Leonard Cohen

September 21: The Late Great Leonard Cohen Was Born in 1934

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

leonard-cohen (2)

Like a Bird on a Wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
~Leonard  Cohen, Bird On A Wire

The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show.
― Leonard Cohen

I don’t remember
lighting this cigarette
and I don’t remember
if I’m here alone
or waiting for someone.
~Leonard Cohen, Book of Longing

From Wikipedia:

Birth name Leonard Norman Cohen
Born 21 September 1934
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died November 7, 2016 (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Folk, folk rock, rock, pop rock,spoken word, synthpop
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter,poet, novelist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano,keyboards, synthesizer
Years active 1956-present
Labels Columbia
Associated acts Sharon Robinson, Jennifer Warnes

 

Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016).

His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. Cohen has been inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour.

leonard-cohen-nyc

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Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and more cover Leonard Cohen (born September 21, 1934)

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

When things get really bad, you just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig, and that’s all you can do
– Leonard Cohen

“He (Bob Dylan) said, ‘I like this song you wrote called Hallelujah.’ In fact, he started doing it in concert. He said, ‘How long did that take you to write?’ And I said, ‘Oh, the best part of two years.’ He said, ‘Two years?’ Kinda shocked. And then we started talking about a song of his called I And I from Infidels. I said, ‘How long did you take to write that.’ He said, ‘Ohh, 15 minutes.’ I almost fell off my chair. Bob just laughed.”
~Leonard Cohen (quoted in Telegraph 41, p. 30)

Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and romantic relationships. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour.

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August 11: Leonard Cohen – New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974)

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

leonard cohen old skin

…I must say I’m pleased with the album. It’s good. I’m not ashamed of it and am ready to stand by it. Rather than think of it as a masterpiece, I prefer to look at it as a little gem.
~Leonard Cohen (to Melody Maker’s Harvey Kubernik in March 1975)

That miraculously intimate voice has become more expressive and confident over the years without losing its beguiling flat amateurishness. Some of the new songs are less than memorable, but the settings, by John Lissauer, have the bizarre feel of John Simon’s “overproduction” on Cohen’s first album, which I always believed suited his studied vulgarity perfectly. A-
~Robert Christgau (robertchristgau.com)

.. The lyrics are filled with abstract yet vivid images, and the album primarily uses the metaphor of love and relationships as battlegrounds (“There Is a War,” “Field Commander Cohen”). Cohen is clearly singing from the heart, and he chronicles his relationship with Janis Joplin in “Chelsea Hotel No. 2.” This is one of his best album..
~Vik Lyengar (allmusic.com)

Chelsea Hotel #2

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Those were the reasons and that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
And that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.
Ah but you got away, didn’t you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don’t need you,
I need you, I don’t need you
and all of that jiving around.

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5 Great Songs For Meditation

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

One of my favourite ways to meditate is listening to music. Listening to details in the music and stay present. Here are 5 great songs for meditation.

Van Morrison – In The Garden

The streets are always wet with rain
After a summer shower when I saw you standin’
In the garden in the garden wet with rain

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10 Great Cover versions (videos & spotify)

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

Here are 10 wonderful cover versions, some even better than the original version..

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can

The White Stripes – Jolene (Dolly Parton) – Live @ Conan

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Whipping Post (The Allman Brothers Band)

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20 Songs Released in 1979 You Must Hear

Posted on by Egil Mosbron





My rules:

  • Only one song per artist/group
  • The song must be released that specific year
  • Songs from live albums not allowed
  • Restricted to only 20 songs

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A lot of wonderful music was released in 1979, here are my 20 chosen songs.

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  • And the Healing Has Begun – Van Morrison

    Released on his 1979 album, Into the Music.
    –
    And we’ll walk down the avenue again
    And we’ll sing all the songs from way back when
    And we’ll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun
    And we’ll walk down the avenue in style
    And we’ll walk down the avenue and we’ll smile
    And we’ll say “baby, ain’t it all worthwhile?” when the healing has begun
    I want you to put on your pretty summer dress
    You can wear your Easter bonnet and all the rest
    And I want to make love to you yes, yes, yes, when the healing has begun
    –

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    Continue reading “20 Songs Released in 1979 You Must Hear” →