The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed May 28, 2003 1:51 am

As for me, Schmink, I would never dream of calling them anything else....it's never even occurred to me to do so. That's from this side of the pond.

Meanwhile, I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your story of Leonard, your mother, and you. It came together like the finest of tapestries. Beautiful. Heartwarming. Unique. Truly bonding. And much more. So many things all in one story. Thanks for sharing all your details. Each added to it in geometric proportion.

~ Elizabeth

witty_owl · Post by **witty_owl** » Wed May 28, 2003 5:07 am

There have been 2 or 3 occassions during the last 12 months that I have sung Suzanne at a gig. Two of them were requests for a Cohen song. The other was a spontaneous performance at a eco-tourist lodge in the mountains of Victoria(Oz) and the owner of the business approached me to ask- "where did that song come from; did you write it? It is a remarkably beautiful song." This person was in her mid-late 50's and was totally unfamiliar with Leonard's work. That song still has the power to demand attention decades after its writing and after almost half a century of changes in popular music.
Cheers,

wilcotree · Post by **wilcotree** » Fri May 30, 2003 12:40 pm

My, my, how this thread has grown during my absence!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:57 pm

witty_owl
I think that everyone should, some time in their lives, hear Suzanne.
There are people out there who actually appreciate the song more when it is performed by someone other than Leonard... they tend to concentrate more on the song rather than any misconceptions they have about Leonard.

Regards
Pete

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri May 30, 2003 4:10 pm

Witty Owl ~

And don't you wish you could've answered "Yes" when she asked

.

~ Lizzytysh

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Fri May 30, 2003 6:30 pm

Pete wrote:There are people out there who actually appreciate the song more when it is performed by someone other than Leonard... they tend to concentrate more on the song rather than any misconceptions they have about Leonard.

Pete

I think you've made a valid and interesting point there - I think Leonard suffers from a reputation (fair or unfair) that was earned many years ago and one which at times may still work against him. It would then be a refreshing discovery to hear LC's work through another artist's interpretation of it. I guess that's where the covers/tributes play a vital role in promoting his work! Moreover, I would suspect there might also be a significant number of potential 'converts' who would not be aware of his more mellow and melodic recent work, which perhaps would have greater acceptability than his earlier work/style.

However, I would also postulate that this same reputation may also work in his favour (but to a lesser extent). From this latter perspective, there are certain to be some younger and/or more 'open' listeners who would appreciate a more honest, gritty and sobering analysis of the human experience, in the same way they would (say) appreciate Nick Cave's material. (That being the case, they may in fact prefer some of the older material.

)

Anyway, it's interesting to consider that LC's appreciation may well grow in this two-fold way, along with those that just stumble upon him reputation unbeknown!

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri May 30, 2003 7:13 pm

Andrew,
As soon as you mentioned covers I thought of the 2 tribute albums, 'I'm Your Fan' and 'Tower of Song'. I hardly listen to them. When I am in the mood to listen to LC songs I always seem to bypass the tribute cds and home in on the usual fayre... and I know my time will be well spent.
Maybe these tribute albums are for those who do not avidly follow Cohen but still appreciate a good song when they hear it.
Having said this, I recently received a copy of John Bergeron's LC songs and I am so so impressed. His versions retain the mood and, in some ways, enhance certain songs. .. with the exception of 'If it be your will', which I actually stopped in mid verse. 'If it be your will' is my favourite Cohen song and I didn't want another version imprinted in my memory. This may sound silly but that's the way it is

It's interesting how some people liken artists to other artists. My brother has just leant me a cd by a group called Lambchop. He doesn't like it and tells me it sounds like a mixture of Leonard Cohen and the Cowboy Junkies...... therefore it might be more to my liking. Well, I've played it twice and I don't do not percieve it this way at all. It's a pleasant album which might actually grow on me. Is it my brother's perception of Cohen which clouded his vision?

Regards
Pete
ps. everyone seems to mention Nick Cave... should I be lending an ear in that direction????

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat May 31, 2003 1:37 am

OK, this may seem silly, but I follow the reasoning in being able to appreciate lc's lyrics being sung by someone else, who diverts our attention from lc and takes us into the words themselves. The bit I say may seem silly is this. I would love to hear Suzanne sung by Charles Aznavour. Perhaps he has done it and if so one of you can point me in the right direction? If ever 2 men had enough charisma for the rest of us, then it's these two.

Cia · Post by **Cia** » Sat May 31, 2003 2:12 pm

For many years ago, back in 1970 I was a young girl about 16 years old. Soldier Blue was the movie to be seen, and the music by Buffy Saint Marie singing the titlesong overwhelmed all the little softhearted girls. I too bought the record and listend to her song over and over again. Then I let the pick-up move on to the other songs and discovered a number called "the bell". This song touched me even more and I noticed that the songwriter was a Leonard Cohen.

A couple of years later I had this very handsome boyfriend. He left me with a broken heart and forgot his record "songs from a room". I healed my broken heart at the time it took to play the record (both sides!). But once again my heart was occuppied, this time of L.C.'s songs. And no matter what ever has happend in my life, lenny will still have his place there. When times are hard I go into my lenny-program, listening over and over again to all the beautiful words and songs. When times are brighter - I do the same

My three kids all like L.C's music and all have there own complete collection, even my husband is now fond of his music - but that took me some time

And no, the old boyfriend never did get his record back!!!
He later married a girl that hates lenny, so he is punished enough

hugs from Cia

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:03 pm

I love it, Cia

. I also do the same during hard times, as well as good times. Regarding your last line, karma doesn't always have to wait till the next lifetime, does it? I refer to it as instant karma. Great story

.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 1:53 am

Cia, Elizabeth
You both say that you listen to Lenny during the hard times and also the good/brighter times.
What do you listen to during the in-between times?????

Pete

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 2:45 am

~ Good point, Pete

. NPR. Rumi poems. Opera. Harry Chapin. Chi Coltrane. Assorted other artists, but with less consistency.

Cia · Post by **Cia** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 6:57 pm

Pete,

Leonard Cohen ofcourse!!!

And for the stages in betweeen betweens, its Nick Cave, Air, Dylan, Tom Waits, Mercury Rev, Coldplay, Cesaria Evora, Radiohead, Morcheeba, Sting and all the lounchmusic puring out of my sons room..............the list goes on and on and on............

hugs from Cia

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 2:44 am

I think I told this...I was watching tv and I saw an interview....he was talking there and I remained enchanted by his simplicity and charm, then at the end of the interview a song was displayed...the enchanting was complete....

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 3:00 am

Yes, you did, Sandra....and it is as lovely an image now as it was then. I'm glad you repeated it

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