I saw Canadian music legend Leonard Cohen play again last night. It was every bit as magical as the last time. There’s very little else I can add to what I wrote last time. The man is one of a handful of 20th-century great singer-songwriters, and a highly emotional performer.
Lame UK reality TV show X-Factor was won last week by some bland singer who you should probably ignore. Predictably, her release of Leonard Cohen’s hymn-like classic “Hallelujah” has jumped to the top of the charts.
Unpredictably, music fans with much better taste have pulled Jeff Buckley’s haunting version to #2, and Cohen’s version into the top 40.
I’m just back from London’s O2 arena and a Leonard Cohen extravaganza. It was awesome.
Cohen toured the UK earlier in 2008 for the first time in over 14 years. I didn’t go then because I resisted the notion of seeing a performer like him in a large stadium. Then I read the reviews. They were very good. So when he added some more London dates, I got a ticket.
Cohen was the absolute epitome of cool. He and his band were dapper, smooth, and charming. They were elegant and professional, and if it had been anyone else singing other than this bass poet it would have been boring. But Cohen is profound, and defies any crass attachments. He is old – 74 years old – and had lessons to teach us.
Intensely classy lessons that went on for more than 3 hours, as it turned out. He started the evening by acknowledging both the economy and the O2 as he thanked us for braving such dizzying financial and architectural heights. It was quiet, you could hear every word of his vocals. The musicians were given chances to solo, but tastefully, and quietly. Everyone wore a hat. “Bird On A Wire” was stunning and moving. “Who By Fire” had a great Spanish guitar intro. The backup singers delivered “If It Be Your Will”. “Tower of Song” and “Hallelujah” were touching. “First We Take Manhattan” is simply the coolest song ever recorded.
Given the recent American election, “Democracy”‘s refrain – ‘Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.’ – got an enormous cheer every time it was repeated.
Despite his 74 years, Cohen never walked on or off stage; he ran and skipped, full tilt, each time. He was, simply, class. His songwriting is in the league of Dylan, but his sauve delivery is unparalleled.
He sang:
Intermission
1st encore
2nd encore
3rd encore
Photo from jonl1973 via Creative Commons license.
Back in January I got very excited when I found out that Leonard Cohen was touring Europe. I’m a bit fan, and I planned to go.
However, when I saw that he was to play at the immense O2 stadium (20,000 capacity and decent tickets at £75), I lost a lot of excitement. I didn’t bother getting tickets.
Then I saw the reviews of some of his UK shows this summer. They’re allbrilliant. I regretted not going.
Then yesterday they announced a tour extension with repeat dates in Europe in October and November. Excitement back up.
So this morning I got a pretty good £60 seat for Leonard at the O2 on November 13th.
Is it just me, or is he starting to look a lot like another Leonard (Nimoy)?
Leonard Cohen will be touring with his band in Canada and US in May and inEurope in the summer. More details will be announced in February.