Your Old Ideas listening plans?

[Vicomte]

Vicomte,

You mentioned that you found Leonard to be 'polite and generous' with people. It is a shame that you have not learned anything from him. To me it is the heighth of snobbishness to judge others as you have.

Everyone enjoys Leonard in his/her own way and this is just the place to share our thoughts and news.

I can't see that I haven't been polite, I have given my views and I have been lambasted for them. Rather ironic how when prodded a tad, some of those oh so lovable people feel the need to go on the attack. My views might not be yours, or anyone else's but they are how I see things. If that doesn't sit well, then sorry, I am entitled to feel squeamish at how the adulation is at times just so OTT and almost child like.

As for snobbishness, oh please, I could accuse you of being snobbish for judging me! And why in heavens name is it snobbishness to personally believe it is OTT?

[scocoh]

--

[TipperaryAnn]

My views might not be yours, or anyone else's but they are how I see things.

Perhaps this should be written in big letters above every thread!

Everyone agrees that Leonard Cohen is polite and courteous as a person, but in writing he has never been afraid to express his opinion, and many of his views could be seen as highly controversial. On a forum dedicated to him you would expect a tolerance for difference of opinion, an honest expression of individual viewpoint, not a tendency here and in some other threads to "gang up " on anyone who doesn't go with the flow. ( the use of "we " in some posts, for instance - to whom does "we" refer? )

Did you ever notice how the "viewing figures" go up whenever there is a hint of controversy? Not everyone likes too much sugar in his or her tea!

[Vicomte]

scocoh wrote:

Here's guessing that the tea and sandwich you mentioned were a bitter herb tea and a crab salad sandwich.

I'd argue with you, but I'm busy planning my Bay City Rollers theme picnic as we speak.

Poor guess, it was tea and oranges that came all the way from China (did you see what I did there?)

Knew it, a closet Bay City Roller fan!

[LisaLCFan]

So, did anyone else enjoy Leonard's beautiful new album in a particularly special way, that made it meaningful and memorable? (Let's get this thread back to where it started, shall we?)

[TommyJ]

Clementine - re Come Healing, you said it all. I had pretty much the same experience. Wow. I don't recall an album moving me to tears and making me laugh out loud, both on first listening.

[holydove]

Actually, every time I listen to Leonard Cohen, it is a special & ceremonious event. But with this new album, it was even more special & ceremonious. So I created my usual setting for the great event: I waited for a time when there would be no distraction, I sat alone in my quiet little study, put the earphones on & dimmed the lights; my body doesn't like alcohol very much, so I used a different substance - one that goes very well with music. . .The real difference, this time, was not so much the setting, as the level of excitement that I felt; I always feel excitement when I'm about to listen to Leonard Cohen, but now the excitement was, shall we say, hiked up a couple of notches! And oh. . .when I heard these stunning new gems, the excitement was transformed to speechless, incredulous ecstasy - I felt totally enveloped & immersed in this haunting, hypnotic sea of beauty. . .well, I won't go on about the brilliance & perfection of the album, as this thread is not about that - but I just wanted to add my joyous experience here, & say how lovely it's been reading about everyone's excitement & sense of ceremony, in hearing Leonard's Beautiful New Album; it's so nice to know that there's a community of people who share this feeling of reverence & awe about the resplendent gifts of creation that this Brilliant Master of Poetry & Song continues to so generously offer - to anyone with ears to hear.

[Evie B]

According to the sleeve notes that is Dana Clover singing the vocals on Come Healing but I was convinced it was The Webb Sisters and was surprised when I didn't see them listed for this song. Almost through my second listening of the album and like you it has moved me to tears. It is simply amazing in every aspect from lyrics to melody and from Leonard's vocals to the vocals of Sharon, Jennifer, Anjani,The Webb Sisters and Dana. I agree with you this album should have the warning attached [/quote]

Hi Musicmania

Nowhere is Anjani mentioned as singing on any of the tracks, and though she is credited with writing the music for and producing Crazy To Love You, Leonard sings it on his own just accompanied by himself playing his guitar. She did a good job on that music, it suits the words very well.

Evie B

[Vicomte]

.................it's so nice to know that there's a community of people who share this feeling of reverence & awe about the resplendent gifts of creation that this Brilliant Master of Poetry & Song continues to so generously offer - to anyone with ears to hear.

Oh dear, toooo much

Generously offer? I paid £8.99

[LisaLCFan]

Generously offer? I paid £8.99

I know, isn't that an amazing bargain! Just think of the many hours, and even years, of enjoyment that we'll get from this album, for only 9 quid (or, in my case, $12 Canadian)!

[Vicomte]

Well I could have downloaded it free and made it a truly generous offer but it was the thought of one of the people on here sending down a thunderbolt that made me buy it legally

[Tedham]

Am I the only one that will just bung it on the CD player, sit and listen to it?

Quite possibly

[Evie B]

Good decision Vicomte, you dodged the plague, pestilence and flood as well as the thunderbolt

Evie B

[Vicomte]

Cripes, I was lucky then

[holydove]

..................

Oh dear, toooo much

Generously offer? I paid £8.99

Vicomte, I hesitate to get into this, but I'm not sure if you were joking or serious here. Are you saying that you don't see the element of generosity in Leonard's Art? I don't know what the word means to you, but for me, it is not only about money. For decades, he has exposed the depths of his heart, for all the world to see, & relentlessly continues to do so; & as for money, we pay 8.99 for artistic expression that is born of the most grueling & intense soul-searching one could ever imagine. I see the offering of one's deepest inner experience, to the world, as a very high level of generosity.

Leonard's son, Adam, said that his father's chief occupation is to divine what people need, & give it to them before they ask. It occurred to me that, among other amazing things, this is something that Leonard has done for me, too. With his incomparable music & poetry, he has always given me just what I needed (& more. . .), before I even knew what I needed, never mind being able to ask for it.

I know everyone experiences Leonard Cohen's work in their own way, & I have no desire to convince anyone of anything; I just felt compelled to clarify what I meant by "generosity", & the above is just my humble little perspective. . .And you did insert a "laughing face", so if it was a joke, I apologize for my solemnity. . .