Leonard Cohen at home, Los Angeles, September 2016 Photograph by Graeme Mitchell for the New Yorker
The New Yorker doesn’t have any short profiles, but I enjoyed every word of this long beauty about Leonard Cohen written by David Remnick. A meditation on life, death, and story. At least that’s how I experienced it on this Saturday morn in Los Angeles.
I think my first LC song was It Seems So Long Ago,Nancy (my name!), and then I loved so many of his songs as sung by others. Then I stopped listening. But I also read the New Yorker article, and it was so wonderfully written, and after that I’ve been listening to his latest album and wondering why he was not the one to get the Nobel prize… what lyrics, and depth in that voice. Sigh.
I first discovered Leonard Cohan after watching “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” back in high school. Still love his music all these years later.
But it does make me feel old… that was in the early 70’s!
I love his song, Hallelujah! But the rendition I love most is by K D Lang….drops me to the floor every time I hear it. Oye!
i absolutely LOVE the kd lang version too!!!
What a superb article – like taking a journey. And some wonderful thoughts: putting your house in order is an analgesic; language as sacrament; whining as the least appropriate response to suffering; and the background noise of anguish still prevailing. Made me take a look at an old, yellowed poetry book from the 60s – what a rush!
yes, yes, yes…all of it. i didn’t mention in the blog post, but my my ex-boyfriend of a million years ago (greek) …and the one who introduced me to leonard cohen back in the 90’s by playing “suzanne” while he served me jasmine tea on a tray…
he’s the one who sent me this article in an email. we stayed close platonic friends…
For the twitterartexhibit, I am currently working on an art piece inspired by his quote. .”everything has a Crack in it, that’s how the Light gets in.” It was one of my Spiritual Mother’s favourites. Blessings.
Great article. Almost equal to adorable 3rd graders. Okay, equal.