Leonard Cohen interviewed by Matt Zimbel 1988

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  • Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
  • This is the raw footage of an interview I did with Leonard in 1988 in Toronto at the Four Seasons Hotel. for a BBC/ABC/CBC co-production documentary music show I co-hosted called “Wired”. The interview has never been seen in it's full length before. At times it will require your patience as the tape was quite degraded and we have done our best to restore, but felt the content should rule and therefore there are some spotty moments. Since this is a television interview one must quickly note that while the subject looks timeless, the interviewer is clearly the victim of vintage 1980's "hairdressing", which was shortly thereafter considered a fashion crime.
    Leonard is a master interview subject; present, measured, funny, philosophical. His vocabulary is striking, but not in a pretentious way; for example he might call a tour, “an enterprise” or an abandoned idea would “overthrown”, to get out of something, one might “extract “ themselves…He speaks slowly, allowing himself time... to... consider... what... to... say. next. It is a journalistic seduction - one starts to wait for the considered words of the poet with great anticipation. But unlike so many of the famous, his willingness to connect appears so genuine. During our interview I truly believed there was no place he would rather be than talking to me.
    I bragged to my journalist friends, ‘oh man, wait until you hear the interview I did with Leonard, it was incredible, he was so charming, so engaged…no question this is the best interview I have ever heard him do”.
    “Really?” they would say, “he did a pretty great one on our show too”.
    “ Yeah, right!”
    And then I would hear the interview on their show and it would be the same interview, just as warm, just as revealing, just as exclusive feeling… but not exclusive at all, God damn it.
    PS: I later performed with Leonard in 1993. I miss him greatly, particularly his world view on human kind. He passed away the night before Donald Trump was elected President of the United States.

Комментарии • 75

  • @irblock1
    @irblock1 3 года назад +19

    That was a fine interview, well done, Matt, and of course, Leonard was just, Leonard -
    honest, somewhat revealing, cooperating with the process.

  • @brendaannedufaur6244
    @brendaannedufaur6244 4 года назад +26

    I like Matt very much. A respectful and knowledgeable interviewer.

  • @johnmccann8319
    @johnmccann8319 Год назад +3

    Brilliant Leonard.

  • @allisonberringer4283
    @allisonberringer4283 2 года назад +4

    He must have been amazing to be around. He is so calm and oh, that crooked smile!! He was a lovely man and left us with such beautiful music and poetry.

  • @thomasnewman5497
    @thomasnewman5497 6 лет назад +35

    Thank you for this. Mr. Cohen is the finest interviewee I've seen. Each interview is a gem.

  • @musicisbrilliant
    @musicisbrilliant 6 лет назад +14

    So grateful for these interviews. Always get somethin' from em!

  • @OzerBergman
    @OzerBergman 2 года назад +3

    "The tomb of the unknown record" -- this is why he never sold as well in the USA. A shame -- for Americans.

  • @blakeaaron5698
    @blakeaaron5698 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you much for sharing.

  • @schumachersbatman5094
    @schumachersbatman5094 7 лет назад +13

    I think you are right about your interview, and your friends are right about theirs. He really is open and revealing in many of the interviews he does. After all, his poetry and lyrics are all about self-investigation and honesty without slogans and evasions so I think it has trained him to answer as it is. I've never heard of the forest ranger idea, or that he still entertained being a defence lawyer (he did try Colombia for that) but decided that those dreams where over, it really adds another page to his biography.
    I actually just read Sylvia Simmons biography and she too feels like she got bamboozled in her interviews, and that he had avoided substance in favour of his warmth and charm. I don't understand that at all, to me he answers everything at length!
    Great interview!

  • @eisteachbhinn
    @eisteachbhinn 4 года назад +5

    ‘a lot of people appear to be in trouble’ ~ human suffering, the ancient dilemma. LC’s insights of living through life are valuable teachings, should we care to truly listen. Grateful for this recording 🙏🏻❤️

    • @mattzimbel8240
      @mattzimbel8240 3 года назад +2

      Yes that was a line that stuck out for me too. Remember this is 1988!

    • @eisteachbhinn
      @eisteachbhinn 3 года назад

      @@mattzimbel8240 .. thanks for posting the interview and for your feedback.

    • @eisteachbhinn
      @eisteachbhinn 3 года назад +1

      @@mattzimbel8240 ... listening to it again this evening (6th Nov). You interviewed him really well. Apart from asking great questions, I liked that you asked if he was enjoying himself, I liked that you shared a good laugh and that knock on the door was perfect timing!

  • @marywhite6672
    @marywhite6672 7 лет назад +10

    That you Matt for your wonderful interview. Especially the kudos to Jennifer Warnes. Famous Blue Raincoat is one of my favorites. Don't worry 80s hair don't care!

