonard Cohen is a true Artist - he’s is own category. He was born like this he was born with the gift of a golden voice 😊 Poet ,songwriter,philosopher,lover, seeker of truth and a leader of musicians.
Love Leonard, for me The Future is his greatest track. Second greatest songwriter ever:)
Thank you for reacting to Leonard Cohen. There's not one bad song by him. He may not be the best singer among the songwriters, but he is the best songwriter among the singers.
Leonard and Bob Dylan were the poets everyone loved! He wrote so many songs.
My last count has this song covered by 49 different artists & being featured in multiple movies. 🇨🇦 folk / speak-singing
This album has been av favourite since the 80s... and all the rest after as well.. 😃
Leonard Cohen, You want it Darker.
I very much appreciate Leonard Cohen’s poetry, while Leonard acknowledges he is not a singer, his voice does suit his poetic songs. One of my favourites from this album is I’m Your Man (title track). FYI, for my money k.d. lang’s version of Hallelujah is easily the definitive version, acknowledged by Leonard himself. Superb analysis Justin, thank you and thank you Rob. (Sorry about the late edit)
Yes - he has also released Hallelujah. I just realized that I should have considered some live tracks in this set, my bad... I hadn't thought about the "stylist" angle... Didn't William Shattner get into "artistic spoken performance" at some point, taking it to the extreme? lol
Love Leopard Cohen
He is one of our proudest Canadian icons. He was a poet whose poems were put to music. You should do Closing Time with the official video or You Want It Darker.
This album was released around the time when Leonard changed his vocal style, from a higher voice to a lower and deeper voice. To hear how he sang in the late 1960s and early - mid 1970s, check the studio version of "Suzanne" or "Bird on a Wire" or "Sisters of Mercy" or "So Long, Marianne", or "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye", or "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", or "Famous Blue Raincoat" or... there are so many great ones 😁
It has a calm intensity when you consider the lyrics. Sounded like s bazooki.
I love Leonard Cohn. Check out "Closing Time" and "Nevermind"
Donation Request in USD or CAD Funds? 🤑So many great underrated/unknown Canadian artist. *Valdy* comes to mind, even *Rush* was once.
USD
It's not much of a surprise that the focus is on the lyrics given that Cohen was a poet and occasional author long before he took up singing. Check out his bio, I found it to be of interest and you might, too.
Btw, his music career got going in the 60's, which was rather late for a guy born in 1934.
Its the lyrics not just the music you need to listen to!
hey,
If you want to listen to Leonard Cohen, there are his well-known songs like "So long, marianne", "Suzanne", "Hallelujah"
"Diamond in the mine", or more rarely performed "Please Don't Pass Me By" ( is Live ). Cohen is a rock poet. It's a shame he left us.
If you listen to any of the suggestions, have fun
with the music of a great composer and lyricist.
Please don't expect hard rock music.
The best part about hes songs is how hes voice deliver the poetry
Thank you for your reaction!
Leonard Cohen wrote Hallelujah and wrote 80+ verses.
Shortly before he passed away he sang a cover of Hurt by 9 inch Nails that is very dark but amazing.
are you thinking of Johnny Cash ?
@@Newfie-zc7ug you are correct!
maybe that's not it but what if Cohen starts his notes in almost talking voice but quickly goes to the singing voice and it's as you could hear, on pitch. So he gives the impression of talking and singing at the same time
studying prosody must be interesting, chosing the right vowels and the right chords to evoke what the words are saying or rather the tone of what is being said
bet there's classes about that song
so why dont i study that song if it's so interesting huh huh?
well that's actually the reason i was youtubing the song
as evidenced by the performance LIVE with a large 12-strings mandoling-looking solo
ruclips.net/video/T4rf7bAApM4/видео.html&ab_channel=%C5%BDelimirLah
This song actually Cheers me up because its refreshing hearing such bitter, cynic, dark lyrics so it sort of backfires in the same manner that Charles Bukowski is hilarious.
Cohen was HUGE….he is a Poet…..not a singer! He has played some of the best …
Simple song but it has a cool groove.
I' m so confused. Leonard Cohen is legend. In Europe everybody knows his songs. Everybody knows! Wtf is happening in USA?
I was wondering if you would like Leonard since he’s 90% poet and 10% singer. And we know how much you LOVE lyrics. ;)
David Johansen would be a great example of a stylist. This is an interesting album. I still don't know who the drummer is on this track. Could be Colaiuta, Brechtlein, or Robidoux. Could be anybody. The oud is a beautiful touch. That's John Bilezikjian.
The Don Henley version is pretty fire, too.
I value your opinion that Concrete Blonde would go for this cover, btw...
I was a college radio DJ in the late 80's, and I played the Concrete Blonde version. I loved that song. I didn't know it was a Leonard Cohen song. Shame on me. But since I loved that Concrete Blonde version, this felt like a really cheesy, bad cover. Shame on me again.
lol. great story - i can totally see Concrete Blonde being big on college radio in the 80s...
People have said everything I would have except one - Leonard never had to try. 😂
Leonard is a poet, not a singer.
But this one speaks to me, even though it’s not close to a ‘good’ song. Means it’s art, I guess.
What makes you say it's "not close to a good song"? Hypnotic verses, great lyrics, catchy chorus...what part of it isn't "close to good"? Very curious what you mean. Also, regarding him not being a singer...I am reminded of the David Byrne quote - "The better the singer, the harder it is to believe what they're saying". Cohen's one of my fave singers...but so is Tom Waits, David Byrne, Louis Armstrong, Geddy Lee and Bob Dylan...
That’s definitely not country.
Your idea about "not a good singer but still a good singer" makes me wanna recommend Serge Gainsbourg "mon legionaire" as a reaction...