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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:The UK Music Conference
Notice:Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:RDGENG::CROOK
Created:Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1381
Total number of notes:39269

481.0. "Leonard Cohen" by AYOV27::SSMITH () Wed Aug 16 1989 19:53

    
    
    
           What a singer, what a poet, what an artist, what a man.
    
    
    
    
    
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481.1Ya-w-nTMCUK2::MOXLEYWed Aug 16 1989 20:291
    
481.2A recommendationYIPPEE::BUXTONSteve Buxton - EAITG ValbonneWed Aug 16 1989 21:249
    For anybody who agrees with .0 with the exception of the "what a
    singer" part (surely even his biggest fan wouldn't say he can sing ?) I
    would thoroughly recommend Jennifer Warnes' album "Old Blue Raincoat".
    
    These are all Cohen songs (except one which was written by JW) but sung
    and produced beautifully.
    
    - Steve B.
    
481.3My Man All the WayAYOV27::SSMITHWed Aug 16 1989 22:0716
    You must be kidding, Cohen's voice is fantastic. There is really no 
    comparison with JW using his material. 
    
    Her voice, is not powerful enough for LC's magnificent music/lyrics
    and the songs are all disgracefully over produced. 
    
    Are you only going by LC's voice on 'I'm Your Man'. Certainly, up
    to this LP, it wasn't quite so deep. In his early stuff it is
    actually quite normal.
    
    
    Scott.
    
    
    
    
481.4Inexplicable-his records sell wellASABET::MCLAUGHLINThu Aug 17 1989 01:2813
    I agree with Steve, Leonard Cohen is not a singer in the true sense.  
    His talksong presentation leaves me cold.  Cohen, along with his
    contemporaries: Burt Bacharach, Paul Williams, Anthony Newley, Sonny
    Bono, et al, is an accomplished songwriter who, IMO, would serve the 
    general public best by leaving the microphone work to gifted song 
    interpretors.  However, I realize that if I could earn a fraction of
    the money that they do by performing self-penned material (if I had
    any), I would be willing to burp my own songs!  The sheer attention 
    and ego gratification must be a thrill too.           
    
    Shawn
    
481.5Gimme a break 8-) 8-) !BAHTAT::SALLITTDave - @RKG & ICI, 0642432193Mon Aug 21 1989 15:4917
    LC in the same bracket as Bacharach, Paul Williams? Come on. Excellent
    tunesmiths that they are, they are in a different league. Cohen
    is a *poet* whose poems are set to his music; that isn't the same
    as writing a popular song. If we must have a parallel, I would say
    Paul Simon would be more appropriate.
    
    I've heard JW's and LC's versions of Famous Blue Raincoat; whereas
    JW sings it well it lacks the melancholy that Cohen injects into
    it, as he does with all his early stuff. Listen to Chelsea Hotel,
    or anything else from that period, and you'll realise that even
    Morrisey can't catch Cohen when it comes to being introspective.
    
    Also you need to understand the contexts of Cohen's songs to appreciate
    them. When you do you'll realise that cover versions are superfluous,
    trivial even. Try a bit harder and you'll find it worthwhile.

    Dave
481.6Give him a break he's a Canadian.........RTOEU::RDELANEYAdam 'ad 'em.......Wed Aug 23 1989 18:244
    Saw him here last year and was impressed. I like the album. See
    20.11
    
    	- Rockin Robin.........
481.7Pale Imitations...CLARID::MCNEILLFri Mar 15 1991 19:038
    A bit late maybe, but I agree entirely that only Cohen can interpret
    Cohen as Cohen, and not as someone else.
    
    That is the mark of a true poet/musician.
    
    
    
    
481.8Reminds me of the time back in '75...CLADA::MEAGHERThese are the hands of a tired manFri Mar 15 1991 21:1413
RE  Jennifer Warnes singing Cohen's songs:

	I was looking at a TV program, must be a year ago now, in which 
Jennifer Warnes was being interviewed.  Just as she said something along
the lines of "Well, I like singing Leonard's songs as they mean a lot to
me.  I feel that I can only sing something that has a definite message that
I can relate to".  I was so disgusted (I've heard her murder FBR) that I had
to change channels.  What song was playing on the other channel?  "I've had
the time of my life" or whatever the drasted thing is called.  Luckily, I
saw the funny side.

-Brian.