Is anyone into Leonard Cohen?

[Sundaygirl01]

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?

i love him so much, probably 40 years of cohen loving.
can’t pinpoint a favourite song. I love harmonies on so long marianne and I love take this waltz .
I have been listening since childhood when some hippy family friends introduced me to him.

I never ever found his music depressing but deep and insightful and the familiarity of knowing it all my life means I find it soothing to listen and sing to .

I read his absolutely bonkers book and still have it today ‘beautiful losers’.
I read it a few times when young, it seemed like nonsense then, I should retry it now as a bona fide adult, maybe it would make more sense.
I’ve always been attracted to guys with a similar facial structure and colouring, often wonder if it’s because of my lifelong love affair with him.
I love his deep voice, his wry sense of humour and have even dreamed about him 🤣
wish I’d had a chance to see him perform before he died.

Love him! Chelsea hotel and Suzanne are my current faves.

I love Leonard Cohen, I grew up a bit resistant because my dad used to last his music in the car and I absolutely hated music being forced on me. When the music is Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan though you come around eventually!

I love Chelsea Hotel #2 and You Want it Darker but my all time favourite is Famous Blue Raincoat which is a masterpiece in my opinion. Just such a beautiful song.

I'm singing bits of.each song under my breath while trapped under baby 🥰

Love Rufus Wainwright's Chelsea Hotel

All his music is brilliant.

Was a teenager then.

Brilliant documentary about him from when he lived on the Greek island of Hydra, where he wrote So Long Marianne, and Sussane (sp?).

Oh, OP, you've made me want to listen to him all over again now, so thanks for that.

He didn't actually make a huge number of albums, about 20 odd so it would be reasonably easy to work your way through them.

Guests is my favourite

This thread has made me think that I must revisit the concert DVDs

There's a mighty back catalogue to explore, he was prolific. I only really know the album 'I'm your Man'. Huge when I was young. Check out 'Everybody Knows" off that album. All the songs on there. His lyrics are poetic, political, social commentary, philosophy but the music is great I think.
Love the power of his backing vocals too.

The Bari Weiss podcast did a brilliant show last week about Leonard Cohen's time in Israel, and how it reinvigorated his musical career. Well worth a listen.

Totally.

I remember him saying he heard the audience singing Suzanne (maybe he stopped singing at one point) & was stunned when they all sang awr'nges in his accent, instead of the oranges he was expecting from them.😂

I hate all his music, words and his voice - it is all a big con trick! I would rather listen to someone with some talent.

I think the lyrics

And thanks
for the trouble you took
from her eyes
I thought it was there for good
so I never tried

are some of the most tragic ever.

Well, you do you.

Love all of his music.
We used to listen to his music at university in the 70’s on our record players on LP’s!

I've been a lenny fan for over 50 years. I last saw him in Glasgow about 13/14 years ago?

I've come on this thread to give a shout if to The Future.

people who refer to him as "music to slit your wrists to" (and I've heard that many times) just haven't heard him properly. Some of his writing is quite funny, if a little on the black side.

I treasure him for many reasons, but one above all. When I last saw him I was in my 60s. My daughter asked if I'd enjoyed the concert. I said I had, and despite the fact he was nearly 80, I still would. Her cringe and squeal was a joy 😁

A true poet. You're in for a treat OP.

Mischance you sound a little overwrought. Unnecessary.

Back on Boogie Street

I’m going to have to listen to it right now.

Another fan here, I love just about all his work. He was a complex person and an amazing song writer. My favourite album is probably Ten New Songs. I was fortunate to have seen him perform during his 2008 tour.

I've also been to Hydra and tracked down his house, which is tucked away in the narrow streets. It's a magical island that is worth a visit.

The Marianne and Leonard film is moving, as was the letter he wrote to her after his death.

The Marianne and Leonard film is moving, as was the letter he wrote to her after his death.

I knew he was talented but that's next level!

Loved him for decades and lucky enough to see him live a couple of times.
I think my favourite song is Teachers although I love all of his early folk ish stuff, not the least because we were all playing and singing it when we were young.

I grew up in the 70s with my mum playing Leonard Cohen often. I still love so many of his songs, but sometimes I have to be in the right mood or the lyrics can just be too intense.
I love "Famous Blue Raincoat" so much I bought a blue trenchcoat style raincoat for myself!