Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

@ secret-life

While I was preparing to write my usual TNX! comment,I started to read the review you included. OK, not your own words, but even to qtote statements like "but perhaps the worst singer to ever release more than one major-label album." should be punished with 1 year without orginal Cohen albums :-)

Or, as he writes himself in "Tower of Song":

So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
Ah they don't let a woman kill you
Not in the Tower of Song

Besides, just to remind, from same song:

I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice

:-)))

thanks for this wonderful contribution.

@ Bully

I did it on purpose :-) Wondering if you,or some other fan,will have something to say about that little piece of...review,LOL.I would personally put the guy who wrote it to jail for a couple of years and make him listen nothing but Cohen over and over again,hehe...I think that may put some sense into him :-)

And that punishment you have in mind for me is very cruel,I thought you were a nice guy,LOL
:-))

"I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice"

I always loved those lines...and I love Cohen's golden voice :-) No matter how many great covers are made,they will never be able to beat the originals.

Leonard used to brag about the British reviewer at the isle of Wight who called him a droning old fart.

another great looking lineup.. many thanks, secret-life! :)

All over the day I had the strange feeling that I had forgotten something last nigth. Meanwhile I know what it was, so time to add it now:

TNX secret-life!!


@ secret-life

"I thought you were a nice guy,LOL"

I try hard to hide this fact ;-)

"I love Cohen's golden voice :-) No matter how many great covers are made,they will never be able to beat the originals."

For sure there are sigers with even a platin voice :-) But most of Cohen's songs are very personal, close tied to his person. Hearing them from other singers is somehow a bit strange.

In my view the best covers of old Cohen songs are done by Cohen himself. A good example is the 1994 released "Cohen live" album, an even better example is the wonderful bootleg of his great 1993 concert at Zurch.

http://avaxhome.ws/music/lcohen_live_zurich1993.html

Over the years he moved his voice 2 :-) octaves deeper, moved from mainly guitar to full band arangements, making the old songs sound very different. Even the former "dooh dooh" background voices :-) changed. Like in the Zurich concert bootleg, where Julie Christensen clearly shows that she's much more as just a "dooh dooh girl" :-)

To name just 2 of the great live performances in the Zurch concert, compare his cover of "Joan of Arc" to his original version. Same as the closing song "Matrianne". While in earlier concerts (bootlegs) it seemed that he just played the old songs because the audience forced him to do so, in this concert he really "celebrates" Marianne. (yes, hehe, his guitar player had of course listened tooooo much to Eric Clapton).

OK, but back to these cover versions. I will of course give them a close listen. But I cannot restst to include the AMG review of this album :-) The bold highlighting was added by me, not AMG ;-)


AMG Review by Roch Parisien

Anyone attempting a new tribute album to Canadian poet/author/songwriter icon Leonard Cohen faces several daunting difficulties, not the least of which is that it's already been done well twice. The "adult" music scene was covered off definitively as far back as 1986 with Jennifer Warnes's Famous Blue Raincoat, on which she channeled the spirit of Cohen in uncannily appealing fashion (a bout of divine inspiration she has not equaled for her own work). Cohen personally endorsed these sessions, duetting with Warnes on the epic "Joan of Arc." The "alternative" music scene got its licks in with 1991's I'm Your Fan, where poet/musician peers like John Cale teamed with such younger acolytes as Nick Cave, the Pixies, and R.E.M. to suffer Cohen's pain as if embodying a collective son for a surrogate holy father. Tower of Song strikes one as a venture likely devised by the Marketing Department, rather than those elitist projects with artists who actually share an affinity for Cohen's work. To be blunt, this 13-strong "tribute" is best described as a total train wreck. Most of the renditions are notable only for their astounding lack of subtlety. Big-name engines barrel down the track, horns blaring, with no regard for such warning signals as color, shade, contrast, tone, definition. A complete derailment, because what they've all fatally missed is the poetry of Cohen's lyrics.



By the way, our technical team is still working "hard" to bring the lost Leonard Cohen page back to life. Sorry for the troubles.

At the moment, best use the following link for most new additions:

http://avaxhome.ws/blogs/secret-life

@ Bully

""I thought you were a nice guy,LOL""

"I try hard to hide this fact ;-)"

Then you are not trying hard enough :))

"most of Cohen's songs are very personal, close tied to his person. Hearing them from other singers is somehow a bit strange."

Yes,I completely agree,that's why I say nothing can beat the originals...his songs and his person are one.There are some covers I really like,but there is no better interpreter of Cohen's songs then Cohen himself.

