Three Years Later
Three Years Later
You could say that I am having withdrawal symptoms from no more LC concerts so I decided to look for new Leonard videos to fill the void and I recently came across this one. It is from the very first night of the world tour concert 11th May 2008 at Fredericton and a rather slightly apprehensive Leonard speaks early in the first set about his first stage appearance for 14 years.
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FpJ-xq ... re=related
I then watched Hallelujah from the same concert and was instantly struck by the evolvement of Leonard’s performance of this song over the last three years.
here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZWCgwzQ_4g
In this one there is no kneeling as there is in this the final night of the world tour concert 11th Dec 2010 Las Vegas.
here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yy6tgtXg8k
The videos are adequate enough to differentiate between the choreography as it was then and as it is now. There is no naming of the city yet in which he is playing. I also suspect that his hat and suit are a different style and colour to the current day ones. It’s interesting to note how this performance which started almost 3 years ago has quietly changed into the shape of the song that we now are accustomed to.
If rumours prove true and there is going to be a tour in 2012 I wonder how this and other songs will be presented? Maybe they will stay the same, maybe not.
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FpJ-xq ... re=related
I then watched Hallelujah from the same concert and was instantly struck by the evolvement of Leonard’s performance of this song over the last three years.
here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZWCgwzQ_4g
In this one there is no kneeling as there is in this the final night of the world tour concert 11th Dec 2010 Las Vegas.
here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yy6tgtXg8k
The videos are adequate enough to differentiate between the choreography as it was then and as it is now. There is no naming of the city yet in which he is playing. I also suspect that his hat and suit are a different style and colour to the current day ones. It’s interesting to note how this performance which started almost 3 years ago has quietly changed into the shape of the song that we now are accustomed to.
If rumours prove true and there is going to be a tour in 2012 I wonder how this and other songs will be presented? Maybe they will stay the same, maybe not.
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!
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!
Re: Three Years Later
Thank you Bev for bringing back these lovely memories!
Columbia May 11, 2009; Boston May 29, 2009; Durham November 3, 2009; Las Vegas December 10 & 11, 2010; Austin November 1, 2012; Boston December 15, 2012; Brooklyn December 20, 2012
Re: Three Years Later
Fascinating! Love it! Thanks, Bev.
His suit did change drastically- the grey pin-striped double-breasted one he wore at the beginning of the tour always struck me as too big for him. He started wearing the black single button later on (sometime in 2009?), and it seemed to be tailored for him.
His suit did change drastically- the grey pin-striped double-breasted one he wore at the beginning of the tour always struck me as too big for him. He started wearing the black single button later on (sometime in 2009?), and it seemed to be tailored for him.
"In this world of shallow, he is the abyss."~ YouTube commenter greg450318
________________________________________________________________
Lyon, July 2008 / Oakland x2, April 2009 / San Jose, November 2009 / Oakland, December 2010 / San Jose, November 2012 / Oakland, March 2013
________________________________________________________________
Lyon, July 2008 / Oakland x2, April 2009 / San Jose, November 2009 / Oakland, December 2010 / San Jose, November 2012 / Oakland, March 2013
Re: Three Years Later
Thanks Avi and Esther, it was my absolute pleasure
You know, I hadn’t realised how much Leonard and the band had changed over that period until I compared the two Hallelujah’s and his first audience address when even he says he’s nervous. Just take a look at the confident Vancouver one 9 days before the last concert in Las Vegas. Interestingly both were spoken in his native land of Canada.
here: intro before Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6O9HiPvSBI
Regards Fredericton –
If anyone can translate the French words that he is saying just before singing Hallelujah that would be great. He also gives a French intro to In My Secret Life as well and same goes for that thanks. I can understand a few words but not the rest. Please help if you can.
here: audio only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYaDMEET8bA
What this has done is to make me take a good comparable look at the available videos from the first concert to the last one. I wish there were more quantity and quality videos of this first concert. Things have changed. The songs themselves have taken on another life of their own. Leonard’s voice to me seems so much stronger and melodic these days. His movement around the stage exudes confidence and his manner is wonderfully animated. There is so much more interaction with the other band members. Since beginning the tour almost three years ago he looks and seems younger now not older!
