god's dearest sunbeam - leonard cohen

[sebmelmoth2003]

from the print edition of the london evening standard's music coverage last week - doesn't seem to be online.

"God's dearest sunbeam leonard cohen is prepareing a new album for later this year.

over at twentyfourbit.com - http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/47565 ... -new-songs - they've collated the new material he's aired at his recent concerts.

one wishes he would ditch the greek restaurant backing band - but lyrically, the immortal author of dress rehearsal rag does not disappoint.

"`come to darkness baby, drink it from your cup`/i said `is it conntagious?`/you said, `just drink it up`", he glowers on the darkness.

[LisaLCFan]

"god's dearest sunbeam"? I rather like that! Leonard certainly lights up my life!

[lizzytysh]

"god's dearest sunbeam - leonard cohen" or "god's dearest moonbeam - leonard cohen" ~ either and both fit.

I take issue with this comment, however...
"one wishes he would ditch the greek restaurant backing band - "
maybe 'that' "one" wishes, but this one sure doesn't. Leonard's specific choices of music lend to the eternal sense of his songs... and I love it.

[Laura]

Are you sure you are not pulling our leg with that, sebelmoth? That has to be the most horrendous article title I have ever heard; it's wrong for so many reasons I wouldn't even know to list them-one being that I can't imagine that the man who wrote "100 floors above me" wouldn't want to be God's dearest anything! (is it a reference there that I am somehow missing?!) The "greek restaurant backing band" is just the cherry on top.

Laura

[musicmania]

I take issue with this comment, however...
"one wishes he would ditch the greek restaurant backing band - "
maybe 'that' "one" wishes, but this one sure doesn't. Leonard's specific choices of music lend to the eternal sense of his songs... and I love it.

I also take issue with that comment! Leonard has always had the most wonderful musicians and the most recent band members are no exception to this! Should we be lucky enough to have another tour from Leonard I hope he keeps the current lineup!!!!!

[DrHGuy]

From Evening Standard, May 13, 2011, p 38

[Paul Zagreb]

I'd love to go to THAT Greek restaurant where they are playing!

[lizzytysh]

LOL ~ me, too, Paul!

[jeanne]

Hi all,,

Wonder how Leonard feels about the sunbeam.....

Think he might a chuckle a bit......wondering how god might feel about it!

To us....he is all things......we will just now add the.... dearest sunbeam!...I kind of like it!

Way off base on band!!!

jeanne

[MarieM]

I can't imagine that the man who wrote "100 floors above me" wouldn't want to be God's dearest anything! (is it a reference there that I am somehow missing?!)

I'm with Laura on this. I think it is one thing to hear this from fans but when you see it printed in a reputable newspaper, it has got to cause your heart to skip a beat. And I'm glad Laura, you quoted some lyrics to back this up because, while I don't think all Leonard's lyrics should be taken literally, they probably shouldn't be ignored either as a possible expression of his feelings. Adulation is a wonderful thing but I think too much of it becomes dehumanizing. It becomes an anvil around the neck, the expectations, the demands, the inability to move through the world freely. Good thing Leonard lives in LA so his little sunbeam can be swallowed up by all those Hollywood sun gods.

[lizzytysh]

As luck goes, he's also lucky to live in L.A. where the sun is lucky just to make it through the smog.

[remote1]

I can't imagine that the man who wrote "100 floors above me" wouldn't want to be God's dearest anything! (is it a reference there that I am somehow missing?!)

I'm with Laura on this. I think it is one thing to hear this from fans but when you see it printed in a reputable newspaper, it has got to cause your heart to skip a beat. And I'm glad Laura, you quoted some lyrics to back this up because, while I don't think all Leonard's lyrics should be taken literally, they probably shouldn't be ignored either as a possible expression of his feelings. Adulation is a wonderful thing but I think too much of it becomes dehumanizing. It becomes an anvil around the neck, the expectations, the demands, the inability to move through the world freely. Good thing Leonard lives in LA so his little sunbeam can be swallowed up by all those Hollywood sun gods.

Depends how you define reputable; it is the London Evening Standard after all. I wouldn't even wrap my fish n' chips in it, and it's free!

[sebmelmoth2003]

thanks for posting the article - you must be a subscriber to the digital edition, DrHGuy.

trust this allays Laura's doubts.

i suspect the author of the `snippet` was trying to be humorous/satirical in regard to leonard's talented - but allegedly gloomy - output.

[akavisha]

Great stuff -- cant wait to get the whole album!!