Who knows Leonard Cohen?

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

I've always known who he is. Heard some stuff, but really don't know his music.

A friend of mine recently hipped me to these two, and so now I want to know Leonard Cohen.

I expected the lyrics to be wonderful, and they are. But I was surprised how sweet the tunes were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8fT7rnRotY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fMnF0Fvdpo

For some reason, I'm getting a cross between Bob Dylan and Rod McKuen.

MaeZe · Jun 26, 2016

Democracy is coming to the USA - incredible poet/singer/songwriter.

Kerosene · Jun 26, 2016

You do know about Hallelujah, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttEMYvpoR-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBo-n_17XU0

And yes, Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright are also worth checking out. It's not like my current avatar is Rufus in Elizabethan drag from his newest album... or anything.

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

Thanks, guys. Liked that one, Mae. And yes, I do know Halleujah, never heard that one from Buckley, tho. Thanks!

mccardey · Jun 26, 2016

I saw him in concert a couple of years ago in a vineyard in the Southern Highlands. God he was wonderful. Famous Blue Raincoat and The Chelsea Hotel were stunning. And his backup people were brilliant. Closing Time - just fabulous!

rugcat · Jun 26, 2016

Maze Runner said:
Thanks, guys. Liked that one, Mae. And yes, I do know Halleujah, never heard that one from Buckley, tho. Thanks!

The one from Jeff Buckley is for me the absolute standard. I can't listen to it without the hair on the back of my neck rising. Jeff Buckley was a great singer who died way too young.

Leonard Cohen has been a cult figure for decades of course, but I've always felt he was a great songwriter who songs were best interpreted by others.

Williebee · Jun 26, 2016

I think my favorite Cohen songs are Everybody Knows and Tower of Song.
Speaking of covers, Don Henley did a nice cover of Everybody Knows on a solo album, Actual Miles.

About a year ago a friend turned me on to a really surprising cover of Tower of Song, from 2012, by Tom Jones.

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

I've always admired his writing but never cared for his singing... but he's clearly gotten significantly better with age. I would recommend his 2008 Live in London concert to anyone and everyone - not only has his singing mellowed, he has some wonderful musicians working with him (particularly Dino Soldo and Javier Mas).

AW Admin · Jun 26, 2016

Cohen's lyrics started appearing in poetry anthologies in the late 1970s; I remember looking for his music as a teen because his "Susanne" was in a high school English text book as a companion poem to the Lennon-McCartney "Eleanor Rigby."

Lots of incredible work, and he's written specifically for lots of other musicians, too.

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

Williebee said:
I think my favorite Cohen songs are Everybody Knows and Tower of Song.
Speaking of covers, Don Henley did a nice cover of Everybody Knows on a solo album, Actual Miles.

About a year ago a friend turned me on to a really surprising cover of Tower of Song, from 2012, by Tom Jones.

If you like Cohen covers, check out the tribute album I'm Your Fan (there are a couple of other tributes, but that's my favorite). Suzanne Vega did an AMAZING version of "The Story of Isaac" that I adore, and Billy Joel's version of "Light as the Breeze" is good as well.

Maryn · Jun 26, 2016

I once had a chance to sit next to and meet KTC at a Cohen concert, if I could get to Toronto in an hour or less. I could not. (I forget why he had a spare, but I would have enjoyed that thoroughly.)

Maryn, who's still never seen him live, no matter which "he" you refer to

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

rugcat said:
The one from Jeff Buckley is for me the absolute standard. I can't listen to it without the hair on the back of my neck rising. Jeff Buckley was a great singer who died way too young.

Leonard Cohen has been a cult figure for decades of course, but I've always felt he was a great songwriter who songs were best interpreted by others.

Yeah, I think that's what I'm getting so far. I'll tell ya though, I don't need a booming baritone with a three octave range and perfectly spaced vibrato.

A lot of people feel the same about Dylan, and if I recall I used to be one of them. But that's 'cause I was/am so caught up in the standards and jazz, and really the time of specialists. But more and more I appreciate an interpreter. That's what I think Dylan is. He communicates a lyric. I'd say the same about Jagger, who's not blessed with the best voice, but damn, that guy knows how to deliver a song.

Haven't heard enough from Cohen to say the same.

Any covers you can think of, John. Other than the ones that have been mentioned, that I should listen to?

