Has Cohen forgotten to play the guitare ?

Murat Malay · Post by **Murat Malay** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:11 pm

I think Leonard Cohen forgot to play the guitar. We can't here it in his lately albums... Isn't it too sad for the people who knew him with the songs like "Suzanne" or "Like a Bird On the Wire" or "Famous Blue Raincoat" ? I think he must think about that...

http://muratmalay.4t.com

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:35 pm

I think he didn't. In 2000s he again compose some songs to guitar, and it can be heard in "Nightingale" on the new album.

My Guitar by L. Cohen

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:10 pm

Is it possible to forget how to play a musical instrument?

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:39 am

Hi there,

I think unless one develops arthritis or something it is much like riding a bicylce, tricycle, icicle or whatever. One might get a little 'rusty' if they haven't played for a while, but I don't think a person 'forgets'. Although...

Right now I'm trying to hear the guitar in "Famous Blue Raincoat" and can't, maybe if I put on the CD?

Linda.

andenord · Post by **andenord** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 2:31 pm

Murat Malay wrote:I think Leonard Cohen forgot to play the guitar. We can't here it in his lately albums... Isn't it too sad for the people who knew him with the songs like "Suzanne" or "Like a Bird On the Wire" or "Famous Blue Raincoat" ? I think he must think about that...

http://muratmalay.4t.com

Well.. I mean. LC has definatly changed. I love the first albums with the traditional instruments, and I love 80s Cohen with the synth.
(Everybody knows is very unique with the spanish guitar and the synth, I think).

I dont like the two latest albums that much, -- ,isnt it so with many artists? They change. His voice isnt the same either.

I think he can play as he used to -- I bet he does with his friends and his family

.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:14 pm

andenord,

I agree with you, artists do change. They have to really. Esp. artists like Leonard, he has to keep evolving, I don't think he would be happy in a pigeon hole.

Linda.

Btw, I remember this thread, and it does make sense if you had read the posts prior to the ones shown. Like the bicycle, tricycle, icicle line. That really does make sense but it would take a while to tell the story.

Secondly, where are on earth did you find a picture of me to use as your avatar!!? That's me all right. First thing in the morning.

bruna · Post by **bruna** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:56 pm

Artists change, yes, but they are not the only people who change. Their audience changes too. Everything is in evolution. It i swhat I like. Inspite of the fact, that my changes are not always for good, I like it. It is one thing I admire the most in life.
I am always astonished by Leonard Cohen and his evolution. If he keep the style of Suzanne or Blue raincoat, it would be a little ridiculous. His magic voice and guitar... There´s no wonder for me, that he looks for another forms of expression.

jurica · Post by **jurica** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:29 pm

it is possible to forget how to play an instrument!

here's a part of Son House's biography:

"But just as House had gone a full decade without recording, this time after the Lomax recordings, he just as quickly disappeared, moving to Rochester, NY. When folk blues researchers finally found him in 1964, he was cheerfully exclaiming that he hadn't touched a guitar in years. One of the researchers, a young guitarist named Alan Wilson (later of the blues-rock group Canned Heat) literally sat down and retaught Son House how to play like Son House. Once the old master was up to speed, the festival and coffeehouse circuit became his oyster. "

..very funny stroy!

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:21 pm

Thanks for the interesting story, jurica. I kinda doubt that House had forgotten entirely how to play guitar...maybe rusty? Even if he had forgotten, he must have been a quick study as (from the way the story sounds) it wasn't a task of monumental proportions.

I found it interesting also, that the guitar player for Canned Heat was some sort of rock-blues researcher. I wonder? Was he a writer? Or, just researching rock-blues? That would be an interesting career. Roaming around listening and talking to the old blues musicians. It would make a good TV special. Imagine all the blues musicians and their stories that are just whiling away the years in relative obscurity, when there's still so much to be learned from them. Interesting story.

Linda.

andenord · Post by **andenord** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:17 pm

linda_lakeside wrote:andenord,

Secondly, where are on earth did you find a picture of me to use as your avatar!!? That's me all right. First thing in the morning.

Well... Its a part of a drawing, which I made. Didn't think of you, thou

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:16 pm

Hi there,

Another artiste. Just curious, what kind of thing do you do? What's you're discipline, as some might say? I guess you can't really be too disciplined to draw. You'd have to let your mind loose, so to speak. For instance, your avatar, what is that about? This is a good place to re-iterate the fact that it is not about me.

Thanks.

Linda.

Jinx · Post by **Jinx** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:47 am

He never actually played it...
I mean he plays pretty rudimentary staff.
But who cares?
The man is a poet.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:54 am

Hi Jinx (why does that sound so ominous?),

I agree that the most important aspect of Leonard's career is the fact that he's a poet, not a guitar player.

However, I've seen TV interviews, where he'll recite a bit of poetry, pick up a guitar (I always think of the ruined Spanish guitar) and accompany himself for a few moments. I like Leonard on the piano, actually. A real piano.

Even some of the most 'celebrated' rock groups could be accused of playing 'three chord rock'. Somehow, though, they (whoever 'they' are) seem to make it sound like more than three chords. It really doesn't matter in the end, I don't think. If people can relate to it on any level, then it's OK.

Linda.

Jinx · Post by **Jinx** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:52 am

I Agree... Who cares?

He is not much of a guitar player but no one ever accused Hendrix about his lyrics (although they weren't much)
Catch my drift?

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:32 am

Well, for example, I think All Along the Watchtower wins on both levels. Hendrix' guitar and Dylan's lyrics.

Linda.

Has Cohen forgotten to play the guitare ?

Has Cohen forgotten to play the guitare ?

Re: Has Cohen forgotten to play the guitare ?