My story is similar to many of those "second generation" listeners. I bathed in LC songs during my childhood, without grasping the meaning. Just like Cicatriz, it was some years later that words started to sink in.
Actually, I got drawn because of "The Partisan". I was born in the Alps, were the words "The Resistance" are never spoken without a thought and a tear to those who fought and those who died. The partisan is very moving in this regard, and at the time I felt it was a magnificent tribute.
Then I felt that the other pieces in "Songs from a room" addressed some of my post-teenager's questions... In these years, "Everybody knows" and "Suzanne" could be heard here and there, too.
Several years later I cannot help but feel the relevance, especially in the light of some posts of this forum...
Thanks to all !
Damien
What started your Leonard Quest?
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LadyWriter
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 1:53 am
- Location: here, there and everywhere
Well, thank you! thank you so much!
I like it here!
It has occurred to me that I haven't chosen the most serendipitous time to make myself known, here, after lurking for several months--last week I got a callback to a summer job I've held for years and years, and so I'll be going away on Friday, not to return until September. You're likely to have forgotten me by then, but I won't be forgetting you; it's a nice thought, thinking of new friends and wonderful music and poetry awaiting my return.
And yes, the brain is indeed the most powerful sexual organ....that's why that line about touching the perfect body with the mind is SO incredible....
(shiver)
Thanks again for such a nice welcome. I'll be haunting my favorite record shop while I'm gone, adding to my Cohen collection, and looking forward to his new release.
Smiling,
Beth
It has occurred to me that I haven't chosen the most serendipitous time to make myself known, here, after lurking for several months--last week I got a callback to a summer job I've held for years and years, and so I'll be going away on Friday, not to return until September. You're likely to have forgotten me by then, but I won't be forgetting you; it's a nice thought, thinking of new friends and wonderful music and poetry awaiting my return.
And yes, the brain is indeed the most powerful sexual organ....that's why that line about touching the perfect body with the mind is SO incredible....
(shiver)
Thanks again for such a nice welcome. I'll be haunting my favorite record shop while I'm gone, adding to my Cohen collection, and looking forward to his new release.
Smiling,
Beth
....touch my perfect body with your mind.
Beth,
Good luck with your job and I look forward to reading your posts when you return in September. I agree with you that the people of the Leonard Cohen community are warm and definitely worth remembering.
Your post inspired me to write this... It is nice to see new people coming here and making friends. Very nice.
Sincerely,
Sean
http://www.livejournal.com/users/passthrufire
Good luck with your job and I look forward to reading your posts when you return in September. I agree with you that the people of the Leonard Cohen community are warm and definitely worth remembering.
Your post inspired me to write this... It is nice to see new people coming here and making friends. Very nice.
Sincerely,
Sean
http://www.livejournal.com/users/passthrufire
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LadyWriter
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 1:53 am
- Location: here, there and everywhere
Thank you again
YOUR post inspired me to read your livejournal. It was fascinating; I like the way you think.
I see we have a great love of New York in common; I've been there every spring for the last three years, to see McKuen in concert, and really had the blues this year when there was no show. If ever I have unlimited money, New York is where I'll live.
I see also that you are a student; I am, too, although I'm sure I'm older than you--not that it matters--I feel absolutely ageless these days, and more alive, more vital, more passionate, than many people who are considerably younger. You have a lot of literature and writing classes, so you piqued my interest yet again--when my education is complete, I'll be a professor of English Literature, and God, how I'm looking forward to students with minds like yours.
And of course, no study of poetry in my classroom will be complete without some Cohen (I do happen to like Lou Reed, too....)
Thanks again! You've made my day.
Beth
I see we have a great love of New York in common; I've been there every spring for the last three years, to see McKuen in concert, and really had the blues this year when there was no show. If ever I have unlimited money, New York is where I'll live.
I see also that you are a student; I am, too, although I'm sure I'm older than you--not that it matters--I feel absolutely ageless these days, and more alive, more vital, more passionate, than many people who are considerably younger. You have a lot of literature and writing classes, so you piqued my interest yet again--when my education is complete, I'll be a professor of English Literature, and God, how I'm looking forward to students with minds like yours.
And of course, no study of poetry in my classroom will be complete without some Cohen (I do happen to like Lou Reed, too....)
Thanks again! You've made my day.
Beth
....touch my perfect body with your mind.
.Beth,
Thank you once again! I appreciate your warm comments and the sentiment you share about New York City with me.
The fact that you like Lou Reed too is great. No one can escape my liking of Lou Reed's writing once they visit my livejournal, hahaha.
