What was it in Cohens songs that struck you?

General discussion about Leonard Cohen's songs and albums
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Paula
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Post by Paula »

Jennifer Warnes version of "Joan of Arc" is exquisite.
MRowe
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Post by MRowe »

I'm not going to deny that JWarnes is a 'better' singer in the sense that she is more 'trained'. And I use those two parenthetical words loosely.

However, JWarnes, NDiamond, or whoever else attempts a version of LC's songs, become distant seconds when conveying the power and mood of Cohen. Only Cohen has that ability. His delivery is the mechanism that establishes each and every song. His nuance is impeccable. Others can only flutter at it.

I'm a fan of Buckley but his "Hallelujah" is quite secondary.

Has anybody heard Human Drama's "Dance Me To The End of Love". Darkly powerful but, again, secondary.

http://www.musictap.net/Reviews/HumanDr ... ffect.html
http://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00139

Love to all....
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linmag
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Post by linmag »

I think Matt is quite right that cover versions of Leonard's songs never quite match up to the originals in intensity of expression. I like Jeniffer Warnes' cover album very much now that I have got used to it, but more because of her beautiful voice and the pleasing arrangements of the songs than for the songs themselves. The exception to this would be Song of Bernadette. Elizabeth says she would like to hear Leonard sing this one, but I'm not sure that I would. It was written specially for Jennifer, whose name was originally Bernadette. Her mother decided to change it for some reason, and the song is about Jennifer remembering her childhood when she had another name. It is very personal to her and she sings it beautifully. I'm not sure that even Leonard could do better on that one.
Linda

1972: Leeds, 2008: Manchester, Lyon, London O2, 2009: Wet Weybridge, 2012: Hop Farm/Wembley Arena
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

Well, I understand that this particular album served a very powerful purpose for Leonard, being instrumental [pun unintended] in his decision to record I'm Your Man and to go out on the road again, with it. For that, I am certainly very glad and personally grateful to Jennifer. As I said elsewhere, perhaps she should do another album, one "for the road" so to speak :wink: .

However, Sue, I am willing to give it more listenings and will. Things have grown on me before, so I'm not ruling it out. However, overall, I feel it has more of a mainstream sound and feel to it, which is not normally what I'm drawn and gravitate to. I'd anticipated more vocal range and expression, and I'm never quite sure exactly what "wall of sound" depicts, but feel this must come closer to it than not, at least the arrangements seem awfully busy with music. It's certainly not that I find her album offensive, or unlikeable, yet love is what I was hoping for.....given her back-up vocals with Leonard. I anticipated more soaring highs and dramatic depths, yet much of it was what I consider in the middle. Even though you're clearly aware of what you're saying [with your quotation marks], this is still another case where alleged "better" is not necessarily better.

I'll be very interested to hear Leonard do Bernadette. I'll also be relistening [for perhaps a wistful quality] to Jennifer do it ~ what an interesting story that lies behind it. Now I look even more forward to hearing Leonard do it. He had to have imbued it with a very special kind of feeling, with that kind of history to it.

As for me, Matt, I've never heard of Human Drama [except that with which we are surrounded daily :roll: ], so have never heard their rendition either. " 'Darkly' powerful" sounds intrigueing though.

~Lizzytysh
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Kush
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Post by Kush »

Jennifer Warnes is a good singer with a beautiful voice but it is still a very very small voice. You really cannot expect soaring highs and dramatic depths from it. Amongst female covers I have found Patricia O'Callaghan having the most supple voice and artistry. I prefer her cover of Hallelujah to LC's and also like her A Singer Must Die as much as the original.
The concept of singer-songwriter that became popular from the 60s onward is based on indifferent vocal expertise but expressive, emotive singing and interesting lyrics (Scott Walker may be the exception). Very accomplished vocal performances does distract from the lyrics (does it really matter whether I understand what Pavarotti is singing ?) which is why you may find Jennifer Warnes singing not compelling you to listen to lyrics so much. The music circuitry in the brain may be more tuned to her vocal subtleties, although JW may not be the best example for that. Rather than a blanket statement of better or not than LC, I find her album sets a different mood and tone from LC's albums.

