Tis_Bearself
Patron
Eh, if I’m going to listen to secular songs referencing Calvary, I’ll take Richard Thompson’s “Calvary Cross” any day over this. Preferably Peter Laughner’s cover of it.
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tomarin
Guest
To my mind (and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me as people’s tastes differ and that’s fine) he was a great songwriter. Not perhaps the greatest singer. I am somewhat in awe of his ability to write songs with interesting lyrics (yet usually using spare language) and wish I could do that.
I think he got a lot of mileage out of Christian imagery (‘And the sun pours down like honey/ on our Lady of the Harbor’ from Suzanne for example): perhaps as a Jewish person from Montreal these images seemed powerful and exotic, something forbidden to him and not fully graspable. It’s quite usual for him to draw on such imagery to make a song sound more mysterious and profound, but I don’t think they meant much to him other than as literary devices.
I think he got a lot of mileage out of Christian imagery (‘And the sun pours down like honey/ on our Lady of the Harbor’ from Suzanne for example): perhaps as a Jewish person from Montreal these images seemed powerful and exotic, something forbidden to him and not fully graspable. It’s quite usual for him to draw on such imagery to make a song sound more mysterious and profound, but I don’t think they meant much to him other than as literary devices.
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Phemie
Guest
I only saw a few episodes of “Scrubs” and didn’t see that one. When I heard that “Hallelujah” was in “Shrek” I though there must be another song with the same name because I really couldn’t imagine Cohen’s song in a children’s movie — even with that verse removed. I really can’t fathom what they were thinking when they made that choice.Phemie:
Which was a really weird choice of a song to put in a children’s movie.
I did, however, like when they used it in Scrubs.
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tomarin
Guest
Mike Meyers - sticking up for fellow Canadians?
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Phemie
Guest
There were others he could have opted for.
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tomarin
Guest
Oh yeah - Crash Test Dummies.
I have been there, and assisted at Holy Mass at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. I made it a point to go there, precisely because of that song.
It was a brilliant marketing move, and I am saddened that it didn’t work.
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davidharper
Guest
you don’t know what you’re talking about. The song is great. I suspect he finds most of your stuff more depressing, overdramatic, and boring than you do his.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
I suspect he doesn’t find my stuff to be any which way, as I haven’t released any records and he’s been deceased for years and presumably is preoccupied with matters other than whether I like his music.
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Phemie
Guest
I was thinking more of Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Daniel Lanois, Gary Fjellgaard, (though he’s a bit too country for that movie, I s’pose)/
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Phemie
Guest
I haven’t done more than drive through Montreal in decades (and more often than not we take the 30 and bypass it altogether) but last time I was there I attended Mass at Notre Dame Basilica. Now I see I have another “must go to” place to add to my list.
I flew up to Burlington one long weekend on a whim (had a non-refundable ticket and had to use it to go somewhere), rented a car, drove to Montreal, and stayed in a CDN$28-a-night flophouse on rue Saint-Hubert (as in the poutine gravy brand) that a friend had led me to believe was a respectable hotel. A Cohenesque experience if ever there was one.HomeschoolDad:
I haven’t done more than drive through Montreal in decades (and more often than not we take the 30 and bypass it altogether) but last time I was there I attended Mass at Notre Dame Basilica. Now I see I have another “must go to” place to add to my list.
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Phemie
Guest
If you’re going anywhere solo and want cheap accommodations, it’s worth having a membership in Hostels International. Their hostels are usually not very expensive, clean, and comfy. You also meet lots of interesting people.Phemie:
I flew up to Burlington one long weekend on a whim (had a non-refundable ticket and had to use it to go somewhere), rented a car, drove to Montreal, and stayed in a CDN$28-a-night flophouse on rue Saint-Hubert (as in the poutine gravy brand) that a friend had led me to believe was a respectable hotel. A Cohenesque experience if ever there was one.HomeschoolDad:
I haven’t done more than drive through Montreal in decades (and more often than not we take the 30 and bypass it altogether) but last time I was there I attended Mass at Notre Dame Basilica. Now I see I have another “must go to” place to add to my list.
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CelticWarlord
Guest
I love that song, pretty much the only one by Cohen that I will listen to. I’ll echo what some of the others have said in adding that I’ve read enough about him that I’m confident he meant absolutely no disrespect to anyone’s faith. His whole persona, voice, and delivery, not to mention the lyrics, reflect a view of life as it is for many; filled with adversity, betrayal, and brutal dishonesty.
CF_Mathews
Patron
Cohen performed that song years later and changed that line about the Sacred Heart. I think he said something like “precious heart.” So he appears to have gotten a conscience over it and changed it.
He has influenced me tremendously. He also foresaw everything that is now happening in the world. And he occasionally made pro-life statements in his music, which for his arena, was quite risky. This is not a recommendation, because there is sufficient concerning content. He is not for the faint-hearted-proceed with prayer, if you give him a listen. As another songwriter said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls."
I’m happy I saw him on “The Future” tour in NYC. But I basically don’t listen to him anymore because I am trying to detach from all that is corrupt of the world. However, I will hold him forever very dearly in my heart. I should get the plenary for him. I do believe he was saved (that is due to a sign I received).
Dear Lord, we pray for Leonard Cohen’s soul and his children. Amen.
He has influenced me tremendously. He also foresaw everything that is now happening in the world. And he occasionally made pro-life statements in his music, which for his arena, was quite risky. This is not a recommendation, because there is sufficient concerning content. He is not for the faint-hearted-proceed with prayer, if you give him a listen. As another songwriter said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls."
I’m happy I saw him on “The Future” tour in NYC. But I basically don’t listen to him anymore because I am trying to detach from all that is corrupt of the world. However, I will hold him forever very dearly in my heart. I should get the plenary for him. I do believe he was saved (that is due to a sign I received).
Dear Lord, we pray for Leonard Cohen’s soul and his children. Amen.
I certainly hope he was. As close as he seemed to be to Jesus, if he was asked at the last second of his life if he accepted Jesus — that last moment to which Sister Faustina refers — I have every confidence he would have said “yes”.
I saw him in concert at George Washington University in DC in 1993. He was very witty and able to poke fun at himself.
CF_Mathews
Patron
I prayed for him agonizingly in the years before his passing because I knew he was getting up there. I believe too, in St. Faustina’s words on this. I feel he had a good heart.
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Irishmom2
Guest
I cannot understand why everyone loves that Hallelujah song. i just don’t get the appeal.
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Phemie
Guest
It’s far from my favourite.
THIS is one of my favourite Cohen songs, especially done by this group.
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jofa
Guest
Suzanne is probably my favorite song of Cohen’s.
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