"To name just 2 of the great live performances in the Zurich concert, compare his cover of "Joan of Arc" to his original version. Same as the closing song "Marianne". While in earlier concerts (bootlegs) it seemed that he just played the old songs because the audience forced him to do so, in this concert he really "celebrates" Marianne."

It was really a nice surprise to hear that song done that way,I love it so much :)

Thanks for AMG review,I know the one I used sucks,LOL.
And you bolded good,hehe.

"what they've all fatally missed is the poetry of Cohen's lyrics."

That says pretty much all :)

@ secret-life

>>I try hard to hide this fact ;-)
> Then you are not trying hard enough :))"

Ah, ok, I promise to hide it better from now on. ;-)

"There are some covers I really like,but there is no better interpreter of Cohen's songs then Cohen himself."

Yep, "Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat - Posted By: secret-life" is a good example :-) Even at partial 160 kbps :-)))

>>what they've all fatally missed is the poetry of Cohen's lyrics.
> That says pretty much all :)

BTW, after typing the url of your AvaxHome blog for above omment, I also looked on it and quickly noticed what I otherwise would have missed, including the Cohen books. Well done!

@ Bully

You may be a nice guy,but we love you anyway ;)))

"after typing the url of your AvaxHome blog for above comment, I also looked on it and quickly noticed what I otherwise would have missed, including the Cohen books. Well done!"

Glad you had a look on my little blog :) I thought I post some books,cos Cohen is such a great poet,he is truly a master of words and I feel that,even when only written,those words carry some wonderful music in them.I will also post two prose works of his,Beautiful Losers and Favourite Game,hope someone will find it interesting :)
BTW. Why is there no poetry category in eBooks?Or do I just keep missing it?:))

@ anyone who cares :)

I re-upped the Zurich concert,it's too wonderful,couldn't help myself :)

@ secret-life

"You may be a nice guy,but we love you anyway ;)))"

Knowing WHO writes these words, I suddenly have an old Queen song in my ears:

Too much love will kill you
Just as sure as none at all
It'll drain the power thats in you
Make you plead and scream and crawl.

:-))

"BTW. Why is there no poetry category in eBooks?Or do I just keep missing it?:))"

- Photo related (/Photo_related)
- Poetry (/Poetry)
- Science (/science_books)

May take a bit time until you find it on your screen. :-)

"I re-upped the Zurich concert"

GREAT! (Was not aware it was already deleted).

Yep, hehe, this concert is special in many ways. Including Cohen's words about YOU. :-) Did you notice that he had changed the lyrics of "The future"?

Instead of the normal lyrics

Give me back my broken night
my mirrored room, my secret life
it's lonely here there's no one left to torture

he sings in the Zurich concert:

Gimme back my secret-life
my mirrored room, my secret life
it's lonely here there's no one left to torture

Yep, hehe, "Gimme back my secret-life ... there's no one left to torture".

Another reason for me to enjoy this concert :-)))

Also interesting are the lyrics he recites before starting this song - they are also different.

Instead of

Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and Saint Paul
Give me Christ or give me Hiroshima
Destroy another fetus now
We don't like children anyhow
I've seen the future baby:
It is murder.

you will hear:

Gimme back the Berlin wall
Gimme Stalin and Saint Paul
Gimme Christ or gimme Hiroshima
Gimme back the Ozone Lair
with that little hole we can't repair
I've seen the future baby:
It is murder.

Yep, in 2007 we need 24 hour "Live Earth" concerts for what Cohen told us 1993 in 4 seconds ;-)

"When they said REPENT I wonder what they meant ..."

@ Bully (well,@ who else,really :)

I'll be darn if I get what does that (great) Queen song has to do with lil' ol' me,hehe...

"May take a bit time until you find it on your screen. :-) "

Well,better late than never,right? :))

"GREAT! (Was not aware it was already deleted)"

Unfortunately,it was,along with everything else Cohen's I've posted before.But everything will be up again soon.

"Did you notice that he had changed the lyrics of "The future"?"

I did,I love when he does such variations :) Really a great concert.It was probably incredible to be there...

"Yep, hehe, "Gimme back my secret-life ... there's no one left to torture"."

