About LC not singing, If It Be Your Will...

[Box_of_Rain]

I know the Webb sisters are very beautiful and they sing very lovely...I really appreciated hearing them sing, If It Be Your Will...BUT

I would like to hear Mr. Leonard Cohen sing that song. Anyone else? Why do you suppose he doesn't? Do you think there is a chance he will?

I hope, hope and pray I will hear him sing that song.

Some suggested it may be too emotional for him to sing. If that is true the whole audience could help him...we could all cry and sing together!!!

PLEASE!

[John K.]

I know the Webb sisters are very beautiful and they sing very lovely...I really appreciated hearing them sing, If It Be Your Will...BUT

I would like to hear Mr. Leonard Cohen sing that song. Anyone else? Why do you suppose he doesn't? Do you think there is a chance he will?

I hope, hope and pray I will hear him sing that song.

Some suggested it may be too emotional for him to sing. If that is true the whole audience could help him...we could all cry and sing together!!!

PLEASE!

Denise - The (sublime) Webb Sisters have been singing "If it be Your Will" from the start of the tour to the Beacon Theater. I have no inside information, but they do such a beautiful job of it, and it gives them a chance to shine. I have to believe it will continue. Also consider that at age 74, Mr. Cohen is performing a three-hour show. It provides him with a chance to breathe.

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but perhaps you could pray for something more realistic, like Avalanche, or even A Singer Must Die. Now that would be a treat!

John K.

[Box_of_Rain]

Hey John, now come on...I don't think it's because he needs a breather, and I also don't think it's because they need a spot to shine, they could shine on any song...this is a big deal song...this is my favorite song...

I think there must be a reason...and it's ok if he doesn't want to sing it...but I also think he needs to know how much we would like to hear him sing it.

I actually had the same experience with the song, Box of Rain, everytime I went to a Dead show I would yell, Box of Rain, Box of Rain...I had a chance to talk to Phil Lesh about singing Box of Rain, and he said, go listen to it at home on your stereo...I told him it's not the same, that it didn't matter how he sang it, to just sing, and about how much the deadheads loved that song...and low and behold, he started singing it.

Let's all pray together!

Please Mr. Cohen sing, If It Be Your Will!

[John K.]

Hey John, now come on...I don't think it's because he needs a breather, and I also don't think it's because they need a spot to shine, they could shine on any song...this is a big deal song...this is my favorite song...

I think there must be a reason...and it's ok if he doesn't want to sing it...but I also think he needs to know how much we would like to hear him sing it.

I actually had the same experience with the song, Box of Rain, everytime I went to a Dead show I would yell, Box of Rain, Box of Rain...I had a chance to talk to Phil Lesh about singing Box of Rain, and he said, go listen to it at home on your stereo...I told him it's not the same, that it didn't matter how he sang it, to just sing, and about how much the deadheads loved that song...and low and behold, he started singing it.

Let's all pray together!

Please Mr. Cohen sing, If It Be Your Will!

There's a difference between a Dead show, which was freeform, and a Leonard Cohen show, where virtually every word is planned out. I also think that anyone who's assigning their assumptions as to why certain songs are done or not, and by who, are projecting quite a bit. After all, Mr. Cohen did Suzanne, Marianne, and Chelsea Hotel on Thursday night; what songs could be more personal than those songs?

I overheard one conversation on Thursday night about "what was wrong, Sharon Robinson sang all of Boogie Street". There didn't have to be anything "wrong", perhaps he understands as well as I do what a magnificent job she does with the song, and has decided to allow her to take it all on her own. It's easy to project our own feelings of heroism to our heroes, but generally the explanation is the most obvious. I maintain that Leonard probably loves the Webb Sister's beautiful interpretation of his song and is probably thrilled to hear it every night, and at 74 can use the break.

Back in the day, Ray Charles used to have his band do a few songs without him prior to the start of each set. It wasn't just because they were great musicians who deserved the chance to shine without him there, it was because he was up in years and it made sense.

But I don't want to argue, so if it makes you feel better, I'll put in the good word for ya in my thoughts!

[hydriot]

It's an opportunity for Hattie Webb to show off her skills with the harp. Leonard is giving a young act a chance of advancing, just as Judy Collins did for him.

And, hey: it's Leonard's show. He can do what he likes with it.

[Box_of_Rain]

I don't know why he doesn't sing it, I'm just asking.

I really don't think it's about needing a break.

The Webb sisters shine, no matter what.

I just think this song, is a very, very special song. I don't know a lot about Cohen. I'm sure I am just ignorant of all his other songs. And it's not that I don't appreciate everything else. I do, from the bottom of my heart.

