The topic on "Your First LC Song" made me think of this. I heard "Suzanne" when I was four and took some of the images literally (still do...seriously, if I look hard enough I'm sure to find a hero in the seaweed.) So I started wondering what an children's album of Cohen's songs would look like.
I'd put Suzanne on it, Nightingale, Take This Waltz, Heart With No Companion, and I think The Guests. Possibly Ballad of the Absent Mare and The Partisan.
Other suggestions? Objections?
What of Leonard's songs are appropriate for children?
In comparision with what is on the radio and TV much of these days I would wonder if any of Cohen's would be inappropiate.
Your question got me thinking that since in universe time our children are our elders in that they are born into a world more complete and evolved than the one we were and we always learn so much about it by seeing how it is described by them. In the same way they are coming into a world with a much more esteemed Leonard Cohen with a much more complete body of work and that makes me wonder about how much their experience of him will be different from mine.
I remember that the first time I heard his music must have been about the first week of his first album's release. I had heard a couple of his songs sung by others prior to his recording. Being from Montreal I viewed him as a local boy who a lot of people around me were saying had no voice and was depressing. I liked him but had no idea that he would catch on as he has. Found out about him on the folk singer circuit and you know how popular folk singers are.
Your question got me thinking that since in universe time our children are our elders in that they are born into a world more complete and evolved than the one we were and we always learn so much about it by seeing how it is described by them. In the same way they are coming into a world with a much more esteemed Leonard Cohen with a much more complete body of work and that makes me wonder about how much their experience of him will be different from mine.
I remember that the first time I heard his music must have been about the first week of his first album's release. I had heard a couple of his songs sung by others prior to his recording. Being from Montreal I viewed him as a local boy who a lot of people around me were saying had no voice and was depressing. I liked him but had no idea that he would catch on as he has. Found out about him on the folk singer circuit and you know how popular folk singers are.
"Your kisses deep and warm" might be lost on a child's understanding, unless the child thought of his/her parents in that context [some would, some wouldn't]. However, with the high rate of divorce in today's world, where bitterness between parents is too rampant, I feel that "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" could help in establishing a child's mindset in a more positive direction. They might become more resilient to this devastating process, and understand how it's possible for parents to not detest each other; and help to alleviate at least some of where they tend too much to absorb feelings of guilt/blame for the divorce and the emotions surrounding it... seeing that sometimes separation can be lent at least some normalcy.
Hopefully, though, a child would just be able to apply the message of this song to their own losses... of a much-loved pet; a friend who moves away; a teacher who takes a new job; their having to leave one house behind for another; a child's doll broken; anyone in their life who dies; or whatever other losses might occur. I remember songs from my own childhood, where I gleaned and learned from the message, without every single lyric having to fit.
~ Lizzy
Hopefully, though, a child would just be able to apply the message of this song to their own losses... of a much-loved pet; a friend who moves away; a teacher who takes a new job; their having to leave one house behind for another; a child's doll broken; anyone in their life who dies; or whatever other losses might occur. I remember songs from my own childhood, where I gleaned and learned from the message, without every single lyric having to fit.
~ Lizzy
I don't remember either "Hunter's Lullaby" or "Don't Pass Me By." And iTunes is down, dang. I just read the lyrics. I think Hunter's Lullaby is a little scary - is the hunter ever coming back? although the words about leaving his blessings behind seemed sweet.
Most kids, I think, would take lines like "I loved you in the morning" in the sense of filial love rather than erotic. There were several songs that my father sang that I didn't get the meaning of until I was much older, and I sing them to my nephews now with the same response. "Hey That's No Way..." would be a great song, so sweet.
Lazariuk, you make a good point. Even when Cohen deals with "adult" topics, with few exceptions he does it in a way that could be explained in an age-appropriate way. (However, it would be rather uncomfortable to have to explain something like "Chelsea Hotel #2.") Kids today are also a lot more sophisticated, getting music from people like U2 and others, rather than the traditional set of nursery rhymes. And then as you said, Cohen is part of our culture now. Not only do people recognize his style, he's inspired so many others...music has changed a lot.
Most kids, I think, would take lines like "I loved you in the morning" in the sense of filial love rather than erotic. There were several songs that my father sang that I didn't get the meaning of until I was much older, and I sing them to my nephews now with the same response. "Hey That's No Way..." would be a great song, so sweet.
Lazariuk, you make a good point. Even when Cohen deals with "adult" topics, with few exceptions he does it in a way that could be explained in an age-appropriate way. (However, it would be rather uncomfortable to have to explain something like "Chelsea Hotel #2.") Kids today are also a lot more sophisticated, getting music from people like U2 and others, rather than the traditional set of nursery rhymes. And then as you said, Cohen is part of our culture now. Not only do people recognize his style, he's inspired so many others...music has changed a lot.
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Teratogen
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I think a lot of stuff from Various Positions would work for kids stuff. It's borderline religious, but is never really outright and blatant about it, which is why Leonard is so great. But to be honest, nowadays, there are compilation CD's put out with kids singing some of the pop Top 40 stuff and a lot of it seems inappropriate for them to be singing. At least when I compare my own childhood to theirs and how much Sesame Street I watched as opposed to how much rap music they listen to now. Kidz Bop. I think that's what the CD's are called. I wouldn't be surprised if you hear a kids cover version of "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On" on one of those someday. Bwahahahahaha!! 
