RIP Leonard Cohen (1 Viewer)

[rettucs]

needs its own thread.

2016 has been a hell of a year with so many greats checking out. Like Bowie, Cohen goes shortly after releasing his final body of work, but unlike Bowie and Prince, this isn't as much out of the blue.

when he returned to play those first series of gigs in the IMMA 5 or so years back, what we saw on stage was a frail old man. He still oozed class and charasima and was effortlessly able to make every man, woman and child in the audience fall in love with him.

From the day of the first of those gigs I went to I figured every day after that, that we still had him with us, was a bonus.

who knew that we'd have to much to be thankful to a corrupt, dishonest accountant, for. If she hadn't robbed him blind, many of us would never have had the opportunity to see him. Still, fuck her.

82 years old. Not too bad an innings.

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

I honestly feel like I've lost a friend this morning. Finding Leonard Cohen as a teenager was one of those experiences that changes you, I had heard and liked songs like "I'm Your Man", "First We Take Manhattan" and, of course, "Hallelujah", but it was hearing "The Future" and "Waiting for the Miracle" on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack (during an obsessive Nine Inch Nails phase) and realising just how deep his words actually ran. I have listened to him weekly, sometimes daily, ever since. I will miss him.

 

[rettucs]

I was 14 when I first heard him. I was getting a lift to Mayo with a cousin of mine who was doing his Ph.d in Trinity College at the time. It was 1988, and it was a long drive to Mayo in those days. He had, just that day, bought a copy of 'I'm Your Man' on tape and had it on repeat for the 5 or so hour drive. I taped it off him and listened to it over and over for weeks and months after.

It was 1993 before I heard anything else by him. I was repeating my leaving cert in Rathmines and I wandered into whatever record shop was in the Swan Center there (Golden Discs, maybe). I saw a copy of The Future on CD, so I bought it. The week before someone (probably Dave Fanning), had played Closing Time on the radio and I loved it.

That album got me through a fairly stressful few months, and from that point on I became fascinated and obsessed with Cohen's work.

I thought that Hal Wilner show in the Point several years back was the closest I'd ever get to seeing Cohen perform live. That we got so many opportunities to actually see him, was a real treat. I got to 4 of those shows.

To think it wasn't until he was 30 that he released his first album, yet still leaves us with such a vast amount of work, is both unusual and amazing.

Its kind of apt though. I'm sure he thought the only way for him to get everyone to stop talking and worry about all the other shite going on in the world was to offer them a distraction. So he decided to check out.

RIP.

 

[rettucs]

.... to play those first series of gigs in the IMMA 5 or so years back

2008, so 8 years ago. Wow, didn't think it was that long.

 

[GO]

Thats it I gotta properly check out LC now.

I've been meaning to for a couple of years,ever since somebody I know's mother was raving about him to me after seeing him in Sligo.

RIP

 

[Scientician 0.8]

I got a one word text from eh someone this morning "Cohen". Now it makes sense.

 

[Jim Daniels]

Missed all the tributes and chat today due to being at work.

I loved the guy. A person with beautiful humanity, literary and musical abilities. The outpouring today on radio and Social Media is a lovely and timely reminder that the world really is worth saving - particularly after all the spite and bile in recent weeks.

Mindfulness personified. RIP Leonard.

 

[Jim Daniels]

2008, so 8 years ago. Wow, didn't think it was that long.

Jesus, me either!

 

[Jim Daniels]

Fanning on Tubridy this morning..... bear with me!

Sums it up nicely.

RTÉ Radio Player: Radio Just Got Easier

 

[Jim Daniels]

And here's a great Dave Fanning Interview with Leonard Cohen from 1993. I remember it like it was yesterday. The bit about Phil Spector from 35.15 is priceless.

Leonard Cohen (1993 Interview)

 

[therealjohnny]

My mother was a big fan of Hallelujah. It was on a mixtape my brother made for her while she was in the hospice so it is has a certain poignancy for us now. 'We're Just back from her 'month'smind' mass. Just before he gave out communion the priest nipped off stage and I could see him using a remote to turn on a cd. The moment of realisation as the song started was really something. I had something in my eye.

He gives good mass, that priest.


Now I never need to hear that song again.

 

[pete]

i don't think it's called a stage, johnny

 

[GO]

lol

 

[nooleen]

i'd say there are parishioners thinking it was a bit off-colour for the priest to be paying tribute to leonard cohen at your mum's months mind

 

[therealjohnny]

No doubt. He said the mass in a English too, that won't sit well

 

[rettucs]

i'd say there are parishioners thinking it was a bit off-colour for the priest to be paying tribute to leonard cohen at your mum's months mind

wasn't this lad was it?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[GO]

A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord, Book of the Week - BBC Radio 4

 

[GO]

I'm all played out on Lenny now, first three LPs have gone into long term rotation,but I'm taking a break.

He's very droney

 

[rettucs]

I'm all played out on Lenny now, first three LPs have gone into long term rotation,but I'm taking a break.

He's very droney

wise. Let it settle. You'll be gagging to get back to him in no time.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

I just had a listen to You Want It Darker - deadly!