Cohen was born in Montreal, a city burgeoning with cultures, languages and religions of the world, a place of beauty and brutish winters, and Cohen's musical soul reflects those influences.
@@TheThamesmen challenge (tentatively) accepted. I'm no NC expert and so was hoping a NC week will help me get to know him. What I've heard has been quite mesmerising. However nothing beats doing my own deep dive.
On the subject of the "writers' community" on Hydra, there's a well known photo of Cohen with Marianne holding a baby, caiques in the background, whitewashed buildings abounding, lots of empty glasses on the table. The uncropped version shows George Johnston and Charmian Clift on the other side of the table, two fine Australian writers.
Another great song, good job putting this together, I really enjoyed this one. I'm very happy that you dropped the Canada week mention, it's going to be extremely difficult for you to choose just 5 songs. Tragically Hip is a Canadian institution, and they're relatively unknown outside Canada. Hope you will include one of theirs.
On the topic of other great songwriters, I think you should consider at some point tackling Richard Thompson. Not only and outstanding wordsmith and lyricist, but also one of the best guitarists of the last 50 years. I’d be happy to curate a week of songs by him if you’re up for it. 😀
You would love the Jimmy Barnes & Troy Cassar-Daley cover of this track...there's is a really country version with a bit of soul. Oh & Elvis Costello does a great cover too.
I think to have notes on Leonard Cohen and the understanding about each song, makes it easier to understand the lyrics, before forming your own interpretation of the lyrics. Just a note about John Farnham, today (23/8) in Melbourne: The 'You're the Voice' singer is today undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous growth, he revealed in a statement, with surgeons being confident they can remove all the dangerous tissue. "Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me," Farnham's statement read. "The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am."
A curious thing with the delivery of the lyrics. Since it was quite an almost hypnotic tone, I found I was hearing the words, but not piecing them together except as individual lines. I felt I was missing something as it didn’t grab me at all and so I went and looked up the lyrics. Being able to see the setups of similes and the payoffs it took on a much greater importance. I wonder if there are more vibrant cover versions of this by others that deliver the meaning a little bit more clearly on first listen. It’s great, but the dreamy quality is probably underselling the poetry. That’s something that The Beatles often did, was to mask the lyrics by some non-complementary music (such as Help! Or A Little Help From My Friends, or others of a similar nature). I’m glad I looked the lyrics up. Cohen is rising in my estimation, for sure.
@@ThatGuy-bp4gz Yep. That’s the stuff, at least for me. It made the lyrics ‘pop’ out of the song, and obviously the lyrics are the focus. Thanks for the recommendation.
Hope you are listening with headphones when you have a moment to appreciate. It is not driving party music but it is something sublime. Thanks for listening
I'm beginning to hate YT ............ even channels that I am subbed to I can't see a video that has been uploaded until hours later or sometimes even days ! This will just not load for me [ and one of my fave Cohen songs ] so I will be back later to hear your take on it guys - hopefully it won't take 2 days ! I know that you will have great insight - especially some great takes from that Cohen book.
@@bigs1546 Gotta be some nasty software or cookie setting - Clear your cache, virus check your machine or simply (if an ap) delete and reinstall - be well
This is one of my favourite songs, I absolutely love the cover by David Gilmour th-cam.com/video/9Q3L79JU9vU/w-d-xo.html Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson had their own Greek Island experience and they both also produced some amazing work from their time there.
her book IS amazing...... I read the book, whilst in Greece with the warm wind at night, the crickets and hum of people chatting in Greek whilst listening to Cohen and leaning against the white walls. Amazing. This was recorded in the lockdown, as Polly promoted her book. Great find :) I forgot about this and his daughter Romany.
@@TheThamesmen oh how fabulous, that’s the way to do it! What a beautiful way you write the memory! Yes, this is part of a series they filmed during lockdown, the “von trapped” Gilmour family shows where they also did readings from Polly’s book and musical events. I enjoyed them so much at the time and revisit them. Romany their daughter is an amazing musical talent too, beautiful the way their voices blend. Love David’s single “Yes I have ghosts” which is a companion piece to the book also, and how it all gels into this amazing family body of work. I think there may have been some other Cohen covers from this series too.
Like Bob Dylan, there are some great covers of Leonard's work, by far better singers. This song is covered wonderfully by Katey Sagal, from the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack. Tori Amos Famous Blue Raincoat. Billy Joel Light as the breeze.
I very much prefer listening to Leonard Cohen's voice singing his own works because he has a unique, wonderfully masculine voice. He is also utterly tuned in to his own words/music as no one else could be. Unfortunately, this recording is quite unlike his usual performances. Something about this one just sounds weaker and totally off kilter.
the neville brothers with aaron on lead did a fabulous cover late 80s early 90s for the movie of the same name...cover was awesome...movie...not so much...