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My friend is Cohen fan, and the nice thing was, when he got his first child, in the first year they played first three albums very quietly and the child slept nicely and lovely. That was my life's Leonard Cohen moment.
The kid is now 4 years old and there's no Leonard's music in his room anymore.
But he will learn, with time;-)
The kid is now 4 years old and there's no Leonard's music in his room anymore.
But he will learn, with time;-)
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
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John Etherington
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Songs from a Cradle
Erm.. "Nightingale" maybe, and perhaps "The Great Event" but absolutely nothing else! (though as Tom suggests, I think Leonard's music might be useful for putting kids to sleep). I'll have to ask Jim Devlin.
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John Etherington
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Well, Lizzy let's put it another way, if Leonard's songs were movies I think vritually all of them would get "A" or "X" ratings (using the old terms)!
I can't see many getting a "U" certificate. I guess that there might be a few sensitive children who like the melodies, or a very few precocious kids who somehow "get it". As it happens, I have seen one young girl take notice when watching a video of Leonard singing with Julie and Perla.
Love, John E
I can't see many getting a "U" certificate. I guess that there might be a few sensitive children who like the melodies, or a very few precocious kids who somehow "get it". As it happens, I have seen one young girl take notice when watching a video of Leonard singing with Julie and Perla.
Love, John E
Hi John ~
Ahhh.... I see that Brit ratings use different letters than ours. Does U simply depict "Uncensored"? And "A" stands for what [other than "X"
]? Thanks.
For me, it's not necessary for a child to 'get it' ~ especially, when it sometimes takes us adults years to 'get it' .
Do you recall which song the three of them were singing when the child was taking notice? I think their dynamic is simply so powerful that one is compelled to take notice. Truly compelled.
As for the melodies, I feel they're some of the most beautiful; engaging; and lush, in their simplicity, clarity, and elegance; in existence. I don't recall from here or the Sony Board what the age was of the youngest person, when they first heard Leonard, and who arrived on these forums, some to many years later.
I'd like to see some people post here as to how old they were [if they were younger] and what their impressions were. So, here's hoping some do... .
Love,
Lizzy
Ahhh.... I see that Brit ratings use different letters than ours. Does U simply depict "Uncensored"? And "A" stands for what [other than "X"
]? Thanks.For me, it's not necessary for a child to 'get it'
~ especially, when it sometimes takes us adults years to 'get it' . Do you recall which song the three of them were singing when the child was taking notice? I think their dynamic is simply so powerful that one is compelled to take notice. Truly compelled.
As for the melodies, I feel they're some of the most beautiful; engaging; and lush, in their simplicity, clarity, and elegance; in existence. I don't recall from here or the Sony Board what the age was of the youngest person, when they first heard Leonard, and who arrived on these forums, some to many years later.
I'd like to see some people post here as to how old they were [if they were younger] and what their impressions were. So, here's hoping some do...
.Love,
Lizzy
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John Etherington
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Lizzy - I think "A" used to stand for Adult - in that a child over 12 could see the movie, if accompanied by an adult (who thought it was suitable).
"U" I think meant unclassified, which was for all the family. The child I'm thinking of was actually Jim Devlin's daughter so she couldn't escape Leonard. She did however say to me "this is good, isn't it" but then said that she liked some boy band better. I still think the concept of children listening to Leonard is akin to them wearing make-up and reading sex magazines! (i.e. a bit premature).
"U" I think meant unclassified, which was for all the family. The child I'm thinking of was actually Jim Devlin's daughter so she couldn't escape Leonard. She did however say to me "this is good, isn't it" but then said that she liked some boy band better. I still think the concept of children listening to Leonard is akin to them wearing make-up and reading sex magazines! (i.e. a bit premature).
Hmmm.... really. Gosh... perhaps, we should start a new thread asking about for the earliest age for someone first hearing Leonard... and its impact on them, with what they thought, and how they took the lyrics.
Yeah... that boy band thing at that age will almost always prevail. Weren't you on the Sony Discussion Board at one time? Or, was that someone else? If so, do you remember the young, admittedly precocious, girl [age 16] who had been listening to Leonard for awhile, and would sing the songs with her Dad? She was from the U.K. An amazing person
! Not many of a young person's peers will be listening to Leonard, and during that time of their life, peers will generally always take precedence.
Some songs might be premature for a child, but for the most part I honestly feel that most will be a matter of layers and the doors and windows that they're capable of opening, with the richness that will be accessible to them; and deeper, more complex understanding[s] will come with the years.
So, are you using age 12 as your cut-off point for a child? Thanks for explaining the censor designations.
~ Lizzy
Yeah... that boy band thing at that age will almost always prevail. Weren't you on the Sony Discussion Board at one time? Or, was that someone else? If so, do you remember the young, admittedly precocious, girl [age 16] who had been listening to Leonard for awhile, and would sing the songs with her Dad? She was from the U.K. An amazing person
! Not many of a young person's peers will be listening to Leonard, and during that time of their life, peers will generally always take precedence.Some songs might be premature for a child, but for the most part I honestly feel that most will be a matter of layers and the doors and windows that they're capable of opening, with the richness that will be accessible to them; and deeper, more complex understanding[s] will come with the years.
So, are you using age 12 as your cut-off point for a child? Thanks for explaining the censor designations.
~ Lizzy
Last edited by lizzytysh on Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:50 am, edited 1 time in total.