Bird On A Wire on BBC Four: Friday, 19th November 2010

[annmarie]

I don't know whether this film made me feel really old or really young... the footage from the Manchester concert was from the very day I was born, and not very far from where I grew up. Part of me wishes I'd been around in that world... the rest of me is just so happy that 37 years later I still got the chance to see him perform. Great film.

I know what you mean! The raw emotion made me wonder if I'm old or young, but the truth is that I WAS around then! I feel so priviliged to be of that era tho. I was in my teens when I discovered Cohen in the late sixties, and really I think it was the best and the worst of times. We were poor students, no money and living in grotty bedsits, but we had Cohen! I don't think I'd want to be a teenager again. What a life tho, to be able to see and enjoy him forty years later!
Anne

[annmarie]

Several young....er fans have asked how Leonard compares now with the young fellow of the late 60s/early 70s. I think to watch the two films back to back will explain why it's so difficult to answer. He's always been special.
One of the many things that strikes me is that unlike other musicians of the 60s and 70s he's grown old gracefully. When you look at people like Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards etc you get what I mean!
Anne

[neo]

When you look at people like Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards etc you get what I mean!

I think out of those three Keith has aged best!

But it's true, Anne, few have grown old that gracefully as Leonard Cohen did. (But I also think that he started early into growing old. If you know what I mean. )
And this grace has shaped his art very much in recent years.

When you listen to the live recordings of different tours in chronological order, you can watch that gracefullness evolve in retrospect.

Some even didn't get the chance of growing old (John, Jimi, Janis)...

[Diane]

I've watched it a couple of times on iPlayer and found it highly engrossing even though I had seen some scenes from the original film.

When you listen to the live recordings of different tours in chronological order, you can watch that gracefulness evolve in retrospect.

Yes it really makes you reflect on how far he has travelled, internally, from 1972 to 2010.

Arlene quoted an article by G Thomson, above:

His voice too, whether singing or reciting poetry, was mesmerising. He characterised his music as a mixture of chanson and synagogue cantor, and himself as “a broken-down nightingale” trying to “move a song from lip to lip”. There was a lot of this kind of superior stoned rambling; at times he looked utterly out of it. “Each man has a song, and this is my song,” he proclaimed wearily.

I enjoyed his stoned ramblings:

"The reason we are lonely is because we have not organised our lives so that we can meet ourselves in each other."

"We don't understand perfectly what we say to each other in words but we always understand each other."

To me, the graphic Vietnam war footage was misplaced in this behind-the-scenes tour documentary, despite the "loneliness is a political act" (which of course ultimately it truly is) and Story of Isaac links.

Many thanks for the alerts that this was on the bbc.

[A.Sukitu]

[hope I'm not repeating this news]

Bird On A Wire will be repeated
on BBC4
Thursday 25 November
0100 - 0250 hrs.

(and of course available for a limited time on BBC iplayer).

[lorcamaria]

Hi all,

Long time no speak.......

I watched the video twice this week and it was heartbreaking to see Leonard cry. He looked so sad.
It was an excellent video and I would like to buy it sometime soon.

The footage of Leonard as a little boy was delightful - AND he can skate!

I felt he had a rough time in those days and I am glad to see Mr. Cohen has over the years matured like a good Claret.

Mr. Cohen, if you read this, know that you are so very much loved. x

[margaret]

Just to make it absolutely clear, for those who missed it,

the repeat is on BBC4 in a few hours time at 1.00 am. Officially Thursday, but to most of us Wednesday night

[annmarie]

I think out of those three Keith has aged best!

But it's true, Anne, few have grown old that gracefully as Leonard Cohen did. (But I also think that he started early into growing old. If you know what I mean. )
And this grace has shaped his art very much in recent years.

When you listen to the live recordings of different tours in chronological order, you can watch that gracefullness evolve in retrospect.

Some even didn't get the chance of growing old (John, Jimi, Janis)...[/quote]


Yes, I totally agree. Saw him sometime in the mid 70s, then mid to late 80s and was struck by how gracefully he was aging. Call me old fashioned, but the way he let his hair grow grey, didn't bother with make up etc just added to his charm! He looked and acted his age, just as he does today. Don't know when the fed became a fashion item, but it suits him
Re the ones who didn't get a chance, I think John had the most potential to become great.
Anne

[annmarie]

Story of Isaac has always been a favourite of mine. Yes, it was pretty graphic, but there was nothing pretty about the Vietnam war.
So many references to Leonard's "stoned ramblings" . How on earth do you know he was "stoned"?? Most of us looked like that in the 60s and 70s!!
Whatever.................he produced the most amazing music, poetry and prose of our generation. If hallucenogenics produce such genius, take me to his dealer!
Anne

[neo]

Having watched the new documentary LENNONNYC today, I can only agree about John. There is much on the topic of growing old in this film. In 1980 Lennon just made the first steps into his older self...

Yesterday I listened to Zürich 1993 and it was very interesting to hear what has changed and what stayed (almost) the same in comparison to the recent tour.

So many references to Leonard's "stoned ramblings" . How on earth do you know he was "stoned"?? Most of us looked like that in the 60s and 70s!!

That's the important thing you have to tell people today!
Me didn't find those "ramblings" being stoned neither.

Today people complain about traffic and seating at the concerts. It seems that they have totally forgotten that traffic jam and all the mud at Woodstock!

[Diane]

Hello Annmarie,

Story of Isaac has always been a favourite of mine. Yes, it was pretty graphic, but there was nothing pretty about the Vietnam war.

To me, the graphic Vietnam war footage was misplaced in this behind-the-scenes tour documentary, despite the "loneliness is a political act" (which of course ultimately it truly is) and Story of Isaac links.

The film was a remarkable uncensored portrayal of a period in the life of LC the artist on tour, singing so very beautifully to his audience, seeming like a broken down angel, and remaining with the depth of vulnerablity he wrote from even when the songs ended. The war footage didn't seem to me to fit with that perspective.

So many references to Leonard's "stoned ramblings" . How on earth do you know he was "stoned"?? Most of us looked like that in the 60s and 70s!!
Whatever.................he produced the most amazing music, poetry and prose of our generation. If hallucenogenics produce such genius, take me to his dealer!
Anne

I haven't a clue whether he was "stoned", but I was struck by the way that article characterised his outpourings (which I imagine would seem like "superior stoned ramblings" to most non-fans), said I liked them, and quoted a couple more of them from the same section of film that the "each man has a song and this is my song" quote was taken from. It is good to know that you looked like that in the 60s and 70s;-)