leonardcohenforum.com

A new photo from facebook "Mai 2015: sønn, far og farfar samlet i [gathered in] Los Angeles" + Microsoft's How Old Do I Look?

Thanks for posting, Roman. It is a joy to see Leonard still looking so amazing!! And I like his longer hair. It's often very difficult, if not impossible, to match people with age-numbers, but if I had to, I'd say probably closer to 60 than 66; but the number doesn't really matter at all & I don't even know what those numbers mean. What matters is that. . he looks amazing!! A beautiful family portrait of a beautiful family. Thanks again.

Great picture - thanks.
Agree Rachel that Leonard looks great there , and very contented to be with his ' boys'. The number doesn't really matter , but if we have to mention one , Leonard's example reduces potential fears, and increases a connection with the more positive possibilities ,of life after 80

That is a more flattering photo of LC (wonder when was it taken?) whereas on the "Can't Forget" cd booklet "smoking at 80" photo LC looks old, very old and frail, all of his 80 years.
Don't know why some think this is a "cute" photo!
Sad photo, I think, I look at it and think "I won't see him on stage again."

Then I decide that is not a bad thing.
I have seen some performers struggle back to the stage when they were well past it. Disaster.

I would HATE to see a feeble, geriatric version of the vigorous Leonard we once knew.
Better to know when to quit.
Hope the toadies (some of whom are on this forum, you know, those who say that everything LC does is awesome!) don't persuade him otherwise.

The smoking picture didn't make me feel sad at all, just glad that i knew this was his one and only cigarette post 80!
A staged follow up to the tongue in cheek promise he made frequently on stage , and a man of his word
Personally i dont think he looks significantly 'older or frailer' than during the last year of touring. I think ' handsome and elegant ' would be better adjectives for how he looks in the photo.
'Frail looking ' was a phrase used frequently in press reviews of his shows right from the 2008 ones, but always noted that his performance was far from ' frail' , showing stamina not available to most performers of all ages.

cohenadmirer wrote:. I think ' handsome and elegant ' would be better adjectives for how he looks in the photo.

I agree completely, David - "handsome & elegant" indeed - good choice of descriptive words. I would also add beautiful, pensive, dignified, & classy as well. I think it is a wonderful photo & it makes me smile every time I look at it.

I totally agree with you, David and Rachel. I remember a friend commenting to me that Leonard looked frail in Lissadell. I was like, are you for real, have you seen how he gets up and down on his knees. Even using my hands I can't do that and I am half his age!
I think, considering it was just over 2 weeks since his sister passed away he looked great in that photo! Like David says he followed up on what he said many times on tour. Leonard is a class act and I think we are blessed with having the 3 releases in the last year. This one especially is most welcome, and I love that photo.
While he IS old, 80 is old, I don't think is is frail and I don't think Leonard would tour unless he felt 100% able, such is the high level he sets for himself.

I have to say I am struggling to collate this photo with some others some months before, even a year or two before.He has put on face wight for sure in this one and he looks very well, as Athnuachan said, it is somehow rather too flattering?

No I have said it a few times on this forum, he will 81, is it this September? Goodness knows how much the tours have taken out of him. I always knew he would come back after the 2008-2010 tour, for reasons I have started often enough but much as perhaps I might like to see just one more tour, any tour resembling anything like the last two, I believe is too much for Leonard.

Like any sportsmen or artist, there comes that day............

musicmania wrote: I think, considering it was just over 2 weeks since his sister passed away he looked great in that photo!

That's interesting, musicmania - maybe it explains the aura of sadness I feel in the photo. I had forgotten the two events were so close.

The photo and the videos are reminders of his 80 years. On stage, in the distance, he didn't seem old at all, he was so lively! That's why I wouldn't like to see him perform again if he could no longer be so.

Still, I remember someone on the forum saying that Leonard always did exactly what he wanted to do, so we can probably rely on him to make the right decision!

Do I think he looks frail? Yes.
Do I think he acts frail? Definitely not.
That's a big difference.