Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

News about Leonard Cohen and his work, press, radio & TV programs etc.
dalsh327
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by dalsh327 »

I remember going to a church service and when they did "Hallelujah", it took so much willpower not to crack up laughing. Maybe "So Long Marianne" would have been better with the leaked tape of his sister trashing him on it that came out.
StewartVaughan
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by StewartVaughan »

Rather than a law suit fight him with humour

Trump, this is just a warning
That we are far from mourning.
Just take that bitter pill, on-
ly your few friends are still fawning.
Though we would love to see you leave before the 4th November
We know you won't, but ask you please to listen and remember
That bluster and dishonesty aren't fitting for a president
Claim you're not going tomorrow ?
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye.
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Cheshire gal
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by Cheshire gal »

How very mean spirited you socialists are. This is just the reaction I expected though.
'...and here's a man still working for your little smile' -Leonard Cohen
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Geoffrey
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by Geoffrey »

Cheshire gal wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:27 pm How very mean spirited you socialists are. This is just the reaction I expected though.
hello cheshire gal. discussing politics always brings out mean spiritedness.
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LisaLCFan
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by LisaLCFan »

"Socialists"?

I've heard that many people believe that "socialists" oppose the ownership of private property.* This is often cited as one of the main reasons why socialism is opposed and denigrated in certain countries.

The RNC clearly had no regard for private property when it violated the express wishes of those who privately own the rights to Leonard's song, as well as violating the copyright laws that prevent unauthorised use of another person's private property.

So, does that mean that the Republicans in question are socialists?


(*That, of course, is not necessarily true: socialism is not theoretically equated with a total lack of private property, but that does not stop a lot of people from believing that it is.)
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panjandrum
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Re: RNC use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by panjandrum »

Geoffrey wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:42 am the webmaster should stop this thread. it is becoming too politically opinionated, and that is no way to encourage interest in leonard's music.
Unfortunately we are being dragged back into a world where politics are of upmost import.

Suggested readings: In the Garden of Beasts, The Splendid and the Vile, Faster (How a Jewish Driver...), 1984, etc. Got to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Witness for yourself the way the current language of the GOP mirrors that fascist Germany.

That the RNC would use Hallelujah is utterly despicable, but why should that surprise any of us? Look who it is.

As a Leonard fan, keep this in mind: Had Hitler had is way, we would have none of Leonard's genius.

Think the Trump and the GOP are really all that different? Better read my above suggested readings.
Last edited by panjandrum on Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by B4real »

I’m not into politics but couldn’t resist posting the following videos.
Maybe the inspiration for Trump using Hallelujah at this time came from them :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExHd1ZGYCm8
“George W Bush” sings Hallelujah to Donald Trump!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0HCUvUzkdE
Even Forrest Trump sings Hallelujah!

And trying to balance the above I remembered Leonard saying this about his song Democracy in The Future Radio Special 1992 interview:
“I began the song about democracy in 1988 and I didn't get it out until 1992. Well by the time I got it out, the song was co-opted as a tool for the Democratic party. It was played on radio stations the week of the election. And it seemed to fit in with the president-elect's [Bill Clinton] program. But hopefully my songs, which last as long as Volvos - that's 30 years. Hopefully my song will outlast this administration.(..) I have about 50 verses of Democracy that I discarded. It examined many, many themes. It was occasioned by the collapse of the Berlin Wall. It is a song where there's no inside and no outside. This is just the life of the democracy. It isn't imposed from above. It isn't connected to a Democratic victory or a Republican victory”.

Here’s an old recited version of Democracy by Leonard -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbqM9R8g7rU
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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Geoffrey
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Re: RNC use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by Geoffrey »

panjandrum wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:40 am
Geoffrey wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:42 am the webmaster should stop this thread. it is becoming too politically opinionated, and that is no way to encourage interest in leonard's music.
Unfortunately we are being dragged back into a world where politics are of upmost import.