And if he doesn't want to sing it, that's fine, it's his choice. I'm just voicing, what I think a lot of people would like to hear. I'm probably wrong.

I wasn't comparing Leonard Cohen to the Grateful Dead, I was comparing, two songs that I love and the idea of hope.

Thanks for your thoughts at least.

[tomsakic]

I agree, and we already commented on this matter during Summer 2008 tour. I really think that on a Leonard Cohen show all Leonard Cohen songs should be sung by Leonard Cohen himself.

Now, particularly If It Be Your Will. It could be God himself singing it there, but it is - according to Leonard Cohen himself - his most great song and he and only he should sing it, at least on his own show.

[asta]

How do you think Sharon would feel if 'her 'extra special' spot in the show was withdrawn. Sharon is a professional artist in her own right - not a backing singer. Same with the young Webb Sisters (as Hydriot sensitively suggests) - and they have a special chance for them to 'shine' individually - including with the harp / guitar.

Who knows if Sharon or The Webb Sisters would be so keen on touring - repeat - they are not usually 'back up' singers - without this special privilege afforded by Leonard. Just look at Leonard's smile as Sharon sings Boogie St; and Leonard's serene joy when he hears If it be Your Will performed with harp and The Webb Sisters beautiful harmonies. The standing ovations and cheering (as on the girls track with Leonard just released on their EP) shows that most people don;t think like Box of Rain and Tom S. Often any media coverage mentioning Sharon relates to Boogie St; and the young Webb Sisters with If it be Your Will - why deny Sharon or Hattie & Charley their extra special moment in the sun ?

It is such a shame that this negative is raised - and read - when the whole 3 hour concert is so absolutely amazing. Next, Box of Rain and Tom Sakic will suggest that Dino shouldn't solo; Javier should cut down on his wonderful solo's etc etc.

Leonard (I imagine) likes the whole team to individually shine - and with such a touring schedule, the band (and singers) all seem so so happy with the current formula - including Leonard. Again - imagine Sharon / Hattie & Charley's sadness if their extra special solo spots were removed !! Asta

[UrPal]

This is a difficult one, and you can see both sides (and how the purists on this one might seem a bit mean-spirited) until you forward project.

Let's work this one by analogy. Imagine that in the late 70s you went to see Jacques Brel at a fictional gig at the Olympia and he left "Ne Me Quitte Pas" to be sung by a couple of talented backing singers he happened to have on hand. Obviously you'd have no complaints about their performance or the generosity of spirit shown by old Jackie in proverbially "passing the torch", but twenty years on when you looked back nostalgically you might just legitimately feel a pang of regret that you never saw the master do it clean. No?

Of course, Brel gave up live performance long before he took a final bow, so in that we can count ourselves blessed to have heard LC do the rest.

You'll hear no complaints from me, but in an entirely ideal world I'd have liked to have heard IIBYW, Avalanche, Light As The Breeze, and The Captain performed by LC in my presence in my lifetime. It's never gonna happen, but there's nothing wrong with expressing the aspirational.

On the other hand, if Brel didn't feel he could do some of his songs justice any more (he'd be welling crocodile tears rather than real ones to do it etc etc) or there were other good reasons for moving the spotlight to one side for a while (like needing a time to rest and gather your strength again whilst still on stage) then who could quibble with that?

You've got the records. They'll always be around. Where's the urgency?

As you can tell, I'm on the fence (leaning dangerously in both directions). And it's a small fence. So I might be best standing up and walking away....

[lizzytysh]

WoW. Who'duhthunk this thought could become so convoluted and entwined so quickly and totally.

Since everyone who's commenting here seems to be weighing in, as well... I will, too. I'm pretty ensconced in the perspectives of Box of Rain, Tom Sakic, and UrPal. Pretty tough trying to serve all those positions, simultaneously, but there you have it. Ambivalence. Ambivalence to the max. The Jacques Brel analogy is brilliant.

I have no complaints about Leonard's show and how he's determined to arrange it. When Sharon did Boogie Street, I became so lost in it, I failed to remember that ordinarily Leonard would be part of that mix. She 'owned' it [and I can't remember how someone here described her performance of it, but their words were spot on... I think they may have said she delivered it with authority... now there's an understatement].

Simply because If It Be Your Will is such a seminal part of Leonard's repertoire, writing, and life experience/perspectives, and he comes down to such a simple and serious approach with it, it would be sublime to witness his singing it... as it is with all of his songs, from my perspective, no one brings to them what he does. Boogie Street was a collaborative effort to begin with, though, so you have to at least once-remove that song from that comment.

