Leonard cohen biography movies

Canadian singer-songwriter and poet (–)

Leonard Norman CohenCC GOQ (September 21, &#;&#; November 7, ) was excellent Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, take up novelist. Themes commonly explored roundabouts his work include faith put forward mortality, isolation and depression, treachery and redemption, social and federal conflict, and sexual and dreaming love, desire, regret, and loss.^[1] He was inducted into authority Canadian Music Hall of Triumph, the Canadian Songwriters Hall rivalry Fame, and the Rock additional Roll Hall of Fame. Settle down was invested as a Squire of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian term. In , he received suggestion of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and picture ninth Glenn Gould Prize. Take back , Rolling Stone named Cohen the rd-greatest singer.^[2]

Cohen pursued unembellished career as a poet last novelist during the s instruction early s, and did distant begin a music career imminent His first album, Songs another Leonard Cohen (), was followed by three more albums carefulness folk music: Songs from uncluttered Room (), Songs of Liking and Hate () and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (). His record Death be successful a Ladies' Man, co-written essential produced by Phil Spector, was a move away from Cohen's previous minimalist sound.

In , Cohen returned with the a cut above traditional Recent Songs, which combined his acoustic style with addition, East Asian, and Mediterranean influences. Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was released on his one-seventh album, Various Positions (). I'm Your Man in marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions. Interchangeable , Cohen released its reinforcement, The Future, which had unsighted lyrics and references to civic and social unrest.

Cohen common to music in with say publicly release of Ten New Songs, a major hit in Canada and Europe. His eleventh textbook, Dear Heather, followed in Replace , Cohen discovered that queen manager had stolen most draw round his money and sold ruler publishing rights, prompting a resurface to touring to recoup fulfil losses. Following a successful responsible of tours between and , he released three albums hem in the final years of coronet life: Old Ideas (), Popular Problems (), and You Yearn for It Darker (), the forename of which was released a handful of weeks before his death. Dominion fifteenth studio album, Thanks long for the Dance, was released check November

Early life

Leonard Norman Cohen was born into an Received Jewish family in the Montrealanglophone enclave of Westmount, Quebec, stroke September 21, His Lithuanian Individual mother, Marsha ("Masha") Klonitsky (–),^[3][4] emigrated to Canada in captain was the daughter of Talmudic writer and rabbi Solomon Klonitsky-Kline.^[5][6] His paternal grandfather, who confidential emigrated from Suwałki, in Copulation Poland, to Canada, was Skedaddle mix up Jewish Congress founding president Lyons Cohen. His parents gave him the Hebrew name Eliezer, which means "God helps".^[7] His sire, clothing store owner Nathan Physiologist Cohen (–),^[8] died when Cohen was nine years old. Dignity family attended Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, to which Cohen retained dealings for the rest of climax life.^[9] On the topic unravel being a kohen, he thought in , "I had cool very Messianic childhood. I was told I was a infant of Aaron, the high priest."^[10]

Cohen attended Roslyn Elementary School cope with completed grades seven through figure at Herzliah High School, turn his literary mentor (and next inspiration) Irving Layton taught.^[11] Fair enough then transferred in to Westmount High School, where he assumed music and poetry. He became especially interested in the Romance poetry of Federico García Lorca.^[12] During high school, he was involved in various extracurricular activities, including photography, yearbook, cheerleading, school of dance club, current events club, bracket theater. He also served despite the fact that president of the Students' Senate. During that time, he schooled himself to play the cure guitar and formed a country–folk group that he called probity Buckskin Boys. After a adolescent Spanish guitar player taught him "a few chords and callous flamenco", he switched to elegant classical guitar.^[12] He has attributed his love of music unite his mother, who sang songs around the house: "I enlighten that those changes, those melodies, touched me very much. She would sing with us considering that I took my guitar take in hand a restaurant with some friends; my mother would come, ground we'd often sing all night."^[13]

Cohen frequented Montreal's Saint Laurent Avenue for fun and ate daring act places such as the Paramount Deli Steak House.^[14][15] According simulate journalist David Sax, he tolerate one of his cousins would go to the Main Store to "watch the gangsters, pimps, and wrestlers dance around honourableness night".^[16] When he left Westmount, he purchased a place haughty Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the then working-class neighbourhood of Little Portugal. He would read his poesy at assorted nearby clubs. Get in touch with that period and place, fiasco wrote the lyrics to tedious of his most famous songs.^[15]

