Leonard Cohen 1934-2016

[mike carey]

Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82. Canberra local ABC radio is paying 'Hallelujah'.

[+ azdr0710]

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/poet-singer-songwriter-leonard-cohen-dies-82-n682326

 

though not his most well-known work, his several songs for the movie "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" are among my favorites, including the opening credits tune (as always, the youtube comments are fantastic):

 

[TruthBTold]

So sad. He was up there with Bob Dylan as regards music and life. He will be sorely missed.

[mike carey]

[nynakedtop]

suzanne.

[liubit]

suzanne.

Yes, and Marianne...

[bostonman]

I guess this is one of the few times when someone's passing can warrant a "Halleluiah" and not seem uncouth.

 

RIP, Mr. Cohen.

[body2body]

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/poet-singer-songwriter-leonard-cohen-dies-82-n682326

 

though not his most well-known work, his several songs for the movie "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" are among my favorites, including the opening credits tune (as always, the youtube comments are fantastic):

 

I believe that all of his songs used McCabe And Mrs. Miller were from his first album, including The Sisters of Mercy, which is my favorite Leonard Cohen song along with Suzanne.

[nynakedtop]

every time someone makes a reference to something he has done i pause for a moment and think to myself.... oh yeah, and that one, too!

[+ Eric Hassan]

famous blue raincoat

and

dance me to the end of love

on repeat

[TruthBTold]

Whenever I hear him I am also reminded of Jennifer Warnes. They supported each others careers and music.

[+ quoththeraven]

I didn't learn of his death until yesterday. He was not a songwriter; he was someone who set poetry to music.

 

I wish he had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in.

"Anthem"

[TruthBTold]

Bob Dylan got it for this year but I am not sure whether he will accept. If not, then Cohen could be a good alternative but I don't think you can be awarded a Nobel prize if you die before the Committee has decided to give it to you. Then again, there is also Joni Mitchell. She is also Canadian and probably one of the great singer/songwriters of the 20 and 21st centuries. Plus it would be great if it were awarded to a woman (take that Trump)

[+ quoththeraven]

Bob Dylan got it for this year but I am not sure whether he will accept. If not, then Cohen could be a good alternative but I don't think you can be awarded a Nobel prize if you die before the Committee has decided to give it to you. Then again, there is also Joni Mitchell. She is also Canadian and probably one of the great singer/songwriters of the 20 and 21st centuries. Plus it would be great if it were awarded to a woman (take that Trump)

 

You're right that the recipient must be alive at the time of award. I think it's a dumb rule. It's today's excuse for the lack of recognition of Rosalind Franklin, whose data was used by Watson and Crick behind her back without her knowledge or consent (a colleague with access gave it to them) in their discovery of the structure of DNA.

 

I wasn't aware there could be substitutions or that awardees are obligated to show up for the ceremony to be recognized as Nobel recipients.

[TruthBTold]

Oh, I did not mean physically grab the award. It would be more if Dylan said that he refused to be the recipient of the award. Generally, I don't think a person has to show up. For example, if a recipient is in prison for peace activities and the country won't release the person.

[TruthBTold]

QTR - It turns out that Dylan has most probably accepted the award but does not plan to attend the ceremony.

[+ quoththeraven]

QTR - It turns out that Dylan has most probably accepted the award but does not plan to attend the ceremony.

 

That's what I thought was going on from your description. Thanks.

[+ pitman]

famous blue raincoat

and

dance me to the end of love

on repeat

 

I first heard Dance Me to the End of Love when Madeleine Peyroux recorded it in 2004, and it instantly became one of my all-time favorites.

Any other renditions of it you can recommend? Eric, if I'm ever lucky enough to get the opportunity to hire you, I want this song playing while we

get to know each other! (After looking at the Wikipedia page about the song, I was surprised to read it was inspired by the Holocaust. I never interpreted it that way.)

[+ Eric Hassan]

Any live version of Dance Me to the End of Love by Leonard Cohen is a must-listen, in my book. I'm not familiar with many covers of the song, though I wish Morphine had done one - that would have been awesome!

 

And we can DEFINITELY listen to it when we're getting to know each other. I can make a whole playlist, if you like ....

[mike carey]

And we can DEFINITELY listen to it when we're getting to know each other. I can make a whole playlist, if you like ....

Haha, you the romantic!! Love it!

[JayCeeKy]

And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water,

And He spent a long time watching from His lonely wooden tower,

And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see him,

He said "all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them,"

 

RIP, dear Leonard, almost drowning, you became a sailor and now the sea has freed you.

[+ azdr0710]

for those with more curiosity about Cohen's connection to the movie "McCabe and Mrs. Miller".....

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/how-leonard-cohens-music-transformed-mccabe-mrs-miller-w450052

[Rod Hagen]

I've never seen music move through someone like it does through Antony singing Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will". Overused descriptor, but true: Transcendent.