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?

Tom Waits' voice is scratchier than LC's (except on Closing Time). Agree with a PP re Heart of Saturday Night, also Blue Valentine, and Heart Attack and Vine - which has the beautiful Jersey Girl on it.

Rain Dogs is also great though he does sound a bit like Dr Teeth in a couple of the songs.

Weirdly, although I grew up on Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and J J Cale, Leonard Cohen eluded me until my 40s. I love the quote about his voice being like oil poured over gravel. (Not read the whole thread so someone may have said that already.)

Yes but didn’t you feel so sorry about Marianne’s son.

Yes love his music.

Oh yes, absolutely. Marianne was so obsessed with Leonard that her poor son was packed off to relatives and to boarding school, so she could focus entirely on her love life.

I found the scene where Marianne was holding on until she heard from Leonard incredibly moving but I also thought it was sad that she never really got over him. That he remained her focus long after he’d moved on. Was he really worth it?

Where is the documentary available?

Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love. It’s on YouTube and Amazon Prime.

I find it impossible to choose favourite songs from Mr Cohen. Early career, late, sad, comedic, angry, introspective, political, piercing - he did it all, beautifully.

Can I also add that I met him too, over breakfast the night after a concert. Must be over ten years ago now. He was quiet, charming, gracious and had such presence. Not like anyone else I've ever been around.

We left the hotel a short while after breakfast, and he was in the lobby. He broke into that lopsided smile, lifted his hat and nodded his head to us with a twinkle in his eye. I'm melting just thinking of that moment.

Thank you for that lovely story, @HesMyMan - always had the sense he was an absolute charmer, not to mention A Ladies' Man.

His music has utterly enriched my entire adult life. I don't think he was a great father or husband but his words and music gave so much to the world.

A fan here too. For me it's more like which songs don't I like - I can only think of a couple. I saw him in concert many times over the last 30 years of his life.
Surprised not to see more love for Anthem (from "The Future" album). I think that's a fantastic song.

That is another song that sends shivers down my spine

You treated my woman to a flake of your life, and when she came back, she was nobody's wife....