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The past two nights of Sylvie's London gigs have been interesting. The Horse Hospital (which used to be just that) is an unusual little venue tucked away in the backstreets behind Russell Square underground station. It has a makeshift bar and single loo, and attracted quite a good number of people on Wednesday night.The only people there from the Forum to my knowledge were Padma, and myself. When we arrived, black and white early film of Leonard's childhood in Montreal were projected onto the screen. Then came some amazing ultra-rare full colour film of Leonard's early life in Montreal. It was just like being there, seeing Leonard, Masha, Esther, and other relatives so close up. Some familiar film of the Mount Baldy era was also shown.The special guests were two young musicians, Katy Carr and Pete Molinari. Katy Carr is a tall, striking, lady with a floral appendage to her hair, and Pete Molinari is a short, good-looking, dark-haired guy whose image reminds me of "Desire" era Dylan. Both were new to Leonard's music (Kay being a self-confessed "Leonard virgin") Sylvie had to hold the lyrics in front of them for a few well-known songs, such "Hey That's No Way to Say "Goodbye, and "So Long Marianne". Actually, I enjoyed hearing their own songs more - especially Pete Molinari's one. Katy sang a song in Polish, as well as "The Partisan".

Sylvies's readings were similar to ones she presented at Rough Trade last week (Leonard's hypnotism, meeting Nico, Mount Baldy etc.). After that there was a singalongalenny session with very little audience participation, followed by a Q & A session. Isle of Wight DJ Jeff Dexter was present (I keep running into him). I also had an interesting chat (mostly about Dylan) with a lady who turned out to be no less than author Jenny Fabian. Afterwards, the socialising continued at the very nice pub opposite where myself, Neil Spencer, and Adrian Whittaker (Incredible String Band writer) and his partner were later joined by Sylvie and friends.

Last night (Wednesday) at Waterstones in Covent Garden was a smaller, quieter, but very pleasant gathering of people (hi to Nigel, if you get to read this). Admission was £3.00 but that included a free glass of wine. Sylvie read the familiar passages again, but others too. Also the discussion got deeper at this one, and focused on such topics as depression, and S & M imagery in Leonard's work (which I raised). Sylvie sang just one song, her favourite"Famous Blue Raincoat". The people present included a lady from Montreal who raised an original question, and a younger man from Montreal who had been swimming with Leonard. The Waterstones staff were very nice, and didn't rush us out. They also let us finish the wine, and since most people were drinking white it fell to me to finish the red. We left Sylvie signing a huge pile of her paperbacks for Waterstones to sell. I now look forward to today's (Thursday's) signing at Chorleywood, where (at my suggestion) Julie Felix will be singing a song or two.

You have a great way of covering these events, John. Totally apart from the norm and I thoroughly enjoy reading them.
Thanks so much.
Felt like I was there [a common enough comment, I know, but it's true].

Thanks, Lizzie - I do my best to convey the events as I experience them (I seem to have met half of the Sixties/Seventies counter-culture in the past couple of months!).

And lucky you on that, John. Being positioned in London is most helpful .

A wide variety of things that you note serve to bring your 'reviews' in a very informative and interesting way.

We were lucky enough to be at the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury on Tuesday, and had a very enjoyable evening. Sylvie was very relaxed and seemed to be enjoying herself (she has a wonderful smile). It was, as John said a very unusual venue but it didn't detract from the whole experience. Katy Carr had a lovely voice as did Pete Molinari.
My man and I chatted to Sylvie while we got our book signed and told her how we got together so she signed our book, 'Two lovers brought together by Leonard' ...

Yesterday we were also lucky enough to aquire tickets to tonights concert at the O2, so all in all its been a pretty good week!

Karren B
xx

Sounds like a GREAT week to me, Karren!
Yes... Sylvie does have a great smile... sweet, mischievous, delightful

I was amongst a handful of people at the Waterstones Liverpool detour. Sylvie removed herself from the altar and sat with the congregation. She was quite lovely from the get go. It makes sense that she wrote a Serge Gainsbourg bio. She's strikingly Birkinesque...

On Thursday night, Sylvie promoted her book at Chorleywood (which is on the further reaches of the Metropolitan line, past Wembley Park). The event took place in a school hall, and was organized by the Chorleywood Bookshop. They must have done a good job promoting it, because I would estimate that 70 or maybe even 100 people attended (with myself possibly being the only Forum member). There was the added attraction of Julie Felix being the special guest, but this was only confirmed at the last moment. Entry fee was £8.00, and we were welcomed with a glass of rose wine. When I arrived, Julie and Sylvie were testing "Hallelujah" together, but didn't play it later.

Sylvie came across very well, and among other things talked about Leonard in Hampstead and Hydra. She sang "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Sisters of Mercy", with Julie Felix strumming along. Julie sang three songs on her own - "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye", "Bird On The Wire", and a wonderful exclusive - "Beside the Still Fjord", a song that she wrote for Marianne, when Marianne was breaking up with Leonard. Julie hadn't sung it for a very long time, but fortunately remembered the words.