Another general observation is that he started this tour on the 11th day of a month and finished it on the 11th day of a month.
That being the case, I just can’t wait for the 11th day of ANY month in 2012!!!
You know, I hadn’t realised how much Leonard and the band had changed over that period until I compared the two Hallelujah’s and his first audience address when even he says he’s nervous. Just take a look at the confident Vancouver one 9 days before the last concert in Las Vegas. Interestingly both were spoken in his native land of Canada.
here: intro before Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6O9HiPvSBI
Regards Fredericton –
If anyone can translate the French words that he is saying just before singing Hallelujah that would be great. He also gives a French intro to In My Secret Life as well and same goes for that thanks. I can understand a few words but not the rest. Please help if you can.
here: audio only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYaDMEET8bA
What this has done is to make me take a good comparable look at the available videos from the first concert to the last one. I wish there were more quantity and quality videos of this first concert. Things have changed. The songs themselves have taken on another life of their own. Leonard’s voice to me seems so much stronger and melodic these days. His movement around the stage exudes confidence and his manner is wonderfully animated. There is so much more interaction with the other band members. Since beginning the tour almost three years ago he looks and seems younger now not older!
Another general observation is that he started this tour on the 11th day of a month and finished it on the 11th day of a month.
That being the case, I just can’t wait for the 11th day of ANY month in 2012!!!
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!
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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Re: Three Years Later
Hi B4real,
The French words Leonard says before Hallelujah are the translation of
"...And even though it all went wrong I´ll stand before the Lord of Song
with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah."
And the intro to In My Secret Life are some verses of that song.
The French words Leonard says before Hallelujah are the translation of
"...And even though it all went wrong I´ll stand before the Lord of Song
with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah."
And the intro to In My Secret Life are some verses of that song.
Re: Three Years Later
Thanks Christiane,
for translating the Hallelujah intro - much appreciated!
Anyway, Thanks for your efforts.
for translating the Hallelujah intro - much appreciated!
Can you say which verses? I'm still none the wiser! Was it the first verse, second verse or another one?Christiane wrote:And the intro to In My Secret Life are some verses of that song.
Anyway, Thanks for your efforts.
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!
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!
- TipperaryAnn
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- Location: Ireland
Re: Three Years Later
Yes, fascinating to see how LC 's confidence and ability increased over three years. One part of me hopes he WILL tour again, as I would love to see him in concert even one more time; the other part hopes he will have the good sense to quit while he's ahead - leave the shore before the tide comes in. Time unfortunately marches on - the highs of the last three years are unlikely to be repeated, and I have seen some performers struggle on when they were just a sad shadow of their former selves. I wouldn't wish that on Leonard.
Forget your perfect offering -
There is a crack in everything...
There is a crack in everything...
Re: Three Years Later
That's funny because OH and I were discussing the possibility of a new tour but both of us felt that it would basically be to promote this probable "last" album that he is finishing off.
As for a full tour, well the way I see it is perhaps he might play the bigger venues and just for a year, that is, if at all. The hardest part will be getting all the rest of the same artists together for a tour. I personally am not sure if Sharon Robinson, for one, would want to be tied to another long tour. Then there are the venues to sort it, it takes a long time to collate all the important parts and perhaps by then, Leonard will be in his late 70's by the time it all gets sorted out. Cocoa and bed may seem rather too inviting compared to another big tour
I agree, I would love for just one more tour but have the same fears.
As for a full tour, well the way I see it is perhaps he might play the bigger venues and just for a year, that is, if at all. The hardest part will be getting all the rest of the same artists together for a tour. I personally am not sure if Sharon Robinson, for one, would want to be tied to another long tour. Then there are the venues to sort it, it takes a long time to collate all the important parts and perhaps by then, Leonard will be in his late 70's by the time it all gets sorted out. Cocoa and bed may seem rather too inviting compared to another big tour
I agree, I would love for just one more tour but have the same fears.
I guess it all started for me sometime around Christmas 1967 and now, goodness me, it's.........2018 and over fifty years later.