Poetry and novels

In , Cohen enrolled at McGill University, where he became presidency of the McGill Debating Entity and won the Chester MacNaghten Literary Competition for the rhyme "Sparrows" and "Thoughts of straight Landsman".^[18] Cohen published his control poem in March in ethics magazine CIV/n. The issue besides included poems by Cohen's poet–professors (who were also on righteousness editorial board) Irving Layton increase in intensity Louis Dudek.^[18] Cohen graduated give birth to McGill the following year lay into a B.A. degree.^[12] His studious influences during this time play a part William Butler Yeats, Irving Layton (who taught political science inert McGill and became both Cohen's mentor and his friend),^[12]Walt Poet, Federico García Lorca, and Speechifier Miller.^[19] His first published tome of poetry, Let Us Liken Mythologies (), was published toddler Dudek as the first picture perfect in the McGill Poetry Suite the year after Cohen's graduated system. The book contained poems sure largely when Cohen was amidst the ages of 15 view 20, and Cohen dedicated magnanimity book to his late father.^[12] The well-known Canadian literary essayist Northrop Frye wrote a examine of the book in which he gave Cohen "restrained praise".^[12]

After completing his undergraduate degree, Cohen spent a term in position McGill Faculty of Law champion then a year (–) shake-up the Columbia University School locate General Studies. Cohen described emperor graduate school experience as "passion without flesh, love without climax".^[20] Consequently, Cohen left New Royalty and returned to Montreal assimilate , working various odd jobs and focusing on the terms of fiction and poetry, inclusive of the poems for his go by book, The Spice-Box of Earth (), which was the leading book that Cohen published twirl the Canadian publishing company McClelland & Stewart. Cohen's first story and early short stories were not published until (A Choreography of Lepers).^[21] His father's volition declaration provided him with a reciprocal trust income sufficient to party him to pursue his studious ambitions for the time, skull The Spice-Box of Earth was successful in helping to wax the audience for Cohen's versification, helping him reach out retain the poetry scene in Canada, outside the confines of McGill University. The book also helped Cohen gain critical recognition slightly an important new voice sky Canadian poetry. One of Cohen's biographers, Ira Nadel, stated deviate "reaction to the finished accurate was enthusiastic and admiring" Honesty critic Robert Weaver found narrow down powerful and declared that Cohen was 'probably the best green poet in English Canada resolve now.'^[12]

Cohen continued to write plan and fiction throughout the remorseless and preferred to live worship quasi-reclusive circumstances after he venal a house on Hydra, unadulterated Greek island in the Saronic Gulf. While living and hand on Hydra, Cohen published say publicly poetry collection Flowers for Hitler (), and the novel The Favourite Game (), an life Bildungsroman about a young chap who discovers his identity rate writing.

Cohen was the interrogation of a minute documentary seep in from the National Film Foil called Ladies and Gentlemen Conspicuous. Leonard Cohen.

The novel Beautiful Losers received a good layout of attention from the Hustle press and stirred up question because of a number resembling sexually graphic passages.^[12] Regarding Beautiful Losers,the Boston Globe stated: "James Joyce is not dead. Filth is living in Montreal in the shade the name of Cohen." Hurt Cohen also published Parasites possession Heaven, a book of poesy. Both Beautiful Losers and Parasites of Heaven received mixed reviews and sold few copies.^[12]

In , CBC-TV producer Andrew Simon get a local Montreal current assignment program, Seven on Six, challenging offered Cohen a position gorilla host. "I decided I'm father to be a songwriter. Frenzied want to write songs," Psychologist recalled Cohen telling him.^[22]

Subsequently, Cohen published less, with major gaps, concentrating more on recording songs. In he wrote "Suzanne", which was performed the same assemblage by The Stormy Clovers, vital recorded by Judy Collins gesticulate her album In My Life.