Glad that makes the song more enjoyable for you ;)) Wasn't aware of that version of a song when I took this nickname,LOL :)))

"Gimme back the Ozone Lair
with that little hole we can't repair"
"Yep,in 2007 we need 24 hour "Live Earth" concerts for what Cohen told us 1993 in 4 seconds ;-)"

I don't think that even those concerts will help,we won't stop until we destroy everything :( Outside is 50 degrees Celsius (and that's normal if you live in a desert,but we're talking Croatia) and whole day I've been cursing at us stupid humans who f***ed up the climate :)

OK,gone off-topic now :))

BTW.I just read again the interviews with Marianne and Cohen in which they talk about their relationship,the story is wonderful,especially when you know how beautiful is the song which came out of it :) So,if you haven't read them yet,here are the links:

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/marianne2006.html
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/leonard2006.html

Again,off-topic,but I hope you'll forgive me:)

@ secret-life

"@ Bully (well,@ who else,really :)"

Yep ... sometimes I also really wonder if I am the only AvaxHome user who owns a keyboard to type a comment :-/

"I'll be darn if I get what does that (great) Queen song has to do with lil' ol' me,hehe..."

You wrote "__we__ love you anyway"

Knowing exact how many users we have,I can tell you for sure that this would be tooooo much love:-))

"Well,better late than never,right? :))"

In fact I was a bit ashamed that both Avax and me really had forgotten to create such a category. So I created it at same moment I wrote my comment - but current software takes up to 1 day until such additions really show up.

"Unfortunately,it was,along with everything else Cohen's I've posted before.But everything will be up again soon."

Your publications where not only at AvaxHome. Some guy had published all your links (including your selfmade PDF) at other sites. Using our default password www.avaxhome.ws helps much against such guys publishing your links under their name ...

""Yep, hehe, "Gimme back my secret-life ... there's no one left to torture"."
Glad that makes the song more enjoyable for you ;)) "

Yes, hehe, somehow it does ;-))

"Wasn't aware of that version of a song when I took this nickname,LOL :)))"

But perhaps Cohen was aware 1993 that some day you might publish to all the word that he might be the "worst singer" :-)))

"I don't think that even those concerts will help,we won't stop until we destroy everything :( Outside is 50 degrees Celsius (and that's normal if you live in a desert,but we're talking Croatia) and whole day I've been cursing at us stupid humans who f***ed up the climate :)"

Not only at your place ... OK, I'm glad that we do not touch 50° at my place, but here it is also too hot and the weather is really going crazy.

"BTW.I just read again the interviews with Marianne ..."
"Again,off-topic,but I hope you'll forgive me:) "

TRhere is nothing offt opic. :-) Publishing links to the best source of information about Cohen cannot be off topic here. Yes, I also regular visit that site, but it is such large that it would take me over a year to really read everthing :-) But thanks for these specail links, I'll check them for sure.

@ Bully

"You wrote "__we__ love you anyway""

Oh,that's right,I did,now I get it :) I think the heat is messin' up my brain,lol...
And don't worry about too much love,I'm sure there are also plenty of people here who hate your guts,hehe,so it's kind of a compensation ;)))


"In fact I was a bit ashamed that both Avax and me really had forgotten to create such a category.So I created it at same moment I wrote my comment - but current software takes up to 1 day until such additions really show up."

Well,the poetry is being more and more forgotten,mostly because people just don't read poetry anymore,and also,there is so little of good poetry nowadays.Luckily,we always have Cohen :)

Glad you did add it after all :) I really thought I was missing it,I kept going through the category list several times thinking how you guys always think about everything :)))

"Your publications where not only at AvaxHome."

I know,I'm aware of that...It's nice when people share links around,I don't mind if they publish them under their own name,but then they do get deleted soon...I'll use the password in the future,I always forget to do so,but I'll try to remember :)

"But perhaps Cohen was aware 1993 that some day you might publish to all the word that he might be the "worst singer" :-)))"

That wouldn't surprise me very much,after all there are some people who think he's a god :))

BTW,I'm sure you know,when in 1992 Cohen received Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist,he said "Only in Canada could somebody with a voice like mine win 'Vocalist of the Year'." :)

"I also regular visit that site, but it is such large that it would take me over a year to really read everthing :-)"

I accidentally stumbled upon those articles,they are somehow berried under all other great stuff :),and it was quite a discovery,especially the interview with Marianne which is the only interview she ever gave.She sounds like an amazing woman who loved Cohen deeply.But he was always a ladies man,and she says she was so jealous and it was very painful for her,so that destroyed a lot of what they had...There is so much more to their relationship than "So Long,Marianne",there are many beautiful poems in "Flowers For Hitler",the book he dedicated to her...

