putting together LC's introduction songs

[Lota]

Hello,

As I have been listening to Leonard Cohen for many years, since I was 18, I like all of his work. Some poems and songs are more favourite than others, of course and even this varies according to my mood, the weather and other factors.
I am a European and my European friends are generally familiar with LC, they know of him and at least some of his music. But here, in North America, I encounter people who don't know him at all. When I mentioned I was going to the Red Rocks concert, I was asked about his music. You can only talk about it so much and then you have to show it to them. So I would like to compile a little selection for people who know nothing about LC music. So if I am selecting ten songs as the introduction, what songs do you think would be best? I want them to love them and get hungry for more and then they can do their own exploring.
Since Marianne is my all time favourite, I have to include it. So what other nine songs would you use as the temptresses?

Thank you. I joined the forum recently and I enjoy and share your views and stories. I was in row 3 at the Red Rocks. It was the best concert I have ever been to, ever. And now I think I would like to hear LC again in Europe, in a small intimate venue. And I am looking and deciding where to go.

Lota

[mr.midnight]

Avalanche
Master Song
Stranger Song
Famous Blue Raincoat
Take this Longing
Seems so long ago, Nancy
Death of a Ladies Man
If it be your will
You know who I am

This would be the ultimate introduction

[Stamatina]

Eleven from me...

Suzanne
So Long Marianne
Last Year's Man
Famous Blue Raincoat
Who By Fire
Dance Me to the End of Love
Take This Waltz
Everybody Knows
Anthem
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Morning Glory

[mnkyface]

I think you're going to get widely different answers/lists here! Let us know if you convert any friends. I've thought about this too...no one has actually asked me for any LC music though.

Everybody Knows
In My Secret Life
Hallelujah
FWTManhattan
Closing Time
The Future
If It Be Your Will
Dance Me to the End of Love
So Long Marianne
Who By Fire

[TheSpice-BoxOfEarth]

The Stranger Song
Bird on the Wire
Famous Blue Raincoat
Lover, Lover, Lover
Memories
Dance Me to the End of Love
First We Take Manhattan
Take This Waltz
The Future
That Don`t Make It Junk

Oh, that was too hard...

[Lota]

[quote="mnkyface"]I think you're going to get widely different answers/lists here! Let us know if you convert any friends. I've thought about this too...no one has actually asked me for any LC music though.


Heh, who said that they asked me for it? I am afraid I will have to just apply it to them and see what it does. That's why I want to do it gently and I would surely not pick "Jazz Police" for such an introduction. And your suggestions are really great. I will see if there is a common theme - I believe that the forum members know what is best to be used as an introduction. I hope to hear from even more of you and you can be sure I will let you know the results.
Thank you.

[John Etherington]

Here's a fairly well-considered list aimed at reaching a newbie without including anything they might initially find too dreary or incomprehenible (I haven't included anything from my personal favourite "Recent Songs" because I haven't seen it working):

Suzanne (for its sheer poetry, this is where any introduction to Leonard should begin)
Sisters of Mercy (where I personally began and still an-all time favourite, so hard not to include it)
Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye (a pretty tune, and also short)
Famous Blue Raincoat (definitely the most-popular song from Leonard's darkest album)
Everybody Knows (some upbeat light relief - as an alternative, I considered "First We Take Manhattan)
I'm Your Man (a song that has re-coverted many to Leonard's work, especially women)
Take This Waltz (greatness speaks for itself, and you can tell them it's a re-write of a Lorca poem) Alternative choice - "Democracy".
Anthem (Leonard's greatest amd most spiritual work)
A Thousand Kisses Deep (a song that was THE ONE for two different ladies that I introduced to Leonard's work)
Hallelujah -from Live in London (at the end, you can say - by the way, he wrote this too!).

All good things, John E

[MaryB]

My choices have to be those that have resonated and hooked them. It also depended on who the listener was. Knowing a little about the type of music they liked made a difference.

Everybody Knows
Dance Me To the End Of Love
The Future
Take This Waltz
I'm Your Man
Closing Time
Ain't No Cure For Love
Fingertips (I know - like I said, depends on the listener)
Hallelujah (like John E said, they recognize it and you can then say LC wrote it)

These are mostly chosen because the melodies (and voice in many cases) catch their attention (remembering each one's individual music preferences). Then they start to listen to and appreciate the lyrics. Once they 'get' the lyrics, then they want to investigate deeper and THEN they finally understand your facsination for all things Leonard Cohen.

