SHOW ME THE PLACE (free streaming of new song)

[jerry]

I just don't like it when I'm listening to a song and it sounds like the music was recorded in one location and the vocals in another and the two were sloppily put together. I know that it's done this way all the time with recordings but in those cases it's done with more care and it at least gives the illusion that everything was recorded together. It makes a big difference.

[mutti]

Thank you Leonard! What a gift to have a new album coming out soon. I can hardly wait!
As I listen to this song each time I hear something else...it really touches me deeply.
Very excited for Old Ideas to arrive.
Leslie

[jdhayes]

Can't say I like the song. It lacks punch and original imagery. I hope the rest of the album will be better. Just my personal opinion and first impression.

[burningviolin]

About mix: the sound from online SoundCloud streaming is much better than mp3 version... MP3 always has a conversion.

I hear it on SoundCloud also. I was just carefully listening to Show Me The Place again and at the very start of the song when Leonard's vocals start I can hear a clicking or mechanical sound like something was switched on. To some it may be not be important but it really jumps out at me and I normally never hear glitches in recordings that others point out to me. So for me to easily hear it it has to be noticable.

I can understand your point Jerry, it is a bit noisy and while the strings in the first verses are nice and it's great to hear the warm sounding violin again, it seems like the solo could be a composite of more than one take. I could be completely wrong here but there is a jagged bit in the middle where the violin is playing (I think) two of the same notes that just don't sound that smooth. (I would need to listen to it again) One sounds louder (or it could just be played on a different string) but it's like he was dropped in to pick up the second note and it wasn't disguised very much and it just sounds a bit bumpy. It could of course still be a viola or cello or indeed it could be Dino masquerading as a violinist but I don't think so

As for the quality being like that of a demo, all of Ten New Songs was recorded initally as a demo with the idea of doing a 'proper' job afterwards but both Sharon Robinson and LC liked it so much they left it. I think there is a similar soundworld going on here, if you could call it that.

[dreamermusic]

Here is my humble cover of 'Show me the Place'. I have recorded it in a few minutes, so there are many mistakes in the way I play the keyboards and in the recording of my voice. Anyhow, I hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkx3BBNB ... ata_player

[rpan]

Would there be any chance of getting authoritative version of the lyrics online here jarkko? Someone else has had a bash at http://t.co/jmQLR24L.
I must admit that the first time round it does sound like hay and a very firm spade but can this be right?
Must be all this clicking, crackling an birdsong getting in the way......

[jarkko]

There is nothing wrong in the lyrics posted on page 5 by dreamermusic (in the original English text - the Spanish version is dreamermusic's own Spanish translation only).
Some minor errors can be found in the version posted at http://t.co/jmQLR24L

[B4real]

I was just looking at the image used for this song and thought it looked somewhat familiar.
Here's a progression of how it was arrived at from a previous artwork (Sunbeams) by Leonard:

horizontal

vertical

crop

sunbeams-crop.jpg (18 KiB) Viewed 2867 times

[B4real]

and finally....

[burningviolin]

Nice one Bev!

[FanForLife]

Here is my humble cover of 'Show me the Place'. I have recorded it in a few minutes, so there are many mistakes in the way I play the keyboards and in the recording of my voice. Anyhow, I hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkx3BBNB ... ata_player

On my very first listen it struck me that his was an open invitation to cover versions. Don't know why, but I think it could become his most covered track ever. I can see it being done by everyone from Martin Gore (the cooler than cool downbeat depeche mode version) through Bono (the I'm going to give this song real exquisite tortured passionate soulful save the world meaning version) and the Justin Timberlake/Matt Morris (lets give hope to Haiti, a new generation and our flagging careers version) and the Celine Dion & The Canadian Tenors (makes peeling wall paper look like its got verve live on Oprah version) and maybe even a surprise Andre Rieu (the cringeworthy instrumental orchestral slush version, featuring none other than the smiling himbo Andre himself holding and swinging the lead violin in time to the music version).

Funny what strikes me most is how there is more pathos in Leonard’s voice than ever. And regarding the imperfections, I’ll be the contrarian here and say that with my eyes closed the clicks, hissing and the MP3 wobble give me the feeling that I am in the room with him, and its being sung to and for me. I detest sanitisation and perfection in equal measure.

And thinking about cover versions, I would love to hear Jeff Buckley taking this on. Now that would be something else. If only...................

Roll on January 31st.

[B4real]

Nice one Bev!

Thanks BV!

.....and here's the same base image altered again -

Woman In Rays

Leonard_Cohen_woman_in_rays.jpg (123.29 KiB) Viewed 2821 times

30 x 20 inches pigment print on 300lb Arches paper

[LisaLCFan]

...regarding the imperfections, I’ll be the contrarian here and say that with my eyes closed the clicks, hissing and the MP3 wobble give me the feeling that I am in the room with him, and its being sung to and for me.

I love this about it, too! It gives the recording such an intimate feel; it is quite remarkable and very moving. I wouldn't want it any other way! I love everything about it.

[FanForLife]

a extract of the comments from soundcloud.com

pixel zgb
A sip of wine, a cigarette,
And then it’s time to play this song....

s.kh
I am drowning in this song.

Misterminchie
Beautiful! Will help me thru the gloom of cloudy days this time of year & I doubt it's a song about his faith in god, more likely a euphemism for devotion to another human soul, such is his wonderful humanity !!

Gwen Langford
Beautiful music and thought provoking lyrics.

Michael Engelbrecht
This is a brilliant spoken song, naked music. I'm grateful this voice is still around.

Cillian Horkan
Shivers ....so worth the wait and the longing ...thank you Leonard ,you could never disappoint us ,never .

Kepharnahum
Moved me to tears... Thank you Mr. Cohen and may Adonai answer your prayer!
Mathew 28:6: "Come, see the place..."

Mermaiden
goosebumps...thank you

everyBoy
Sounds a bit like Tom Waits around here (and lev777 responded: @everyBoy: you mean Tom Waits sounds a bit like him right? )

Mark Hjorthoy
NOBODY does it better,..... brilliant.


and my personal favourite................................

marycigarettes
the bar is raised

[lizzytysh]

Well done, Bev!

Now for the rest... imperfections? What imperfections.