leonardcohenforum.com

Goldin wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLe0p0rZDr0
complete speech, best version

As you have said Roman, this is by far the best version. Since the translator's voice is not as prominent, I was able to hear most of the speech given by LC - thank you for providing this link Roman.

How sweet of the Webb sisters to forward these photos - thank you Charley & Hattie - you both look so very classy.

Leonard's speech was brilliant... I am so deeply touched listening to him share his story and all that he said.
That was incredible.
Leslie

Here is the complete Cohen's speech:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/ ... ucul_1/Tes

It is in Spanish, sorry... But each of us we it can translate to understand it (more or less)

It is an honor to be here tonight, but perhaps, as the great master Riccardo Muti, I'm not used to be before an audience without an orchestra behind. I will do my solo. I could not sleep last night, I spent a sleepless night wondering what I could say here today. After eating all the chocolate and peanuts from the minibar scribbled a few words but I doubt it takes to refer to them. Obviously, I'm very excited about the recognition of the foundation. But I have come tonight to express another kind of gratitude that I hope to have three or four minutes.

When I was packing up in Los Angeles I felt uneasy because I have always been some ambiguity about poetry. Comes from a place that no one controls, that no conquest. That is, if he knew where the songs would come more often. Accepting an award for an activity that does not really control it. Packing up to come, I took my guitar Conde, made in Spain 40 years ago or so. The out of the box and seemed made of helium, very light. I put it in the face and smelled it, is very well designed, the fragrance of living wood. We know that wood just never die and it smelled like cedar, so cool, like the first day, when I bought the guitar for 40 years. And a voice seemed to say: "You're an old man and have not thanked you have not returned your gratitude to those who deserve it: soil, land, the people who gave you so much. For just as a man is not a ID card, a debt rating is not a country. You know of my strong association with Federico Garcia Lorca and I can say that while I was young and adolescent not only found a voice and when I read Lorca in a translation, I found a voice gave permission to discover my own voice, to find my self, a self that is not yet finished.

As I got older I knew that the instructions came with that voice. What were those instructions? Never regret. And if we want to express the loss we all attacks must be in the strict confines of the dignity and beauty. So you had a voice, but he had the instrument to express it. I had a song. And now I will tell briefly the story of how I got my song.

I was a guitarist indifferent. I only knew a few chords. I sat with my friends, drank and sang, but never saw myself as a musician or a singer. One day, in the early sixties, was visiting my mother. His home was near a park with a tennis court where we would watch them play basketball. It was a place I knew from my childhood. I wandered around and met a young woman playing a flamenco guitar. I loved it, was surrounded by some girls and I sat down to listen, captivated me, I wanted to play well, but I knew I would never make.

I approached him and we understood half French half English and we agreed some classes at my mother. He was a young Spanish. The next day came. He said, "Let me hear you play something." I did and said he had no idea. He picked up the guitar, tuned it, I returned it and said, "does not sound bad. Now touch it again." Not change much. He grabbed me again and said, "I'll teach you a few chords." He played a rapid sequence of chords and then I explained where I had to put my fingers and said again: "Now playing". But it was a disaster.

The next day began again with the six chords. Many flamenco songs based on them. On the third day it keeps getting better. I learned six chords. The next day the guitarist did not return at home. Stopped coming. Since I had the number of the boarding house where he was staying went looking to see what had happened. They told me that he had killed himself Spanish, who had killed himself. I did not know anything about him, what part of Spain was why he was in Montreal for what was at the tennis court, why he killed himself.

I felt a great sadness. We have never had this in public. The six chords, the sound pattern has been the basis of all my songs and my music and maybe now they can begin to understand the magnitude of appreciation I have for this country. All you have found favor in my work comes from this story I just told you. All my work is inspired by this land. So thank you for holding it because it is his, I only have allowed to put my signature at the end of the last page.

Speech by Leonard Cohen at the awards Prince of Asturias.

