leonardcohenforum.com

I had been wondering how I would mark Leonard’s birthday, and when I heard that The Flame was released early in some shops in Ireland my plan was made.

I had already planned on visiting the Botanic Gardens in Dublin, so first I collected the book and then I went across to the Gardens, with my treasure held closely to my heart.

While making these photos I almost felt guilty to not be keeping the booking in my hands, given how lucky I was to have it early, but since the name, The Flame, is a part of nature I knew the book fitted in these images.

While I listen to Leonard’s songs while I make this post I am reminded that my grief at his passing is as raw today as it was when I found out he was no more of this world. My heart shattered that day, and I don’t think it will ever heal. The wonderful memories I have, Leonard’s body of work, and making other memories mean life is still lived. I know know I am luckier than most where Leonard is concerned. I’ve had a lot of hardship in my life, and an Avalanche in the last couple of years. I’m forever grateful for my Leonard Memories to sustain my through The Darkness.

Now I look forward to the treasure that lies in the pages of The Flame. I am savouring it in small doses, for I want the first read to last as long as possible. I hope it isn’t the final record of Leonard’s work. What will be, will be.

Thank you Leonard. Rest easy. Love you always and forever. Thank you for the Memories. Gwen.

Kirk Silsbee
Happy Birthday, Leonard Cohen (1934-2016).

Of all the great singer-songwriter talent from 1960s Canada (Mitchell, Young, Lightfoot), none was more enigmatic than Leonard Cohen. His lyrics didn't always lay the way you were used to hearing them, but his intensely personal themes rang universal. The interpersonal, the political, the spiritual and the sexual all melded.

The Jewish Journal examined Harvey Kubernik's masterful "Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows" book, excerpted here:

“Leonard Cohen: Tea and Oranges on High Holy Days” by Kirk Silsbee

Like many of us, author Harvey Kubernik first heard Leonard Cohen through his interpreters. Judy Collins recorded Cohen’s obliquely lyrical “Suzanne” and the sardonic suicide ode “Dress Rehearsal Rag” on her 1967 In My Life album. The songs impressed him but it wasn’t until Cohen’s first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (Columbia 1968) that Kubernik began to get the full impact of the Canadian novelist and poet who turned to writing songs and singing.

“I went to Fairfax High,” says Kubernik, “and there were 32 people at my school named Cohen. I knew that Bob Zimmerman changed his name to Dylan for show business reasons, but I’d never heard a name like Leonard Cohen on FM underground radio; which was where I heard his songs.”
In that format, dominated by the Beatles’ White Album and Wheels of Fire by Cream, Cohen’s evenly modulated tones were closer to narration than singing. “It was slow and seductive,” Kubernik advises. “He was an older guy with a distinguished voice who dressed immaculately—like someone I’d see at High Holy Days.”

Cohen brought a reservoir of literary weight to his lyrics, informed by such sources as Camus, Garcia Lorca, the I Ching, and Hermann Hesse. Sufficiently impressed with lyrics of “tea and oranges that come all the way from China,” and “you've used up all your coupons, except the one that seems to be written on your wrist,” Kubernik dutifully wrote a term paper on the unlikely 'eminence grise' of the local FM rock stations.

Using religious imagery and terminology to explore emotional territory and matters of the heart, Cohen has forged a large body of recorded work over the years that wrestles with Judaism, love in all of its forms, economics, substance abuse, eroticism—all in a manner that’s personal yet universal. His work has been interpreted by other artists widely, and obsessively dissected by fans of all ages. Like “Suzanne,” his beautiful, pain-ridden “Hallelujah” has been recorded over 600 times.

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Jewish Journal, October 17, 2014

B4real wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 9:37 am But I know in my heart there will be more music to come from Leonard and that will be an outstanding additional bonus to look forward to. The singer may be gone, but his song lives on ....

musicmania wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:10 pm There is definitely more to come. I think we just need to be patient, now where did I hear that before.
On Leonard's Facebook page yesterday it was announced more boxes of his notes have been added to the archives in the Thomas Fisher Library in Toronto University, and the 80 verses of Hallelujah have been found. Oh what I would give to read those.

Thanks to:
Casa Astor for the initiative and for their welcome.
Bea and Chema for the photos and videos.
the musicians, “la selección de maravillosos artistas” who did not disappoint the announcement, special thanks to Jordi, Jorcx.

At Casa Astor we have celebrated a heartfelt tribute to Leonard Cohen, a few hours before what would have been his 89th birthday. It was a moment of reunion, of beauty and emotion. How I need to live that!

I saw young people singing their songs and, from the audience, recognizing them and humming.
Leonard will still be alive .

I remembered the 70th anniversary that Jordi organized in 2004 in Barcelona, just 19 years ago today. Some souls touched by Cohen were able to meet at leonardcohenforum.com and share feelings and friendship. Thanks Jarkko.

September 21, 2023