leonardcohenforum.com

I just finished watching Paul Giammatti in 'Barney's Version' (2011)- a wonderful, touching film. The bonus and moment I am adoring today? Not one, but two LC songs in the movie. During the movie, a part of DMTTEOL, a snippet of 'I'm Your Man', and then the full version of 'I'm Your Man' during the closing credits

Heard at The Free Times Cafe on Friday night:

Famous Blue Raincoat by Tori Amos http://youtu.be/MQW-5Zi2F2k

(I knew there was a reason that place feels like home to me...)

So, this random moment is a little bittersweet: at the Sin and Redemption Pub in Toronto with my friend James, appreciating the blues on the playlist (Curtis Mayfield, Bb King..) but lamenting that Shazam doesn't seem to match many songs anymore...
Then, the music shifts: Closing Time, original studio version! Ah, the sin and redemption theme!
But, sadly, Shazam couldn't match it!

Wrapping the last of my Christmas presents and I put my Perla Batalla CD on and I absolutely love her version of Bird on the Wire.
Does anyone agree that has to be the best after Leonard's? It is beautiful, and she puts everything into it. Yes??

I am kind of partial to Johnny Cash's version

http://youtu.be/Fh6zyJyrrQI

and Willie Nelson's:
http://youtu.be/ZutD7E-toOI
( That steel guitar does it for me every time!)

While browsing You Tube for the Good Lovelies' version of Santa Baby for the New Game, I stumbled upon The Good Lovelies singing Hallelujah live in London last year. They are one of my favourite groups, so why am i surprised that they covered it?
http://youtu.be/fjxvLGv7ZCg

I had a delightful chance encounter at the supermarket today.
A Leonard Cohen fan spotted me from the Las Vegas final concert.

http://onboogiestreet.blogspot.com/2012 ... onard.html

---Arlene

Great story, Arlene!

Love your little Cohenites stories, Arlene

Arlene,

Ken sounds like a very special person – not only does he love LC, he remembers the faces of Cohenites he has seen but never met

My high school art teacher used to say to me that certain people were 'Venusians' (lovers of peace and beauty), and that, if you too were a lover of art, you would always recognize and bond with other Venusians, wherever you went.

XO

imaginary friend wrote:Arlene,

Ken sounds like a very special person – not only does he love LC, he remembers the faces of Cohenites he has seen but never met

My high school art teacher used to say to me that certain people were 'Venusians' (lovers of peace and beauty), and that, if you too were a lover of art, you would always recognize and bond with other Venusians, wherever you went.

XO

Thank you Sheila. This is such a lovely concept.
I will send Ken an email with a bookmark to your post.

---Arlene

The new album is available on jukebox - yippie skippie!!!!! So, tonight, after playing a certain number of selections which would appeal to the clientele of our favorite Italian restaurant/pub (Coolidge/Kristofersson, 'There's a Song I'd Like to Sing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1-igIvvdA;, Dwight Yoakum and Patti Loveless, 'Send a Message to My Heart' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFsRanm06wU .........., I was ecstatic because the new LC album was available. I immediately keyed in 'Different Sides' from Old Ideas.

There was one fella at the end of the bar who kept looking to see what the info on the songs were, ie. name of artist, name of song.....

Being in an atmosphere where the clientele had become accostomed to hearing LC and thereby themselves putting in LC songs as their own choices, I felt confident that this newest song might be easily accepted. The song comes on. In an instant, the female of a couple at the end of the bar says, "Satan music". I was horrified that her reaction to LC's voice would generate this response! OMG

Then I see the fella that was monitoring the music that I had chosen, he had gotten up from his seat, went closer to one of the speaker, held his phone to the speaker in order to record this song.

Some people just have no clue, while others recognize quality and want to record it for posterity.

.

ladydi wrote:I was in my local Barnes and Noble bookstore today. Initially my friend and I went for a latte and simply to sit back, relax and chat. We started to leave, when I said .... I HAVE to go to the music area to see the LC display! Walked in...wandered around...and around...and around. No LC. My friend sort of slinked out as he knew I was about to get "pissed". Clerk finally approaches me with 'can I help you find something?'. 'Well, yes you can. Where are the Leonard Cohen cd's that came out this week.....I don't see any on display?' "That's because they were sold out on the first day."

My parting words were....'you might want to order some more!".

Oh, that is too funny.
Good for you!
---Arlene

I went into my local record shop today to collect my copy of Old Ideas (unfortunately minus The Muse print) with ladydi's words about promo display on my mind. There was no hugh eye catching display but lined up like soldiers in a prominent position were twenty copies in two side by side racks. Previously, when I rang up and asked them to hold me a copy they said they had ordered 45 copies but would save me one. I was actually astounded they ordered so many and wondered who the other 44 Leonard Cohen fans were in this fairly small city! I also wondered how I could flush them out into the open!
When I paid for my copy at the counter the sales assistant didn't know who LC was so I pulled out my standard stock statement, "He wrote Hallelujah you know". "Ah! I know that song", is always the reply, "but Jeff Buckley wrote it".........oh, here we go again, I thought!......and yes, I did set the record very straight!