No wonder I loved this week so much, I am enjoying it more this time around. You blokes need to go holidays more often.
Yes we do!
he was an actual certified poet who later put some of us work into music. the first poem i read of his was in university in a lit class ..suzanne.
Gorgeous song. That's all I can say really. ❤
One of my favourites.
@@BrianR. You're 2 for 2 so far Brian, I'm excited to see what else you've chosen. 😁
@@taniaPBear Nice of you to say, glad you're enjoying it.
Beautiful. How did Cohen not get the Nobel Prize for literature? Dance me to the end of love, is another wonderful piece of poetry to music
He was certainly a great poet.
Good point!
Cohen was born in Montreal, a city burgeoning with cultures, languages and religions of the world, a place of beauty and brutish winters, and Cohen's musical soul reflects those influences.
That he was.
A master wordsmith. It's making me wish for a Nick Cave week.
Dear That Guy - Yes please if you can pull it together
@@TheThamesmen challenge (tentatively) accepted. I'm no NC expert and so was hoping a NC week will help me get to know him. What I've heard has been quite mesmerising. However nothing beats doing my own deep dive.
@@ThatGuy-bp4gz Email Thenewthamesmen@Gmail.com and lets chat - Cheers Alex
Words are not enough!!!!!!
I agree!!! He's mind blowing
Cohen An National Canadian treasure. R.I.P. Leonard.
He left his mark for sure
More poetry from the Master. Wonderful.
Thank you.
(I do hope Tower of Song is in this list...)
Lets see Nick!!
Some need a muse, some see life itself as the muse.
Ooh interesting perspective.
Every breath I take is a gift.
Great reaction! A Cohen classic and a trip down memory lane. Another great song, from his album I'm Your Man is First We Take Manhatten.
Love that track
Oh man, memories, memories, what are you doing? Jennifer Warnes had an album Famous Blue Raincoat on that Bird on a Wire stole my heart.
God I love that song - Lets see
Hah! You started with one of my favorites! Looking forward to this week and what you will pick….
Glad you're enjoying it.
Yay! Thank you!
Cohen, Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan all did that thing where they took their own misgivings and put them into lyrics that anyone could relate to.
Back then it was thier bling!!
On the subject of the "writers' community" on Hydra, there's a well known photo of Cohen with Marianne holding a baby, caiques in the background, whitewashed buildings abounding, lots of empty glasses on the table. The uncropped version shows George Johnston and Charmian Clift on the other side of the table, two fine Australian writers.
So cool - Can you imagine, well I can, imagine being there and writing your novel at the same time. hammering away,
straight up beautiful.
Another great song, good job putting this together, I really enjoyed this one. I'm very happy that you dropped the Canada week mention, it's going to be extremely difficult for you to choose just 5 songs. Tragically Hip is a Canadian institution, and they're relatively unknown outside Canada. Hope you will include one of theirs.
That they are Brian!!!!!
Yeah Canada week!! Sooo many great artists have come from "The Great White North... btw Leonard Cohen is a brilliant poet.. Greetings
:)
you're one of the only react channel where we can find real classics, thanks a lot for this one
Thank you. We are not doing it to monetize. We are doing it as we love exploring music and hanging out!
@@TheThamesmen and that's one of your forces
Hallelujah. Tower of Song. You know you have to…
On the topic of other great songwriters, I think you should consider at some point tackling Richard Thompson. Not only and outstanding wordsmith and lyricist, but also one of the best guitarists of the last 50 years. I’d be happy to curate a week of songs by him if you’re up for it. 😀
you bet
He's a goodun
You would love the Jimmy Barnes & Troy Cassar-Daley cover of this track...there's is a really country version with a bit of soul.
Oh & Elvis Costello does a great cover too.
Ooh both sound interesting. Thanks
I think to have notes on Leonard Cohen and the understanding about each song, makes it easier to understand the lyrics, before forming your own interpretation of the lyrics.
Just a note about John Farnham, today (23/8) in Melbourne:
The 'You're the Voice' singer is today undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous growth, he revealed in a statement, with surgeons being confident they can remove all the dangerous tissue.
"Cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me," Farnham's statement read. "The one thing I know for sure is that we have the very best specialist healthcare professionals in Victoria, and we can all be grateful for that. I know I am."
I saw that about John and we just paid respect in a vid we just made
My favourite Cohen songs are 'The Gypsy's Wife' and the 'The Guests.' Unlikely songs to ever be reviewed. Maybe there will be a Cohen week 5.
Likes and comments. :)
Per your discussion after the song, a Carole King week? Yes, please! A Cat Stevens week? Yes, please!