Here's the one unpublished (this comment is getting too long,so I'll shut up :))

The Poetry Place (1967)

This is for you
it is my full heart
it is the book I meant to read you
when we were old
Now I am a shadow
I am restless as an empire
You are the woman
who released me
I saw you watching the moon
you did not hesitate
to love me with it
I saw you honoring the wind-flowers
caught in the rocks
you loved me with them
At night I saw you dance alone
on the small wet pebbles
of the shoreline
and you welcomed me into the circle
more than a guest
All this happened
in the truth of time
in the truth of flesh
I saw you with a child
you brought me to this perfume
and his visions
without demand of blood
On so many wooden tables
adorned with food and candles
a thousand sacraments
which you carried in your basket
I visited my clay
I visited my birth
and you guarded my back
as I became small
and frightened enough
to be born again
I wanted you for your beauty
and you gave me more than yourself
you shared your beauty
this I only learned tonight
as I recall the mirrors
you walked away from
after you had given them
whatever they claimed
for my initiation
Now I am a shadow
I long for the boundaries
of my wandering
and I move
with the energy of your prayer
and I move
in the direction of your prayer
for you are kneeling
like a bouquet
in a cave of a bone
behind my forehead
and I move toward a love
you have dreamed for me

....

@ secret-life

"And don't worry about too much love,I'm sure there are also plenty of people here who hate your guts,hehe,so it's kind of a compensation ;)))"

Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
Won't be nothing, nothing you can measure anymore
:-)

"Well,the poetry is being more and more forgotten,mostly because people just don't read poetry anymore,and also,there is so little of good poetry nowadays.Luckily,we always have Cohen :)"

Yes, true. The only "poetry" I (have to) read most days are the PMs of our users ... but as more I enjoy listening such songs when the day closes.

""But perhaps Cohen was aware 1993 that some day you might publish to all the word that he might be the "worst singer" :-)))"

That wouldn't surprise me very much,after all there are some people who think he's a god :))"

BTW, this chage is not listed at

http://perso.orange.fr/pilgraeme/the_future.htm

So I guess they count it only as a little mistake. ;-)

No, they for sure know the Zurich concert :-)

http://perso.orange.fr/pilgraeme/so_long_marianne.htm

clearly lists the additional intro words to "Marianne".

A bad guy could just say: "Marinanne" is more iomportant as "secret life" :-))

"BTW,I'm sure you know,when in 1992 Cohen received Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist,he said "Only in Canada could somebody with a voice like mine win 'Vocalist of the Year'." :)"

:-) Depends much on how you exact define "Vocalist" :-))

" ... especially the interview with Marianne which is the only interview she ever gave.She sounds like an amazing woman ..."

I know I should better keep my mouth shut :-) but I did read this interview with mixed feelings ... wondering if perhaps Cohen saw a bit too much in her. But I guess I should let them have their own private / secret life, let them decide themself what they feel and how they handle it. I mean, such texts are good to understand the roots behind some songs, but we shouldn't dig too deep into their privacy.

"... who loved Cohen deeply.But he was always a ladies man,and she says she was so jealous and it was very painful for her,so that destroyed a lot of what they had..."

Can't it be you are a bit biased here? :-) OK, then it's me who has to speak for Leonard:

>"There wasn’t a man that wasn’t interested in Marianne, there was no one that wasn’t interested in approaching that beauty and that generosity, because it wasn’t just that she was… she was a traditional Nordic beauty,..."<

This quote is from the link you gave here esterday,the interview with Cohen. :-)

"(this comment is getting too long,so I'll shut up :))"

We also have Private Messages at AvaxHome :-) With a limit of 10.000 chars. But as some people never answer PMs ;-) and it's time to bring back a bit of old comunnity feeling, I still hope one fine day some other user might join our talks.

@ Bully

"The only "poetry" I (have to) read most days are the PMs of our users"

Lucky you :))

"BTW, this chage is not listed at

http://perso.orange.fr/pilgraeme/the_future.htm"

I know,they probably think Cohen just got mixed up,lol

"A bad guy could just say: "Marinanne" is more iomportant as "secret life" :-))"

I don't see any bad guy around here.Do you? :))

":-) Depends much on how you exact define "Vocalist" :-))"

Good point :)))

"Can't it be you are a bit biased here? :-)"

Might be :)

"We also have Private Messages at AvaxHome :-) With a limit of 10.000 chars. But as some people never answer PMs ;-)"

Yes,I know we do :) But,as you said,SOME people (especially those named Bully ;) never get the time to answer them :)))

BTW,is taking the name Bully part of your strategy to cover up the fact that you're a nice guy ;)),or is there some other reason?:)

"I still hope one fine day some other user might join our talks"

Me too :)) Hope that fine day will come soon...

great !!! Lenny is my religion ... the lighthouse in my night !!!
Thanks a lot !!