  • @odilesupiot1036
    @odilesupiot1036 Год назад +3

    L' homme dans toute sa splendeur.❤❤❤

  • @katiecannon8186
    @katiecannon8186 4 года назад +3

    Such a nice, thoughtful interviewer. Thanks Matt. Hope your life is well and your hair has changed 😉

  • @noparty5183
    @noparty5183 7 лет назад +5

    With love to the maestro ....given me so much❤️

  • @styxcreek
    @styxcreek 7 лет назад +7

    Thanks for sharing. You asked some great questions. Love the ending.

  • @robbiepeterh
    @robbiepeterh 3 года назад +3

    His voice is so deep and smooth.

  • @cherlmedley9909
    @cherlmedley9909 3 года назад +2

    Your songs they come until later but when they came we loved them and still do we loved you and still do and still like your songs

  • @ShahyarGhanbari
    @ShahyarGhanbari 7 лет назад +20

    Thanks a lot......We MISS the MAESTRO too........

    • @irishelk3
      @irishelk3 7 лет назад

      The legend.

    • @lesleylofthouse276
      @lesleylofthouse276 6 лет назад

      Shahyar Ghanbari -Wonderful wordsmith- always makes me ponder his clever and deep lyrics .Rest in peace Mr Cohen .

  • @arthousefilms
    @arthousefilms 3 года назад +2

    Thanks so much for this!! Incredible. Your questions are excellent! Exactly what I wanted to learn about him!

  • @pauljones5066
    @pauljones5066 2 года назад +1

    Great interview, man, respect.

  • @anderssolberg6594
    @anderssolberg6594 3 года назад +2

    Great interviewer! loved it

  • @Shelley550
    @Shelley550 3 года назад +1

    Ģreat interview, he's always so open ~ l can't believe they knocked on the door!

  • @garysergeant9086
    @garysergeant9086 3 года назад +1

    What a lovely interview

    • @mattzimbel8240
      @mattzimbel8240 3 года назад

      Thank you Gary it was a pleasure to meet Leonard and 4 years later I got to play a couple of shows with him.

  • @andreewert1142
    @andreewert1142 5 лет назад +7

    RIP Leonard Cohen ..your spirit guides me..we are all proud of you back here in Montreal..but you probably read my posts up in Heaven...lol

  • @danielamondschein
    @danielamondschein 4 дня назад

    I miss him.

  • @mariacahill5226
    @mariacahill5226 11 месяцев назад +1

    RIP LEONARD ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @MRbeqa100
    @MRbeqa100 2 года назад

    True gentle man

  • @fiorellafenati5395
    @fiorellafenati5395 3 года назад +5

    yes, L:C " he was so charming,

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Halleluah

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Freedom of Jazz

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Doesn’t matter what is happening to you

  • @cameliadumitru1473
    @cameliadumitru1473 5 лет назад +3

    My angel,Leonard

  • @eileenlohrer5876
    @eileenlohrer5876 Год назад

    I don't know him yet I miss him 💞

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Walking in Memphis

  • @foljs5858
    @foljs5858 3 года назад +2

    Antony Bourdain of music

  • @moondancer9066
    @moondancer9066 3 года назад

    I'm North American and I instantly fell in love with "I'm your Man"

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Walking in Memphas

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    The Jazz Place

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Montreal

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Clinical Depression

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Jennifer Warren

  • @69Mucci
    @69Mucci 4 месяца назад

    I find Leonard to be hilarious

  • @permanentkick
    @permanentkick 2 года назад

    What was the date of the interview? November 1988 by chance?

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Neil Young Joni Mitcelll

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Famous Blue Raincoat

  • @maxsmart99
    @maxsmart99 Год назад

    💯💯💯💯💯💯

  • @growingmelancholy8374
    @growingmelancholy8374 5 лет назад +1

    it is sad that leonard cohen could never achieve what most of us have achieved

  • @MrField2005
    @MrField2005 Год назад +1

    Bad interviewer, but good interviewee

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Books vs songs

  • @MahanFarzad
    @MahanFarzad 2 года назад +1

    hmm... he looks sad

  • @MariaWestworth
    @MariaWestworth 4 месяца назад

    Bit serious here

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    50,000 cigarettez

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Chris Isaacs

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад

    Mon trek

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Journals

  • @sr.cosmos4543
    @sr.cosmos4543 Год назад

    What sick man

  • @carolannesmart
    @carolannesmart Месяц назад +1

    Half eaten banana

  • @gushutchinson8758
    @gushutchinson8758 3 года назад +1

    Some pretty dumb questions..potentially awkward but the ever
    polite Leonard resists saying anything hurtful.
    Leonard has plenty of interesting things to say without needing any prompting .

    • @mattzimbel5079
      @mattzimbel5079  3 года назад +1

      Gus, That's why they call it the "idiot box"! all the best mz