Best regards,
Mary

[Lota]

[quote="MaryB"]My choices have to be those that have resonated and hooked them. It also depended on who the listener was. Knowing a little about the type of music they liked made a difference.

Everybody Knows
Dance Me To the End Of Love
The Future
Take This Waltz
I'm Your Man
Closing Time
Ain't No Cure For Love
Fingertips (I know - like I said, depends on the listener)
Hallelujah (like John E said, they recognize it and you can then say LC wrote it)

Mary, thank you for the insightful comments. I so agree with what you say. One thing had me paused: you mean FingerPRINTS? (rather than fingertips?). Am I right? Or did I miss Fingertips song? (I started to think about the blue fingers in One of Us Cannot be Wrong).

Thank you, everyone. This is just delightful.
Lota

[LisaLCFan]

While this might seem obvious to we Cohen fans, regardless of which songs you choose (and I couldn't possibly suggest 10, except maybe to suggest that you pick one from each studio album, in which case you'll have eleven), do be sure to mention to new listeners this: "Listen to the words!". I think that when a lot of people listen to "popular" music, they listen to the music first, maybe even the sound of the voice, and they may not pay close attention to the lyrics (because, honestly, so many lyrics are so banal). It is the lyrics that make Leonard Cohen so special and unique, and I assume, it is why we all love him so much! So, be sure to stress that when you introduce new people to his magic!

[MaryB]

Fingertips (I know - like I said, depends on the listener)

Mary, thank you for the insightful comments. I so agree with what you say. One thing had me paused: you mean FingerPRINTS? (rather than fingertips?). Am I right? Or did I miss Fingertips song? (I started to think about the blue fingers in One of Us Cannot be Wrong).

Thank you, everyone. This is just delightful.
Lota

Oops . Of course, Lota, Fingerprints. Thank you! I was so leary of putting this one up (thinking that everyone would be saying 'what was she thinking?') that I didn't even get the name straight. But, I still stand by Fingertouch .

LisaLCFan,

I agree with you 100% about the lyrics. Maybe I don't know the right kind of people, but when I have played something for them like Anthem, they get distracted and want to move on. If I play one of the others in the list, the melody and voice catch their attention and then they will start to pay attention to the lyrics on their own. Anthem or anything else can then be a followup and their WOW reaction comes into play. Maybe I'm just going on my own personal 1st exposure to LC - it was the voice and the melody. The lyrics then opened up a whole new world to me. It is sooo much about the lyrics. Does this make sense?
Best regards,
Mary

[Lota]

I agree with you 100% about the lyrics. Maybe I don't know the right kind of people, but when I have played something for them like Anthem, they get distracted and want to move on. If I play one of the others in the list, the melody and voice catch their attention and then they will start to pay attention to the lyrics on their own. Anthem or anything else can then be a followup and their WOW reaction comes into play. Maybe I'm just going on my own personal 1st exposure to LC - it was the voice and the melody. The lyrics then opened up a whole new world to me. It is sooo much about the lyrics. Does this make sense?
Best regards,
Mary[/quote]

Hello Mary,

To me it makes perfect sense. In Europe all my friends are at least familiar with LC. On this side, I have to make introductions. And I think the way it is done makes a big difference. My American friends are not idiots, some have just never heard this kind of music before. I admit that naturally, the process is easier with the women. I have my own theory as to why men may be intimidated by LC but that is another story.

Thank you.
Lota

[LisaLCFan]

Hi Lota,
As almost everyone else has suggested, you MUST include "I'm Your Man" on any "introduction" to LC. I mean, how can anyone hear that song and not want more Leonard Cohen?

[Bonn1979]

A question, good enough to think about the next years, not only about the songs,
but also about the decisions from what tour and from what concert you should
take them.
For today that would be a 80m cd for Cohen-novices:
Minute prologue
Dance me to the end of love (Muenster 1985)
Lover lover lover (Muenster 1985)
First we take Manhattan (2) Reykjavik 88
Famous blue raincoat (Reykjavik 88)
the partisan (Reykavik 88)
One of us cannot be wrong (Bonn 1979)
Tonight will be fine (Bonn 1979)
Seems so long ago, Nancy (Amsterdam 80)
There is a war (Berlin 88)
The gypsy´s wife (Paris, May 28,88
Why don´t you try (Frankurt 79)
So long Marianne (Munich 93)
Do I have to dance allnight (Amsterdam 80)

A 2-CD starter set will be much better, cause there are missing so many songs.

Atb
Fried