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Original poster

Is anyone into Leonard Cohen?

111 replies

Sundaygirl01 · 25/09/2023 21:30

I don’t know where I’ve been but he and his music have passed me by and I have only just discovered him through something I read.

I know he wrote much of his work in the 1960s but he played Glastonbury in 2008 and did a world tour in 2010.

He’s growing on me!

If you like him, what songs are your favourites?

OP posts:
TGGreen · 25/09/2023 21:58

The lyrics to 'Everybody knows' are sublime. I have so many favourites but Suzanne is up there.

MujeresLibres · 25/09/2023 21:58

Check out "I'm your man" (album and song). So many great songs though and covered by lots of other fantastic artists. He was wonderful when I saw him on tour as well, much more of a showman than you might think from his rather serious image.

LetMeEnfoldYou · 25/09/2023 22:00

You want it darker.

I don't love his voice in his younger years, and find his songs very formulaic and simple, but his later stuff is so dark and beautiful.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Music
MagpieCastle · 25/09/2023 22:03

Labbingtons · 25/09/2023 21:43

If I’m in the right mood, nothing beats Suzanne. He’s brilliant.

My daughter is 14 and loves him too. She’s also into Nick Drake, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Hendrix and Jeff Buckley, among others. Our house sounds like a pot filled field in July 1974.

Wow! Labbingtons, your Dd really has top music taste. Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left, Joni’s Blue and Leonard Cohen’s greatest hits albums are my sad song happy place.

mantlepiece · 25/09/2023 22:03

I have loved Leonard since my teens. I still feel bereaved by the fact that he has gone.
I feel very fortunate to have seen him live twice, they were truly the best concerts I have been to. He had gathered an amazing ensemble of musicians and singers to interpret his compositions and it was truly magical.
He was first and foremost a poet so I think that’s why his songs touch so deeply and stay with you.

It’s hard to choose favourite songs, I thought of a couple but then reading of other peoples picks, I wanted to choose those instead!

So long Leonard, you are missed

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 25/09/2023 22:06

Love him, Hallelujah obviously and Famous Blue Raincoat but I really love the more recent You Want It Darker

CwmYoy · 25/09/2023 22:08

Love him. Have all his stuff.

Favourite is Bird on the Wire

notagainfml · 25/09/2023 22:09

So long marianne
Waiting for the miracle

He's a genius!

Thisismynewusername1 · 25/09/2023 22:10

MujeresLibres · 25/09/2023 21:58

Check out "I'm your man" (album and song). So many great songs though and covered by lots of other fantastic artists. He was wonderful when I saw him on tour as well, much more of a showman than you might think from his rather serious image.

Seconded.

utterly brilliant album of covers, by some wonderful artists.

”don’t go home with your hard on” is a particular favourite, and James’ version of So long Marianne.

Beautifulbutterfly · 25/09/2023 22:17

Ten new songs album is one of my favourites by Leonard Cohen.

TreesAtSea · 25/09/2023 22:18

Just thought of another one I love:
A thousand kisses deep

dimsumfatsum · 25/09/2023 22:19

Suzanne ❤️❤️❤️❤️

This is the what made me fall in love with his songs:

Original poster
Sundaygirl01 · 25/09/2023 22:19

I’m so glad I started this thread. I’ve got some new (old) music to listen to in the evenings this week!

OP posts:
StartupRepair · 25/09/2023 22:20

Love him and his music. Saw him live on his last tour. Utterly mesmerising.

TheMurderousGoose · 25/09/2023 22:23

My favourite cover of a Cohen song is Greg Dulli's version of Paper Thin Hotel. Just beautiful.

Vikina · 25/09/2023 22:24

I've loved him for years. Saw him on his last tour at the o2. He did a spoken version of A Thousand Kisses Deep which made my spine tingle. That rich voice. Just exuded sex.

Tinytigertail · 25/09/2023 22:24

I love him and saw him in London around ten years ago. He was obviously quite old, but so utterly charismatic.

CheersToMe · 25/09/2023 22:25

On BBC Sounds. listen to A Broken Hallelujah, a Book of the Week. Very interesting to hear about his life's writing.

QueenBitch666 · 25/09/2023 22:27

He's absolutely wonderful. And I got to see him live.
Difficult to chose a favourite song as his works are sublime but Famous Blue Raincoat was the first song I fell in love with so holds a special place in my heart

Folicky · 25/09/2023 22:27

The Sisters of Mercy..... awesome!

User19537876 · 25/09/2023 22:27

I will never forget having a near front seat at one of his last concerts and standing near the front for the encore, he was very charismatic

BridgetRandomfuck · 25/09/2023 22:29

Haha, I won’t tell you how many times I saw him on his world tour, but let’s say I’d need to move on from my fingers to my toes 😬.

He is amazing and a true poet. I prefer his earlier folky stuff, but You Want It Darker is an amazing late masterpiece. Check out the underrated Recent Songs album (The Window is just beautiful) and Sing Another Song, Boys from Songs of Love and Hate, probably my favourite album if I was pushed to choose. So many of his songs are achingly beautiful.

Vikina · 25/09/2023 22:32

BridgetRandomfuck · 25/09/2023 22:29

Haha, I won’t tell you how many times I saw him on his world tour, but let’s say I’d need to move on from my fingers to my toes 😬.

He is amazing and a true poet. I prefer his earlier folky stuff, but You Want It Darker is an amazing late masterpiece. Check out the underrated Recent Songs album (The Window is just beautiful) and Sing Another Song, Boys from Songs of Love and Hate, probably my favourite album if I was pushed to choose. So many of his songs are achingly beautiful.

Sing another Song boys is my favourite too. I love the way he says 'this one has grown old and bitter'......

Yirk · 25/09/2023 22:35

A thousand kisses deep the spoken version is breathtaking.

rowantree1997 · 25/09/2023 22:36

Bird on a wire (although I probably prefer the Jennifer Warnes version 😬)