There was an interesting Q & A, and we were able to put questions to both Sylvie and Julie. The question that I put to Julie was (since she has always been actively involved in the protest movement and conveying her political beliefs) how did she feel about the fact that Leonard has never put himself on the line, politically. She said, and I tend to agree, that she felt Leonard was coming from a different place and somehow transcended politics, so she accepted his non-involvement. Julie also talked about Hydra. She didn't know about Leonard before she went to the island, but became friends with him and Marianne there. Later she travelled with Marianne, in England.

Thanks, again, John! This appears to have been a VERY enjoyable reading to have attended.

Never realized that Julie/Leonard/Marianne were so well connected. Loved her response regarding Leonard's non-involvement with politics. It would feel odd to hear Leonard comment on such... and the things that he's said that come close seem to indicate a transcendence. And he does come from a different place.

"Beside the Still Fjord", a song that she wrote for Marianne, when Marianne was breaking up with Leonard. Julie hadn't sung it for a very long time, but fortunately remembered the words.

Would love to read the lyrics to this. The title itself has the feel of a poignant, longing lament.

Here's a sample, Lizzy! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clothos-Web-Jul ... ho%27s+web

John,

As always, such an erudite review - thank you.

I am unclear on this, Marianne broke up with LC, or was it the other way around, or was it mutual?

The Julie Felix connection is new to me also. Is there any any further info on this i.e. dates......?

What little of heard of her words and voice through your link tempt me to buy this piece of music.

Warmest regards,
Mary

(P.S. I hope I am not sounding like an 'obssesive fan'. I am just curious.)

Thanks, John. I'm not finding where there's anywhere to listen or read. Am I missing it? Or, did you mean that this particular cd gives a good sample of Julie?

Google to the rescue. Took a bit because a number of links are WAITING for Julie's lyrics on this.

The song has the lingering threads of sadness that the title suggested to me it would.

Beside the still fjord

May-born maiden Marianne dwells beside the still fjord.
She listens to her heart while mental fingers change the chord.
Hearing distant melodies she tries to find a song,
Forgetting that the notes she knows
To your songs all belong.

Are you well?
Have you been fair?
Fare thee well.

You’ve been released like Abraham from the tragic sacrifice,
And so you travelled westward to collect the golden prize.
But somewhere on an island there’s a song you never learnt;
It lingers on the beaches,
Though the words have all been burnt.

Are you well?
Have you been fair?
Fare thee well.

And now you write of madmen and of sailors on their quest
And all the lovely ladies whom your poems have left undressed.
Sadness stains your melting mouth but fire fills your tongue,
While you pray that the angels
Will believe the songs you’ve sung.

Are you well?
Have you been fair?
Fare thee well.

– Julie Felix (from Clotho’s Web, 1972)

MaryB wrote:John,
As always, such an erudite review - thank you.
I am unclear on this, Marianne broke up with LC, or was it the other way around, or was it mutual?
The Julie Felix connection is new to me also. Is there any any further info on this i.e. dates......?
What little of heard of her words and voice through your link tempt me to buy this piece of music.
Warmest regards,
Mary
(P.S. I hope I am not sounding like an 'obssesive fan'. I am just curious.)

Mary - if you haven't heard this, you might enjoy. A lot of this is mentioned by Slyvie in her book.
But this is Leonard and Marianne, speaking about their relationship themselves.

http://www.fallingtree.co.uk/listen/leo ... d_marianne

Produced by Alan Hall - Duration: 27'33"

Broadcast 2nd August 2008, BBC Radio 4
Repeated 25th December 2008



Poet and singer Leonard Cohen met Marianne Ihlen, the beautiful wife of a Norwegian novelist, on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. Marianne became Leonard's muse when he turned from poetry to song-writing and their romance and eventual separation is immortalised in one of Cohen's earliest and best known songs, So Long, Marianne.

Using an interview with Leonard Cohen recorded by Kari Hesthamar for Norwegian Radio and a new interview with Marianne in which she speaks for the first time in English about their relationship.

In 2009 Leonard and Marianne won the Sony Bronze Award in the features category.

And just because - here's Leonard and Julie

Julie & Leonard duet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uirn0ocZ7gE

Lizzy - Thanks for locating the lyrics. If you scroll down on the UK Amazon link you can hear samples of the tracks. I've known about this album for 40 years, but only just ordered it myself! From the samples and the reviews, it sounds like a classic and one of Julie's best.

Mary - According to Julie, Marianne thought it was herself who left, though Julie thought it was Leonard. Either way, the relationship was breaking down then. Apparently Leonard said that he didn't mind being painted as the bad guy for a change! I don't have exact timing of events...the song was released in the early Seventies but may have been written earlier. I used to think that Leonard lived an idyllic life on Hydra for most of the Sixties, but the biographies have revealed that he was also spending time in Montreal and America. Thus there were periods when he was apart from Marianne. I think Julie first visited Hydra in the early Sixties, and I know that she introduced Leonard to the British public on her television show in 1968. I met Julie over twenty years ago, when we were studying astrology together. I had the great pleasure of reconnecting her with Leonard in 2007, when I was invited to Leonard's art exhibition in Manchester, and took Julie as my guest.