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
- musicmania
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Re: Three Years Later
Sharon posted on her official website a few weeks ago that she will be touring solo soon but is hoping to go back on the road with Leonard should he tour again as is "rumoured" according to herself!Vicomte wrote: I personally am not sure if Sharon Robinson, for one, would want to be tied to another long tour
I agree though if the tour does happen it will probably be a lot shorter than the last one. The important thing is Leonards health and happiness and isn't it great that we have the wonderful memories of the tour just past
2009 Dublin 2010 Lissadell Katowice LV x2 2012 Ghent x2 Dublin x4 Montreal x2 Toronto x2 2013 New York x2 Brussels Dublin x2
Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/
"I did my best, it wasn't much"
Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/
"I did my best, it wasn't much"
Re: Three Years Later
I couldn't agree more!musicmania wrote:The important thing is Leonards health and happiness and isn't it great that we have the wonderful memories of the tour just past
(And thanks, Bev, for the videos!)
Re: Three Years Later
The last I read anything from Sharon, she was only planning to put a band together to make some appearances. As for a possible L.C tour, rumours of his "tours" have forever been so. I don't want to appear rude but I personally don't look at the last tour for the memories but from several decades that have passed. LC and his music/voice/band/ backing singers, since the 60's have changed quite a lot, it hasn't always been as has been witnessed on the last tour. Now and again I Iike to remember just how good he was, way back when. As I say, that is not meant to be rude but just politely putting it so some folks will see that L.C built, what people see today, in his rather less "smooth" early period and dare I say, I wonder if his more recent fans would have liked him if he had not "mellowed" in to what LC is today? Probably, maybe, possibly?
I am sure we all would like to see him in concert one more time but rumours can and often do, start an avalanche where it finally ends as LC is definitely touring, the classic Chinese whisper syndrome.
I am sure we all would like to see him in concert one more time but rumours can and often do, start an avalanche where it finally ends as LC is definitely touring, the classic Chinese whisper syndrome.
I guess it all started for me sometime around Christmas 1967 and now, goodness me, it's.........2018 and over fifty years later.
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
Re: Three Years Later
Can I take exception to this comment, and to the implication that those who loved the recent tour (and who love Leonard as he is today) are "recent fans" (and even if they are, what's it to ya?)? I am not a recent fan, nor was I a fan in the early days of which you so fondly speak (I'm not old enough!), I came along somewhere in the middle. Leonard has been around a long time, and has picked up new fans at every stage of the way. Even though I didn't know his early work when it was new, I love it immensely, including his studio recordings and his concert performances. I know many other fans feel the same way, whether they discovered Leonard in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, or yesterday. So, I say, How dare you?Vicomte wrote:and dare I say, I wonder if his more recent fans would have liked him if he had not "mellowed" in to what LC is today? Probably, maybe, possibly?
Re: Three Years Later
Vicomte
I have stated elsewhere that I don't care if people have just come to the scene, or not, every person that is an admirer/fan of LC is just as "important" as anyone else who may have been a Cohen fan since time immemorial. I did state in my last post that I did not want to appear rude but it seems you prefer to take it that way even though I did try to say it was not intended to be. It was my thoughts and I even asked if it was; "probable, maybe, possible" and not aimed at anyone in particular but merely an ask! I have also said elsewhere, that on meeting many people at gigs who are "more recent" fans of Cohen, they appeared very knowledgeable and in fact told me things I hadn't known before about L.C. And I didn't even get a little bit slightly miffed about that
As for "How dare you"! Do please be sensible, if you are so thin skinned, it's a wonder you can handle a singer that writes things such as "Give me crack and anal sex, Take the only tree that's left and stuff it up the hole in your culture" and sings about his time with Janis joplin and "giving me head on the unmade bed"
Why would you take exception to that ? Or why would you even want to?As I say, that is not meant to be rude but just politely putting it so some folks will see that L.C built, what people see today, in his rather less "smooth" early period and dare I say, I wonder if his more recent fans would have liked him if he had not "mellowed" in to what LC is today? Probably, maybe, possibly?
