Monday, April 12, 2010

LIVE IN LONDON

"Who By Fire"

Leonard Cohen has a new live album and you probably won't like it. Nothing personal, most people won't. His voice sounds like a rusty gate, his lyrics are dark, his humor is rye, and he won't be winning American Idol anytime soon. He's hardly photogenic, and looks more like an old man in a bus station than a pop star. In his fedora and black suit, he looks all his seventy-four years, but he's finally stepping out after living like a hermit. He spent some time in a Zen Buddhist monastery and his songs reflect a thoughtfulness rare in modern pop music. Cohen is a poet and a songwriter, and he's written some amazing songs over the years. He gave this concert last year in London's O2 arena, backed by a crack band and some angelic background singers. Listen to the words.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve stood on the stage in London,” Cohen says between songs, “It was about 14 or 15 years ago, I was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream.”

"I'm Your Man"

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