Looking for the YOUNGEST first-time listener to LC

[lizzytysh]

Hi Andrei ~

No need to be embarrassed; it happens frequently enough here. Sometimes, when you're thinking and typing and thinking and typing, someone else just darts in and dashes off a posting ahead of you. However, you don't see it once you submit yours... you have to scroll back or start over on the page to see/find it.

I'm glad Davido was able to so quickly assist you. It will save you much time and lessen your learning curve . I look forward to hearing your reasons for the others songs. Let us know how you're doing with your lessons... with you and the teacher the same, asking "Teacher... are my lessons done?" could be a bit redundant .


~ Lizzy

[Marianne]

I was maybe 17-18 when I got hooked on Leonard, but I’m sure I’ve heard him earlier than that. My son is born to I’m your man. Since the father and me already was breaking up I asked the nurse to put on I’m your man since I wanted to hear some comforting words during the delivery.
My son, who is 4 years old now, still likes the song, but his favourite is Take this waltz. He knows the lyrics very well but he doesn’t understand it’s meaning since we speak Swedish.

[lizzytysh]

Your story is touching, Marianne... making the best of your wonderful situation amidst your sad one. As the singer is willing to do anything for his woman, you did everything you could for the birth of your son. Your delivery room sounded as it never had before . What a welcome for a very young man to receive. Affirmation from his very first moment.

Does he dance around the room when "Take This Waltz" plays?

Welcome to the Forum, Marianne .


~ Lizzy

[Marianne]

Thank you! Nice to be here.

Yes, he likes to dance a lot to Cohen-songs, and his teddy bears likes to sing the "lalalala.." from Dance me to the end of love, in really funny voices.

Hopefully he will be a Cohen-fan when he grows up, I see nothing wrong in “indoctrinate” your children with your favourite music, when the music is so good as this.

[lizzytysh]

Hopefully he will be a Cohen-fan when he grows up, I see nothing wrong in “indoctrinate” your children with your favourite music, when the music is so good as this.

I couldn't agree more, Marianne. If I had a child, I would be playing Leonard's music the same as you... I don't know that I'd have thought to play "I'm Your Man" in the delivery room, but know for sure that I'd have wished I had played it or something by him, once I heard your story !!

It looks like with his dancing and his teddy-bear lalalala...s that we have the youngest fan . You were relatively young, too... how much did you understand of his more 'controversial' lyrics when you were first listening to him?

Now, we'll need to refine our search to the youngest fan visiting this site .


~ Lizzy

[ragazzo_vienne]

(1) How old were you when you first listened to Leonard?

As a child, I heard LC played by my father all the time. My first conscious memory of it is from the age of 4.

(2) How much did you understand of the sexual/violence references?

Nothing. I'm not an english native speaker, so I didn't get to understand any of the lyrics at all until I was at least 12, 13 or so.

(3) How did hearing these lyrics cause you to feel?
[/quoter]

Actually, I only remember the strong refrain "yes and lover lover lover lover lover lover lover come back to me". The strong rhythm just made me feel good.

(4) What age do you feel would be the most age-appropriate for children to first listen to Leonard?

Any age. I don't believe that lyrics can do harm to children, as long as their parents are around to answer their questions. Maybe with dark or very violent images, children should be spared the fear that can come with them, but certainly not when it's about sex. Sex is sacred!

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences?

See above... but that's advisable in any case, not only with lyrics that contain sexual or violent content.

[lizzytysh]

Great answers, Ragazzo Vienne ~

You were very young and to have a conscious memory of it that far back... is enviable... and you're certainly one of our youngest.

Actually, I only remember the strong refrain "yes and lover lover lover lover lover lover lover come back to me". The strong rhythm just made me feel good.

I know exactly what you mean... that strong rhythm and those words make me feel good, too.

Your perspective on the sexual lyrics is a very healthy one.

Welcome to the Forum, Ragazzo Vienne . Your name is also fun to say.


~ Lizzy

[Eva Maria]

(1) How old were you when you first listened to Leonard?
I was about 4 years old. My parents sometimes listened to Leonard Cohen and had one of his records.
And they played "Lover Lover Lover" on the radio every day when I was a child.

(2) How much did you understand of the sexual/violence references?
Nothing. I did not speak any English so I did not understand the lyrics.

(3) How did hearing these lyrics cause you to feel?
I liked the music. I did not understand the lyrics.

(4) What age do you feel would be the most age-appropriate for children to first listen to Leonard?
Any age.

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences?
No.
But parents should always answer the questions their children ask.
When I was a child I never asked questions about the lyrics of songs.

[lizzytysh]

Thank you for your answers, Eva Maria... and for repeating the questions, as you gave them. WoW... "Lover Lover Lover" played daily... such a childhood memory to have . Strong rhythm was a very early part of your life . How old were you when you began to understand English enough to understand Leonard's lyrics?


~ Lizzy

[Catherine11]

(1) How old were you when you first listened to Leonard?

Not sure, pretty young though.

(2) How much did you understand of the sexual/violence references?

Not at all.

(3) How did hearing these lyrics cause you to feel?

I don't think the magnitude of Leonard's message hit me until I was older, but when it did it was amazing.

(4) What age do you feel would be the most age-appropriate for children to first listen to Leonard?

My son has listened to Leonard since in utero. I hope he is a fan since I named him Cohen

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences?

Since my husband and I are always discussing and analyzing music, books, poetry, and even music videos (not just Leonard's) I hope that my son will try to do the same. I think that he will need our guidance to understand what the meaning of the songs are, but we have a long time to go before he doesn't think it's just music and words.

[Mark A. Murphy]

I am so pleased we have some younger posters on here. I'm so glad Leonard's words continue to touch younger generations. I first read Beautiful Losers when I was 19. I was blown away. I intend to read it again this summer.

[crap]

I'm 18 and i started listening to leonard cohen when i was 16

[Tri-me]

(1) How old were you when you first listened to Leonard? 16

(2) How much did you understand of the sexual/violence references? in the days of raging hormones I cannot recall. The first album I had was songs from a room. I remember being captivated with his words.

(3) How did hearing these lyrics cause you to feel? like I was hypmotized. I am very visual the songs lend them selves to visual thinkers like me.

(4) What age do you feel would be the most age-appropriate for children to first listen to Leonard?
from the day they are born

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences? NO!!!!!

[Reinout]

Alright, questionnaire time!

(1) How old were you when you first listened to Leonard?
I was 17, a friend of me played a version of the Partisan by Noir Desir. I immidiately bought the greatest hits album, which I played everday just before going to bed, such a goodnight rest I had in those days...

(2) How much did you understand of the sexual/violence references?
At first, none. I thought Cohen was a rather cheesy, albeit brilliant, lovesong writer. It wasn't until I started buying his other albums and learning about his depression I started analyzing the songs.

His sexual references are skillfully hidden though, you can interpret them different ways in the context, so if you don't listen to it closely you don't hear it. At least, that's my problem.

(3) How did hearing these lyrics cause you to feel?
Oh, I'm used to Nick Cave, Tom Waits and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I can take some sexual references.

(4) What age do you feel would be the most age-appropriate for children to first listen to Leonard?
Like I said, a lot of his references are hidden, so those songs should be appropriate to anyone. In a world where 10 year old kids are listening to gansta rap and talking about ho's and drugs, Cohen isn't that bad...

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences?
I'll answer this question when kids nowadays start listening to Cohen, which probably won't be happening anytime soon.

[osmachar]

(5) Should parental- or adult-guidance be a part of these initial listening experiences?

If kids watch music videos nowadays and read teenage magazines they are a lot more exposed to in-your-face sexual references as in any Len Co song.