I have stated elsewhere that I don't care if people have just come to the scene, or not, every person that is an admirer/fan of LC is just as "important" as anyone else who may have been a Cohen fan since time immemorial. I did state in my last post that I did not want to appear rude but it seems you prefer to take it that way even though I did try to say it was not intended to be. It was my thoughts and I even asked if it was; "probable, maybe, possible" and not aimed at anyone in particular but merely an ask! I have also said elsewhere, that on meeting many people at gigs who are "more recent" fans of Cohen, they appeared very knowledgeable and in fact told me things I hadn't known before about L.C. And I didn't even get a little bit slightly miffed about that
As for "How dare you"! Do please be sensible, if you are so thin skinned, it's a wonder you can handle a singer that writes things such as "Give me crack and anal sex, Take the only tree that's left and stuff it up the hole in your culture" and sings about his time with Janis joplin and "giving me head on the unmade bed"
I guess it all started for me sometime around Christmas 1967 and now, goodness me, it's.........2018 and over fifty years later.
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
- musicmania
- Posts: 1517
- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:49 pm
- Location: Kildare Town Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Three Years Later
Oh dear. When I made the comment about the memories of the recent tour I meant for them as memories should another tour not happen not meaning to start this debate. I meant them in relation to this and not as the only memories people can/should take forward.
Unfortunately for me I wasn't around back in the day though I wish I was. I discovered Leonards work about 7 years ago but love his work from everystage of his career and I'd rate his first album and Various Positions as my 2 favourites but I also love the rest expect for Death of a Ladies Man which I have but am afraid to listen to as I've read so much negative reports on it but I will pick up the courage soon I'm just grateful I did discover Leonard and I can't imagine my life without his songs now. He is most definitely the biggest influence in my life now and I do genuinely believe had I being around back in the day I would have loved him just as much as I do now. I base that on the recordings and videos I have watched and listened to and how much they endear me to him even further. While I watched Bird on a Wire DVD I felt my heart was breaking and made me want to reach out and hug him and if it was even possible I felt I loved him more after watching. I think this demonstrates that I would have loved him just the same no matter when I discovered him.
Unfortunately for me I wasn't around back in the day though I wish I was. I discovered Leonards work about 7 years ago but love his work from everystage of his career and I'd rate his first album and Various Positions as my 2 favourites but I also love the rest expect for Death of a Ladies Man which I have but am afraid to listen to as I've read so much negative reports on it but I will pick up the courage soon I'm just grateful I did discover Leonard and I can't imagine my life without his songs now. He is most definitely the biggest influence in my life now and I do genuinely believe had I being around back in the day I would have loved him just as much as I do now. I base that on the recordings and videos I have watched and listened to and how much they endear me to him even further. While I watched Bird on a Wire DVD I felt my heart was breaking and made me want to reach out and hug him and if it was even possible I felt I loved him more after watching. I think this demonstrates that I would have loved him just the same no matter when I discovered him.
2009 Dublin 2010 Lissadell Katowice LV x2 2012 Ghent x2 Dublin x4 Montreal x2 Toronto x2 2013 New York x2 Brussels Dublin x2
Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/
"I did my best, it wasn't much"
Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/
"I did my best, it wasn't much"
Re: Three Years Later
Thanks.
Other new(ish) fans I have spoken to over the years offer the same, or similar replies but there are several that have said, they much prefer him today (that can be verified when this site sometimes asks the question of whether they prefer LC now or earlier in his career). So I was merely asking that kind of question and as to whether, or not, people who like him now (more recently I guess), would have done so in his early and dare I say, "rougher" days, or as I originally put it, rather less "smooth" early period
Same kind of thing has often been applied to Elvis and Bob Dylan and various thoughts given that some people preferred Elvis in his Las Vegas times and Dylan is his early days and of course, there are those that differ and indeed dislike either in another era.
Other new(ish) fans I have spoken to over the years offer the same, or similar replies but there are several that have said, they much prefer him today (that can be verified when this site sometimes asks the question of whether they prefer LC now or earlier in his career). So I was merely asking that kind of question and as to whether, or not, people who like him now (more recently I guess), would have done so in his early and dare I say, "rougher" days, or as I originally put it, rather less "smooth" early period
Same kind of thing has often been applied to Elvis and Bob Dylan and various thoughts given that some people preferred Elvis in his Las Vegas times and Dylan is his early days and of course, there are those that differ and indeed dislike either in another era.
Last edited by Vicomte on Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I guess it all started for me sometime around Christmas 1967 and now, goodness me, it's.........2018 and over fifty years later.
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones
No one ever listens to me. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record.
Neil from The Young Ones