Suggested readings: In the Garden of Beasts, The Splendid and the Vile, Faster (How a Jewish Driver...), 1984, etc. Got to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Witness for yourself the way the current language of the GOP mirrors that fascist Germany.

That the RNC would use Hallelujah is utterly despicable, but why should that surprise any of us? Look who it is.

As a Leonard fan, keep this in mind: Had Hitler had is way, we would have none of Leonard's genius.

Think the Trump and the GOP are really all that different? Better read my above suggested readings.
'hallelujah' coming through a PA system has nothing to do with hitler. please delete your message.
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panjandrum
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Re: RNC use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by panjandrum »

Geoffrey wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:11 am
panjandrum wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:40 am
Geoffrey wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:42 am the webmaster should stop this thread. it is becoming too politically opinionated, and that is no way to encourage interest in leonard's music.
Unfortunately we are being dragged back into a world where politics are of upmost import.

Suggested readings: In the Garden of Beasts, The Splendid and the Vile, Faster (How a Jewish Driver...), 1984, etc. Got to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Witness for yourself the way the current language of the GOP mirrors that fascist Germany.

That the RNC would use Hallelujah is utterly despicable, but why should that surprise any of us? Look who it is.

As a Leonard fan, keep this in mind: Had Hitler had is way, we would have none of Leonard's genius.

Think the Trump and the GOP are really all that different? Better read my above suggested readings.
'hallelujah' coming through a PA system has nothing to do with hitler. please delete your message.
Absolutely will not delete my message. Think that the GOP / Trump has nothing to do with fascism and Hitler? Think there are not extreme parallels between the GOP/Trump and Germany from time of the Weimar Republic through the ultimate rise of Hitler? Think the fascist manipulation of media bears no resemblance to the GOP/Trump attempting to do the same? The parallels are shocking, angering, downright terrifying, and good people around the world are not remaining quiet. I suggest educating yourself. The people of the world have made that mistake of remaining quiet in the face of evil before, repeatedly. Let's all hope it never happens again. A good place to start are my suggested readings above. They will shock you to your core. They are also not simply dry history tomes, so they are good reads. Riveting.

The bottom line is that it's a common trait of repressives, totalitarians, dictators and fascists to co-opt symbols and use them for their own purposes. We see it over and over, whether it is openly, or as covert dog-whistles. Letting that happen to ANY of Cohen's works would be a travesty, let alone Hallelujah. But that's a tiny point compared to the horror it represents.
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Geoffrey
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Re: RNC use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by Geoffrey »

this forum is becoming an unattractive place to visit.
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by jarkko »

Trump vs Biden etc discussion has to continue in the Politics section of this Forum! Go to https://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewforum.php?f=33
This thread was only about the use of Hallelujah.
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Jem
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by Jem »

That is a quite brilliant statement.
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vlcoats
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by vlcoats »

Regarding the song, and not the political use of it, I am wondering why people, in online comments (example https://www.newsweek.com/leonard-cohen- ... nc-1528260) have been saying that the song is a "break-up song". Hallelujah touches many realms, but I am not sure I have heard that about it before. Can anyone enlighten me?
Thanks,
Vickie
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B4real
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by B4real »

Vickie, I've replied to your question here - https://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewt ... 49#p375249
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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panjandrum
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Re: Statement from Cohen Estate: Unauthorized use of "Hallelujah" as finale to Convention Festivities

Post by panjandrum »

Jem wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:56 pm That is a quite brilliant statement.
Yeah, it makes me laugh over and over. The author of that response certainly captured a bit of the classic Cohen humor there. Unfortunately the people who need to read that response won't. Or if they do, let's face it, they simply won't understand it. Here it hoping that they actually launch a lawsuit (maybe get together with all the other artists who have had to send cease and desist letters to Trump.)

Really, this is one of the most grotesque examples of attempted cultural misappropriation I can imagine. It's on par with them using "Imagine," come to think of it.
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