One of my goals is to teach on Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, and David Byrne in classes someday. I want to be able to share on an academic level the enjoyment and the knowledge I acquired from these writers of word. There are certain people I feel like I nearly owe a piece of who I am to because of their writing. I am humbled always by the artistic works of others.
Lizzy,
Thank you... You are one the great people I met in New York City.
-Sean
http://www.livejournal.com/users/passthrufire
Thank you once again! I appreciate your warm comments and the sentiment you share about New York City with me.
The fact that you like Lou Reed too is great. No one can escape my liking of Lou Reed's writing once they visit my livejournal, hahaha.
One of my goals is to teach on Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, and David Byrne in classes someday. I want to be able to share on an academic level the enjoyment and the knowledge I acquired from these writers of word. There are certain people I feel like I nearly owe a piece of who I am to because of their writing. I am humbled always by the artistic works of others.
Lizzy,
Thank you... You are one the great people I met in New York City.
-Sean
http://www.livejournal.com/users/passthrufire
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Jim Williams
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:17 am
- Location: Stone, Staffordshire, England, U.K.
The Quest
Hi. I'm also new to the site, and I couldn't resist this topic. I bought my first LC album - 'Songs from a Room' - only 8 months ago. Since then, where I include Jennifer Warnes' 'Famous Blue Raincoat' and the 2 tribute collections, I've bought a further 15. Not bad for a low paid care worker (who spends the rest of his time trying to get University lecturing posts in sociology).
Anyway, I'm quite keen on Leonard - if you can handle an understatement
I was never that familar with his work beforehand. He was one of those artists I knew I should get round to at some point, but all I really knew was 'First We Take Manhattan' (largely via REM) and a handful of other tracks from 'I'm Your Man'. (An ex-girlfriend had said it was the sexiest record she'd ever heard).
Once I take a serious interest in an artist (that is, when they stop me in my tracks) I immerse myself in their output. The same happened (is happening) with Tom Waits, Edward Hopper - and several social and political theorists.
Cheers anyway. Catch ya later.
Jim, Staffordshire, England
Anyway, I'm quite keen on Leonard - if you can handle an understatement
I was never that familar with his work beforehand. He was one of those artists I knew I should get round to at some point, but all I really knew was 'First We Take Manhattan' (largely via REM) and a handful of other tracks from 'I'm Your Man'. (An ex-girlfriend had said it was the sexiest record she'd ever heard).
Once I take a serious interest in an artist (that is, when they stop me in my tracks) I immerse myself in their output. The same happened (is happening) with Tom Waits, Edward Hopper - and several social and political theorists.
Cheers anyway. Catch ya later.
Jim, Staffordshire, England
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Tchocolatl
- Posts: 3805
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2003 10:07 pm
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Anne-Marie
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:03 am
I read the poem "Suzanne" and was determined to understand it. That night, while doing research, I found out it was also a song. I hunted down the song, and I wasn't sure what to think of it. It was much different than the teen-pop music I was listening to. I thought, 'this guy is singing about something..." and I wanted to be part of it.
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Teratogen
- Posts: 1653
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Santa Clarita, California
- Contact:
i first heard "the future." that's what hooked me. then my good friend sean got "death of a ladies' man." that's right, one of the worst albums of his according to critics. had to get it. hahaha. songs like "don't go home with your hard-on" and "memories" and the title track are reasons why i wanted to begin to hear more, and then buy everything of his. to this day, i don't care what anyone says, that's one of my favorite cohen albums. hahaha.
"Rock and roll is dead, but I am its revival. I'm prophesied by sages died, from Buddha to the Bible." --TERATOGEN
http://www.myspace.com/teratogen (music page)
http://www.myspace.com/teratogen666 (personal page)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheNoHoldsBard?ref=profile (Facebook page)
http://www.myspace.com/teratogen (music page)
http://www.myspace.com/teratogen666 (personal page)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheNoHoldsBard?ref=profile (Facebook page)
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linda_lakeside
- Posts: 3857
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:08 pm
- Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea..
Hi T-
I've heard others say that they've never listened to DOALM, and I heard someone say that he didn't listen because of the bad press, but when he did, it eventually turned into one of his favourites. I think the book is better. I don't like the Spector 'thing'. There are times when his poetry should be just that - poetry. Nothing more. Naked. Some songs like Stranger Song, just an acoustic guitar and his voice, minimal, work very nicely. But, Spector can overwhelm a singer/songwriter. So why Leonard had him produce, I can't imagine. Others made the same mistake. I don't have it, but I feel obligated to fill out the collection as best as I can. So, I'll best get it soon. Never know when these things just *poof* disappear.