Shoudnt this be under the Covers section ? Where's the thread police ?
eeey
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Post by eeey »

He's in Scotland.

Doing something dangerous.


eeey
Linda
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Post by Linda »

I have liked The Song Of Bernadette for many years, not knowing it was written by Leonard Cohen until lately. For some reason it sounds to me like a song for a womans voice. No brain circuit working here, just what I prefer. Thanks for the info Linmag. :)
Was that a theme song for a movie afew years back? I suppose someone will tell me I can find that answer on this website, but I am looking for an easy answer.
Linda
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Kush
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Post by Kush »

Salman Rushdie did something very dangerous. He wrote a book. So did Marquis De Sade, Jose Marti and Wole Soyinka - a few that come to mind.
Galileo was almost burnt at stake for jotting down some weird ideas about earth going around the sun or something like that. Giordino Bruno (1548-1600) was burnt at stake for refusing to recant (unlike Galileo). Apparently a crucifix was thrust towards Bruno while at stake and he pushed it away. His books were banned and destroyed and as a result few people have read them to this day.

The pen could be more dangerous than the sword - sometimes.


Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail
The sky cracked its poems in naked wonder
That the clinging of the church bells blew far into the breeze
Leaving only bells of lightning and its thunder
Striking for the gentle, striking for the kind
Striking for the guardians and protectors of the mind
An' the unpawned painter far behind his rightful time
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

- Bob Dylan
Last edited by Kush on Fri Nov 22, 2002 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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peter danielsen
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Your so right

Post by peter danielsen »

Your so right Kush. The idea that writing is not dangerous, always is maintained by people who are so incredibly boring that they cannot accept that their view of the world could be questioned. But I may be wrong.


Peter
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lizzytysh
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Post by lizzytysh »

It certainly turned out to be a bit "dangerous" for you, eh Peter :wink: ?
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peter danielsen
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Post by peter danielsen »

No Lizz, I never experienced any danger, I just lost a little more of my hair. I guess thats what most women prefer to do to men. But danger? no, my texts is just other sides of boredom, they dont really question anything(apart from myself I guess)

Peter
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lizzytysh
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Perfect Quote

Post by lizzytysh »

Well, in today's E-Verse Radio edition, I read the perfect quote for "what was it in Cohen's songs....." ~ back to the table for 700 other words that rhyme 8) aka writing integrity.
"The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain
~Lizzytysh
Viv
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What was it in Cohens songs that struck you?

Post by Viv »

The passion!
xouroboros
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Post by xouroboros »

It was summer of 1968.
I was sixteen and on my own.
Just me and my cheap nylon guitar.
A friend gave me a copy of Let Us Compare Mythologies.
I ate it up.
It swallowed me.
I sought out more.
Found Spicebox of Earth,
Flowers for Hitler

Carried these around in my guitar case.

Then I heard Suzanne at a friend's apartment.
Fell in love.
Been in love ever since.

Now I play his songs to others.
On the street
In the alleys
in the bedrooms
On the stairs that climb to Hades
On the roads that wind nowhere

to the Sisters of Mercy.
KRTEK
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Post by KRTEK »

THAT STRUCK ME?
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM MY VISIT TO A MONASTERY WHICH
I INTENDED TO BE A PART OF. IT WAS A SHORT VISIT ONE OF FEW BEFORE I ENTER THERE AND STAY FOR GOOD.I WAS FULL OF IMPRESIONS AND SPIRIT AND I HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME SISTERS OF MERCY.
THEN I KNEW I WAS MENT TO BE A MONK IN THAT MONASTERY AND THE SONG REALY HELPED ME TO REALIZE THIS.
SISTERS OF MERCY STRUCK ME.
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