Wow! Even so ‘virtual’ a rendition gets across. The tour has been represented as a reluctant return to touring in order to top up the coffers after the massive managerial rip-off. Little evidence of that here, even in flickering black-and-white.
The Guardian has just published a set of his lyrics as part of a series they’re doing on great songwriters. Unsurprisingly for a poet, they stand up perfectly well sans music. Interestingly, however, as I read them they went in, not as familiar songs, but as verse on the page. Even ‘Suzanne’ lost its tune in the reading.
Thanks, ps pirro and mb – I’ve always found Cohen’s music moving; it cuts right to the bone. Wish I could have justified spending the money on a ticket to his own concert performance.
Dick, so glad you enjoyed the clip. I’ve been a fan of Cohen as both musician and poet since those “formative years” back in the 60s, and like you I think the lyrics hold up very well. But what impresses me is how good the recent stuff is, both in performance and in verse. He writes about getting older in a way that I think a lot of us can identify with – and has that wry smile to boot. Still a very sexy guy.
“The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it’s done –
Your little winning streak.
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat,
You live your life as if it’s real,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.”
June 28, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This song always moves me to tears… both Cohen’s rendition and Jeff Buckley’s version. Thanks for sharing.
June 28, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Now that I’d like to see. Hear. Experience.
June 29, 2008 at 2:55 am
Wow! Even so ‘virtual’ a rendition gets across. The tour has been represented as a reluctant return to touring in order to top up the coffers after the massive managerial rip-off. Little evidence of that here, even in flickering black-and-white.
The Guardian has just published a set of his lyrics as part of a series they’re doing on great songwriters. Unsurprisingly for a poet, they stand up perfectly well sans music. Interestingly, however, as I read them they went in, not as familiar songs, but as verse on the page. Even ‘Suzanne’ lost its tune in the reading.
June 29, 2008 at 9:20 am
Thanks, ps pirro and mb – I’ve always found Cohen’s music moving; it cuts right to the bone. Wish I could have justified spending the money on a ticket to his own concert performance.
Dick, so glad you enjoyed the clip. I’ve been a fan of Cohen as both musician and poet since those “formative years” back in the 60s, and like you I think the lyrics hold up very well. But what impresses me is how good the recent stuff is, both in performance and in verse. He writes about getting older in a way that I think a lot of us can identify with – and has that wry smile to boot. Still a very sexy guy.
“The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it’s done –
Your little winning streak.
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat,
You live your life as if it’s real,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.”
July 6, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Without question Leonard is king and if you would like to hear sing her version try K. D. Lang’s on YouTube.
The one in Vancover.