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

Williebee said:
I think my favorite Cohen songs are Everybody Knows and Tower of Song.
Speaking of covers, Don Henley did a nice cover of Everybody Knows on a solo album, Actual Miles.

About a year ago a friend turned me on to a really surprising cover of Tower of Song, from 2012, by Tom Jones.

Liked the Don Henley thing, LOVED the Tom Jones thing. I'd have thought the reverse.

Damn, listening to Tower of Song again. Literal chills all the way thru. Great words, and GREAT interpretation by Tom Jones.

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

Maze Runner said:
Any covers you can think of, John. Other than the ones that have been mentioned, that I should listen to?

{disclaimer: I'm not John

}

Jennifer Warnes recorded a whole album of Cohen covers, it's overall okay but moderately forgettable... but the duet between her and Cohen on Joan of Arc is really essential. As is John Cale's version of Hallelujah (the one that was used in Shrek, and long my sentimental favorite).

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

Williebee said:
About a year ago a friend turned me on to a really surprising cover of Tower of Song, from 2012, by Tom Jones.

Damn, that's nice. Thanks!

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

edutton said:
{disclaimer: I'm not John }

Jennifer Warnes recorded a whole album of Cohen covers, it's overall okay but moderately forgettable... but the duet between her and Cohen on Joan of Arc is really essential. As is John Cale's version of Hallelujah (the one that was used in Shrek, and long my sentimental favorite).

Listening to the thing with Warnes right now. Simply gorgeous. I'm almost getting a Tom Waits vibe from his voice.

Also, just realized he wrote "Dance Me to the End of Love." I only knew the Madeline Peyroux version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqpOFQvMM1A

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

Maze Runner said:
Listening to the thing with Warnes right now. Simply gorgeous. I'm almost getting a Tom Waits vibe from his voice.

Also, just realized he wrote "Dance Me to the End of Love." I only knew the Madeline Peyroux version.

I like Peyroux, but this version is a bit too smooth, I feel... check out the Live in London version

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

Just found this, it's great. "Because of a few songs, where I'd spoke of their mystery, women have been exceptionally kind, to my old age... Look at me Leonard, look at me one last time." So evocative. True to life, right? I know he started out writing novels. Ha, I think I heard him say something along the lines of, I became a songwriter to make money. That will tell you how bad it was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6B2E337aDc

Maze Runner · Jun 26, 2016

edutton said:
I like Peyroux, but this version is a bit too smooth, I feel... check out the Live in London version

You're right. I prefer this, too. Thanks!

edutton · Jun 26, 2016

Maze Runner said:
I know he started out writing novels. Ha, I think I heard him say something along the lines of, I became a songwriter to make money. That will tell you how bad it was.

I tried to read one of his novels, once. Once.

poetinahat · Jun 26, 2016

I'm a fan of Everybody Knows. His version, and a great cover by the Washington Squares.

Xelebes · Jun 27, 2016

As a Canadian, I've always known him it seems like. I even checked out his two NFB films from 1965 and 1966

Xelebes · Jun 27, 2016

Maze Runner said:
Listening to the thing with Warnes right now. Simply gorgeous. I'm almost getting a Tom Waits vibe from his voice.

Cohen is one of the class of stellar songwriters who admit that their voice is garbage but since he recites his songs, it'll do. Another singer I group in with them is fellow Canadian Ron Sexsmith

Maze Runner · Jun 27, 2016

From what I've heard, he does recite his songs. Though I thought I heard him approach a singing voice in a couple of these things. It's best that he accept his limitations, and anyway, it works. I like the tone of his voice, and he's thinking about the meaning of the words. Some of the best voices pay no attention to the words. So, even if they can really belt, are technically outstanding, there's no dramatic effect and suddenly it's so shallow it's an offense.

There are some traditionally great singers, and this is partly subjective, but whose voices and shallow lyric interpretation make me cringe.

edutton · Jun 27, 2016

Maze Runner said:
There are some traditionally great singers, and this is partly subjective, but whose voices and shallow lyric interpretation make me cringe.

+1

Who knows Leonard Cohen?

Maze Runner

MaeZe

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

Maze Runner

mccardey

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

AW Admin

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

Maryn

Baaa!

Maze Runner

Maze Runner

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

Maze Runner

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

Maze Runner

Maze Runner

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.

poetinahat

say it loud

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui

Maze Runner

edutton

Ni. Peng. Neee-Wom.