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Over here in the UK the Music Magazine "Q" had a tiny feature in the last issue, with the title "The Last Track I Loved".

It had a photograph of one of the sweetest songbirds on Planet Earth, originally from Georgia in the former USSR but now resident in Britain.

The 21 year old songbird is Katie Melua and she amazingly stated that the last track that she loved was Leonard's "In My Secret Life" and I raised a Topic on her Website Forum about this statement.

Fellow Meluaites reasoned that as Katie split with her boyfriend Luke Pritchard, lead singer of the Brighton Group "The Kooks" last year, she must have felt that Leonard's song struck a deep chord within her soul.

As I had not got "In My Secret Life" in my Cohen collection I have now splashed out and bought the 2001 album "Ten New Songs", I have also traced the video of "In My Secret Life" on an obscure Greek Website and am now totally addicted to the song and the album!

Cool, nice to know that a young songbird like Katie is listening to Leonard and finding resonance in his work. I like her voice, I am afraid that she will remain in the middle of the road and not allow herself the conviction to overrule her record company and decide on what genre she wants to perform. She spent a lot of time in Belfast before moving to the UK, I am sure that would have influenced her somewhat also. I wonder if she has any plans to record some of Leonards work, would be a good way to popularise some of his lesser know pieces to a whole new generation.

Welcome to the forum, LittleVoice ! How are things in Eastbourne? It is interesting that you came to Leonard via Katie Melua, and that she chose a Leonard Cohen song. I like her song, "I Cried For You", and especially the words, "beauty need only be a whisper".

Good wishes,

Diane

Thanks for the welcome Diane, the sun is shining in Eastbourne today, the daffodils are blooming, a fieldmouse raided my bird-feeder this morning, then was chased off by a Bird On A Wire!

One major point though, sweet Katie Melua did not introduce me to Leonard, I have followed him for decades and saw him live during the legendary "I'm Your Man" Tour at the Royal Albert Hall a decade ago!

I have several of Leonard's albums back to the days when they were only available on Vinyl, but for one reason or another I missed out on buying "Ten New Songs", until this very week!

I loved the "Dear Heather" album but "Ten New Songs" is knocking me out at this juncture, as I am going through a deep trough of purgatory and that album really hits the spot!

However, Katie Melua, who I have now seen live five times and met her goodself and her mentor Mike Batt, up close and personal, has most definitely refreshed my adoration of Leonard!

Hi LittleVoice,

We have been blessed with Spring here now too. I like your bird on the wire incident .

Ah, I see, you are a long-time Leonard fan. The one time I saw him was in 1985. Even longer ago than you then .

Yes, Ten New Songs is a wonderful album. It's great to listen to something for the first time and think, "oh yes!", and know that you are going to relish its companionship isn't it? I am sorry you are in a trough at the moment . Many (all?) of us here are drawn to Leonard because of the piercingly honest way he expresses our own struggles. You are in good company.

I know little about Katie Melua other than what you have told me, and the songs I have caught on the radio. She is certainly a beautiful young woman with a good voice.

Kieron said:

I wonder if she has any plans to record some of Leonards work

It sounds as though we shouldn't be surprised if she does .

Good wishes,

Diane

The lovely Katie has only two albums in her portfolio so far and several singles.

However, although Mike Batt is the main songwriter for Katie, the Little Lady herself is gaining confidence with the passage of time and her own compositions are now burgeoning!

Her covers on her albums are quite remarkable, Randy Newman's superb "I Think It's Going To Rain Today", the legendary British Blues singer, John Mayall's "Crawling Up A Hill", The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" the Harold Arlen "Blues In The Night" and Canned Heat's "On The Road Again".

In her LIVE performances Katie now invariably sings "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", The Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown" and Bobbie Gentry's fine song "Fancy".

So, I agree why not a Leonard Cohen Cover from Katie Melua?

I have already begun making noises on Katie's Official Forum and I have also suggested that she covers Leonard!

Hi again, LittleVoice ,

Your enthusiasm is catching! I will keep my ear out for her. Keep making those noises .

Diane

LittleVoice wrote:Over here in the UK the Music Magazine "Q" had a tiny feature in the last issue, with the title "The Last Track I Loved".

It had a photograph of one of the sweetest songbirds on Planet Earth, originally from Georgia in the former USSR but now resident in Britain.

The 21 year old songbird is Katie Melua and she amazingly stated that the last track that she loved was Leonard's "In My Secret Life" and I raised a Topic on her Website Forum about this statement.

Fellow Meluaites reasoned that as Katie split with her boyfriend Luke Pritchard, lead singer of the Brighton Group "The Kooks" last year, she must have felt that Leonard's song struck a deep chord within her soul.

As I had not got "In My Secret Life" in my Cohen collection I have now splashed out and bought the 2001 album "Ten New Songs", I have also traced the video of "In My Secret Life" on an obscure Greek Website and am now totally addicted to the song and the album!

It's one of my favourite Leonard songs, too.

LittleVoice wrote: I have already begun making noises on Katie's Official Forum and I have also suggested that she covers Leonard!

*cough* With his reputation he'd probably like to cover her... *cough*

I deliberately phrased that comment to leave it open for a funny response and I am surprised that it took so long!

The very thought of a seventy-plus Leonard with a tiny 21year-old Katie Melua is somewhat disturbing!

I think we should just push for Katie covering a Cohen song and I have suggested "Suzanne" on Katie's Forum, as my lovely daughter is named "Marie"!

Her first name, however, is SUZANNE!

LittleVoice wrote:
Her first name, however, is SUZANNE!

katie, or yr daughter?

felix

I used to dislike Katie Melua very very much, that irritating jazzy half whispered and whining voice...
hehehhe4he.... let myself go a bit there
but I think it's very cool of her to like IN MY Secrett life, that's great. It's even a cohen song from my favourite lp!!!
10 new songs rules

Kieran,

You might just like to download this song sung by Carla Bruni (with Til Bronner). It's one of my favourites....but then everything that Carla Bruni sings is. Check out her French album (Quelqu'un M'a Dit): even if you don't understand French too well, as I certainly don't, its the sound of her voice that's amazingly seductive. What a sound.

I of course am referring to the "In my secret Life" song.

So Carla Bruni covered In My Secret Life? That's great news, I'd like to hear that ... It's not listed among 1000+ covers at The Leonard Cohen Files.

Indeed, I found it on Amazon, it says it's released on Till Brönner's CD Oceana (Verve, April 2006). Apparently, he's German trumpeter and she was guest vocal on that track.