If you pull it together Brian.... we shall do it :)
Brian…. It’s your job to pull this together. :) looking forward to working with you to hone it in.
A curious thing with the delivery of the lyrics. Since it was quite an almost hypnotic tone, I found I was hearing the words, but not piecing them together except as individual lines. I felt I was missing something as it didn’t grab me at all and so I went and looked up the lyrics. Being able to see the setups of similes and the payoffs it took on a much greater importance.
I wonder if there are more vibrant cover versions of this by others that deliver the meaning a little bit more clearly on first listen.
It’s great, but the dreamy quality is probably underselling the poetry.
That’s something that The Beatles often did, was to mask the lyrics by some non-complementary music (such as Help! Or A Little Help From My Friends, or others of a similar nature).
I’m glad I looked the lyrics up. Cohen is rising in my estimation, for sure.
KD Lang did a cover at the Sydney Opera House (Max Sessions 2005) which you might find more "vibrant."
@@ThatGuy-bp4gz
Yep. That’s the stuff, at least for me. It made the lyrics ‘pop’ out of the song, and obviously the lyrics are the focus.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Glad you're enjoying it.
@@BrianR.
Definitely am. Great choices so far. Thanks for your efforts.
Suggestion when you get to hallelujah choose KD Lang’s version from the Vancouver Olympics. Or any KD Lang performance of this song!!!!!!!!!
Let's wait and see.......
I guess Leonard gets 3 more chances, haha. Glad you like it.
Hope you are listening with headphones when you have a moment to appreciate. It is not driving party music but it is something sublime. Thanks for listening
I'm beginning to hate YT ............ even channels that I am subbed to I can't see a video that has been uploaded until hours later or sometimes even days ! This will just not load for me [ and one of my fave Cohen songs ] so I will be back later to hear your take on it guys - hopefully it won't take 2 days ! I know that you will have great insight - especially some great takes from that Cohen book.
Why what happened? Thats a strange on. be well
@@TheThamesmen not just your channel guys - also others - it is only over the last few weeks and really weird, but so is some other things YT does.
@@bigs1546 Gotta be some nasty software or cookie setting - Clear your cache, virus check your machine or simply (if an ap) delete and reinstall - be well
This is one of my favourite songs, I absolutely love the cover by David Gilmour th-cam.com/video/9Q3L79JU9vU/w-d-xo.html Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson had their own Greek Island experience and they both also produced some amazing work from their time there.
I've never heard the cover, sounds interesting. I'll check it out.
her book IS amazing...... I read the book, whilst in Greece with the warm wind at night, the crickets and hum of people chatting in Greek whilst listening to Cohen and leaning against the white walls. Amazing. This was recorded in the lockdown, as Polly promoted her book. Great find :) I forgot about this and his daughter Romany.
@@TheThamesmen oh how fabulous, that’s the way to do it! What a beautiful way you write the memory!
Yes, this is part of a series they filmed during lockdown, the “von trapped” Gilmour family shows where they also did readings from Polly’s book and musical events. I enjoyed them so much at the time and revisit them. Romany their daughter is an amazing musical talent too, beautiful the way their voices blend. Love David’s single “Yes I have ghosts” which is a companion piece to the book also, and how it all gels into this amazing family body of work. I think there may have been some other Cohen covers from this series too.
@@BrianR. I hope you enjoyed!
Joe Cocker does a great cover of this.
👍👍👍😀
Add Joni Mitchell to the list of brilliant songwriters you may want to check out…
Like Bob Dylan, there are some great covers of Leonard's work, by far better singers. This song is covered wonderfully by Katey Sagal, from the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack. Tori Amos Famous Blue Raincoat. Billy Joel Light as the breeze.
I prefer listening to Leonard Cohen singing his songs as only he can know the meaning of the lyrics.
I very much prefer listening to Leonard Cohen's voice singing his own works because he has a unique, wonderfully masculine voice. He is also utterly tuned in to his own words/music as no one else could be. Unfortunately, this recording is quite unlike his usual performances. Something about this one just sounds weaker and totally off kilter.
the neville brothers with aaron on lead did a fabulous cover late 80s early 90s for the movie of the same name...cover was awesome...movie...not so much...
Alex - "We have covered it all right here." Far from it sir. There is a lot more Cohen to listen to.
ARE YOU SIMON PEGG AND NICK FROST FROM THE FUTURE?
WE ARE!!!!!!!! WE ATE WELL
Cat Stevens was great, but not a better song writer. He was a different song writer than Cohen. They are both great.
True
This is probably my least favorite Cohen song. Not sure how it became popular.
Hallelujah. Tower of Song. You know you have to…
Let's see.......