Leonard has, indeed, chosen to give people the same chances he was given... to shine from within a perfectly-framed picture. The Webb Sisters do that. Still, it remains one of Leonard's signature songs and one of such import and connection to G~d that I would love nothing more than to hear him do it himself. My original thought when I started to respond here was that, perhaps, he could do it himself as an encore... that was until I remembered that the Webb Sisters do it as part of an encore! Hmmm. Seemed like a good idea for a minute, anyway. I don't have a solution.

If It Be Your Will is such a stand-alone earnest prayer, an entreaty that encompasses all the depths of Leonard's life experience, that there is literally no one who can do the justice to the song that only he can. This I believe.

At least on a physical level, it would be one of the least stressful to deliver. Emotionally/psychically, perhaps, a different matter. He comes to it unadorned and naked. The Webb Sisters embellish it magically and beautifully with their voices and instrumentation. They shine. So, how does one express a longing without its registering as a complaint. It is pure and profound paradox.

I'm not one to just want more... more... more... [well, except in encores ... but, even then, it gets to the point where "Enough is enough ~ let this generous man go home and rest"]. I seriously don't feel that this song is sung by the Webb Sisters because Leonard needs a rest. It seems he chose it to be sung as it is because they were able to bring such different energies and facets of light to it, without losing its prayerfulness. He wants people to actually benefit from their being part of his group in ways that go beyond their tours with him. I don't really consider the solo parts that the other band members do as being equivalent to others performing the entire song. Can I fault Leonard for his personal and professional generousity? Not on your life. Does that mean I don't long to hear him sing If It Be Your Will and want to actually say that? Nope.

Okay. For now, I think that about covers it.


Highest regards,
Lizzy

[MaryB]

I remember reading an interview w/LC where he said that he liked Billy Joel's version of 'Light As a Breeze' (one of my favorites) better than his own. If Billy Joel was on stage with him, would he have Billy Joel sing it?

Kindest regards,
Mary

[MarieM]

I think there are far more songwriters who don't perform their own songs. They write songs for other people to sing. Some of these songwriters can't even sing. And some songs are written beyond the capabilities of the songwriter to sing. The imagination knows no bounds but one's singing abilities might. Maybe when Leonard was creating If It Be Your Will he envisioned sweet, harmonious, angelic voices singing it. Maybe he didn't then but he does now. Maybe when Sharon and Leonard were creating Boogie Street, he loved what her powerful, soulful voice and presence brought to the song.

For me, the act of creation of all Leonard's songs doesn't stop with lyrics put to music. This tour represents how Leonard sees his songs today, how he interprets them after years more insight and experience. Maybe there is some expediency in having Sharon and the Webb Sisters sing these songs, but that doesn't change the fact that it was these songs that were chosen to be sung by these women. That is as much a part of the creative process as the songwriting was. There is a vast difference between a somber 74-year-old man singing about his voice being stilled and two young women singing "your praises."

One of the reviews of the Beacon concert noted how extraordinarily timeless Leonard's songs are. For me, they are timeless because the songs contain truth and truth lasts forever. But truth can be clouded if enveloped in dated trappings. I see the performances of all the songs as a creative choice as important as the writing because it represents Leonard's growth between the time the song was written and today, as well as our own growth.

[MaryB]

Hopefully, when people read your post, Marie, they will really understand what you are saying.
How insightfully and beautifully put. Thank you.
Warmest regards,
Mary

[lizzytysh]

Your points are very well expressed and certainly well taken, Marie. It seems, perhaps, even moreso since Leonard has first considered himself a writer/poet/songwriter over being a singer.

WE may feel differently about the singer part, but that's us and they are, indeed, his songs... his babies... to raise as he chooses, so long as they don't suffer from abuse or neglect [okay, I've gone a little too far with that analogy ]. We can sometimes easily overlook anyone's tendency and right to personal/professional growth [Dylan going from acoustic to electric comes immediately to mind]. How Leonard's songs have evolved to where they are today, including by whom and in what way they are performed, makes perfect sense.

We fall in love with something/someone... we want to freeze it/them in time. Not a good plan.

Beautifully said:

One of the reviews of the Beacon concert noted how extraordinarily timeless Leonard's songs are. For me, they are timeless because the songs contain truth and truth lasts forever. But truth can be clouded if enveloped in dated trappings. I see the performances of all the songs as a creative choice as important as the writing because it represents Leonard's growth between the time the song was written and today, as well as our own growth.

~ Lizzy

[lizzytysh]

I won't object if Leonard should ever decide to include his own performance of it, as well... ~ I would just hope I'm there, and if not, be happy for those who are .

It's not just G~d's will, buy Leonard's will, as well. [I thought that, but had to say it because I knew it would be so much fun ... those alliterations].


~ Lizzy