Linda.
I've heard others say that they've never listened to DOALM, and I heard someone say that he didn't listen because of the bad press, but when he did, it eventually turned into one of his favourites. I think the book is better. I don't like the Spector 'thing'. There are times when his poetry should be just that - poetry. Nothing more. Naked. Some songs like Stranger Song, just an acoustic guitar and his voice, minimal, work very nicely. But, Spector can overwhelm a singer/songwriter. So why Leonard had him produce, I can't imagine. Others made the same mistake. I don't have it, but I feel obligated to fill out the collection as best as I can. So, I'll best get it soon. Never know when these things just *poof* disappear.
Linda.
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Jonnie Falafel
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 9:36 pm
- Location: Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
- Contact:
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Andrew (Darby)
- Posts: 1117
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 5:46 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
My girlfriend at the time (1973) was the first person to introduce me to Leonard - I was transfixed, not only by the deeply resonating voice and amazing lyrics, but also the intense looking youngish man on the cover of 'Songs of LC'! 
I had never experienced anyone who touched a chord in my psyche like he did - since then a few other singers have come close, but not in the way that reverberates through my whole being and speaks to my own experience of the vicissitudes of life and all of the emotions associated with it!
My only regret is that I didn't discover him in 1968 (or in the case of his poetry and novels, earlier)!
I do wonder why I had not stumbled across him earlier and can only think that it was because I moved in fairly religious and socially limited circles at that time! 
Cheers
Andrew (Darby)
I had never experienced anyone who touched a chord in my psyche like he did - since then a few other singers have come close, but not in the way that reverberates through my whole being and speaks to my own experience of the vicissitudes of life and all of the emotions associated with it!
My only regret is that I didn't discover him in 1968 (or in the case of his poetry and novels, earlier)!
I do wonder why I had not stumbled across him earlier and can only think that it was because I moved in fairly religious and socially limited circles at that time! Cheers
Andrew (Darby)
'I cannot give the reasons
I only sing the tunes
The sadness of the seasons
The madness of the moons'
~ Mervyn Peake ~
I only sing the tunes
The sadness of the seasons
The madness of the moons'
~ Mervyn Peake ~
Hi, I'm new here, too and I felt this would be a good topic to start with.
I first heard Leonard Cohen in the summer holidays last year. We were camping in France and it was raining all the time. So I started to get interested in the cassettes in our car.
I immediately loved his music and listened to the three cassettes all the time for the rest of the holidays (when the rest of the family didn't prevent me, what happend far to often )
When we came home, I listened to all the other albums right away and I loved them, too and now I'm reaaly obsessed.
Luckily, I didn't had to buy anything, because my father had all of them. But he never listened to them or I would've noticed it before. Or perhaps he did and I didn't. I don't know really.
I first heard Leonard Cohen in the summer holidays last year. We were camping in France and it was raining all the time. So I started to get interested in the cassettes in our car.
I immediately loved his music and listened to the three cassettes all the time for the rest of the holidays (when the rest of the family didn't prevent me, what happend far to often
)When we came home, I listened to all the other albums right away and I loved them, too and now I'm reaaly obsessed.
Luckily, I didn't had to buy anything, because my father had all of them. But he never listened to them or I would've noticed it before. Or perhaps he did and I didn't. I don't know really.
Im another newbie
I have always known a few of his songs as my dad is a fan, and really liked avalanche.
Last year when i went away to university was when i really became hooked, probs due to a number of factors. I got more into acoustic music and more into songwriting (i had always been in bands but moving to uni forfced me to work more on my own) and Cohen seemed and still seems like the best song writer I have heard. And as cliched as it sounds, after a fucked up relationship over the summer leoards songs really seemed to speak to me.
Now I am hooked seriously and happ to be hooked.
Looking forward to getting to know everyone here.
Reuben
I have always known a few of his songs as my dad is a fan, and really liked avalanche.
Last year when i went away to university was when i really became hooked, probs due to a number of factors. I got more into acoustic music and more into songwriting (i had always been in bands but moving to uni forfced me to work more on my own) and Cohen seemed and still seems like the best song writer I have heard. And as cliched as it sounds, after a fucked up relationship over the summer leoards songs really seemed to speak to me.
Now I am hooked seriously and happ to be hooked.
Looking forward to getting to know everyone here.
Reuben