EURONEWS VIDEO

http://www.euronews.net/2011/10/21/cohe ... recipients

The 2 photos I have chosen for and added on to the Halls of Fame site, since there are currently no vertical photos of Leonard Cohen from the podium. Once I can I will pay the $90 to get these photos without the company logos on them and upload them again to the Hall of Fame site.

Excellent photos, Roy. Leonard is indeed so handsome and elegant, and during this time of honors in Spain his dignity and humbleness has shone through.

Diana

Arlene....thank you for your link to the arrival of Leonard. He looks very healthy striding the blue carpet! And thanks to Hattie and Charley for their photos. I couldn't help but think, as I looked at him standing alone on the stage, of all the "stages" of his life and how very unique is this one in Oviedo. An honor well deserved!

Goldin wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLe0p0rZDr0
complete speech, best version

Thank you so much for this! What a beautiful and touching speech (even better now that I can hear it all!). Wow. In his eloquent and heartfelt words, Leonard Cohen demonstrated so clearly why he deserved this wonderful honour! Bravo, Mr. Cohen!

Back from Oviedo.
Proud of my country for giving Leonard Cohen such great emotions.
You have all the links, I can give you my impressions.
Leonard has been deeply touched these days in Oviedo. He was extremelly happy.
He looked gorgeous, not tired or fragile as some mentioned.
Every time he met people he was kind and willing to please every one aproching him, even apologising when he was not able to keep singing books...
He had been working on his speech the night before.
When his turn arrived, he had the text and glasses in his pocket, he took the glasses but started to speak improvising all the speech! So natural, so perfect...
He had the biggest aplauses of the ceremony.
It has been such a privilege to see him at the tribute concert, the art exhibit and the awards ceromonies, I feel so thankful!
The local and Spanish journals are full of references to him.

BEATRIZ SALLES wrote:Back from Oviedo.
Proud of my country for giving Leonard Cohen such great emotions.
You have all the links, I can give you my impressions.
Leonard has been deeply touched these days in Oviedo. He was extremelly happy.
He looked gorgeous, not tired or fragile as some mentioned.
Every time he met people he was kind and willing to please every one aproching him, even apologising when he was not able to keep singing books...
He had been working on his speech the night before.
When his turn arrived, he had the text and glasses in his pocket, he took the glasses but started to speak improvising all the speech! So natural, so perfect...
He had the biggest aplauses of the ceremony.
It has been such a privilege to see him at the tribute concert, the art exhibit and the awards ceromonies, I feel so thankful!
The local and Spanish journals are full of references to him.

Congratulations Bea, I am glad that you have succeeded and that you shall have it so good

Beatriz,

Was the tribute concert filmed? Do you know if there will be anymore videos posted here for us to see from that concert?

You were so fortunate to be there and I am very happy for you.

This is not completely the right place to post this link that Anne Porter gave us under 'Tributes...', but I can't help it. This is such a beautiful Spanish rendition of 'Ballad of the Absent Mare'. http://youtu.be/FmsFuMeAYbw I hope Anne doesn't mind that I am putting it here - all credit goes to her for this.

Warmest regards,
Mary

He looked gorgeous, not tired or fragile as some mentioned

From here he looked great, not tired or jet-lagged as someone mentioned.
Just SO pleased for him.

Goldin wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLe0p0rZDr0
complete speech, best version

Thank you, Goldin, for the link to this great video!! What an incredibly moving & beautiful speech!! I am so grateful to have been able to hear him & see him speak those brilliant & eloquent words.

And thanks to Arlene for the video of Leonard's arrival - very exciting & uplifting!!

And thanks to everyone who has posted all the great photos, videos, articles, etc.!!

Congratulations again to Leonard Cohen. I am so happy for this magnificent moment in Leonard's life.

MaryB wrote: Was the tribute concert filmed? Do you know if there will be anymore videos posted here for us to see from that concert?

This is the only I have found for the moment, looking for more:

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri= ... ZJD7zC0MrM