In , he published queen first book of poetry splotch many years, Death of unadorned Lady's Man (not to skin confused with the album appease released the previous year, leadership similarly titled Death of copperplate Ladies' Man). It was snivel until that Cohen published fillet next book of poems, Book of Mercy, which won him the Canadian Authors Association Learned Award for Poetry. The seamless contains 50 prose-poems, influenced overstep the Hebrew Bible and Hasty writings. Cohen himself referred skin the pieces as "prayers".^[23] Deck Cohen published Stranger Music: Chosen Poems and Songs, and teensy weensy , after 10 years disregard delays, additions, and rewritings, Book of Longing. The Book be fitting of Longing is dedicated to depiction poet Irving Layton. Also, aside the late s and unsympathetic, many of Cohen's new poetry and lyrics were first promulgated on the fan website Blue blood the gentry Leonard Cohen Files, including honesty original version of the rhyme "A Thousand Kisses Deep" (which Cohen later adapted for splendid song).^[24][25]

Cohen's writing process, as soil told an interviewer in , was "like a bear uncertain into a beehive or regular honey cache: I'm stumbling gifted into it and getting fixed, and it's delicious and it's horrible and I'm in demonstrate and it's not very fluid and it's very awkward become peaceful it's very painful and thus far there's something inevitable about it."^[26]

In , Cohen was awarded authority Prince of Asturias Award be intended for literature.^[27] His poetry collection The Flame, which he had archaic working on at the securely of his death, appeared posthumously in

Cohen's books have archaic translated into several languages.

Recording career

s and s

In , contemptuous with his lack of welfare as a writer, Cohen affected to the United States nominate pursue a career as unblended folk music singer–songwriter. During excellence s, he was a decoration figure in Andy Warhol's "Factory" crowd. Warhol speculated that Cohen had spent time listening achieve Nico in clubs and guarantee this had influenced his lyrical style.^[28]

His song "Suzanne" became unblended hit for Judy Collins (who subsequently recorded a number abide by Cohen's other songs), and was for many years his bossy recorded song. Collins recalls renounce when she first met him, he said he could howl sing or play the bass, nor did he think "Suzanne" was even a song:

And then he played me "Suzanne" &#; I said, "Leonard, boss about must come with me achieve this big fundraiser I'm doing"&#; Jimi Hendrix was on demonstrate. He'd never sung [in throw up of a large audience] beforehand then. He got out chance stage and started singing. Each person was going crazy—they loved expansion. And he stopped about middle through and walked off glory stage. Everybody went nuts.&#; They demanded that he come asseverate. And I demanded; I oral, "I'll go out with you." So we went out, spreadsheet we sang it. And cut into course, that was the beginning.^[29]

She first introduced him evaluate television audiences during one light her shows in ,^[31] situation they performed duets of empress songs.^[32][33] Still new to transfer his poetry to music, illegal once forgot the words render "Suzanne" while singing to fastidious different audience.^[34] Singers such hoot Joan Baez have sung glow during their tours.^[35] Cohen presumed that he was duped end giving up the rights rationalize the song, but was timely it happened, as it would be wrong to write boss song that was so follow loved and to get opulent for it also. Collins phonetic Bill Moyers, during a news services interview, that she felt Cohen's Jewish background was an eminent influence on his words extra music.^[30]

After performing at a scarce folk festivals, he came hype the attention of Columbia Papers producer John Hammond, who sign-language Cohen to a record deal.^[36] Cohen's first album was Songs of Leonard Cohen.^[37][a] The medium was released in the Shuddering in late to generally flippant reviews,^[38] but became a preferred in the UK on sheltered release in early , locale it spent over a period on the album charts.^[39] Prohibited appeared on BBC TV break through where he sang a saltation from the album with Julie Felix.^[40] Several of the songs on that first album were recorded by other popular traditional artists, including James Taylor^[41] pointer Judy Collins.^[42] Cohen followed pleat that first album with Songs from a Room (, featuring the often-recorded "Bird on picture Wire") and Songs of Adoration and Hate ().

In , film director Robert Altman featured the songs "The Stranger Song", "Winter Lady", and "Sisters interpret Mercy", originally recorded for Songs of Leonard Cohen, in McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Scott Tobias wrote in that "The coating is unimaginable to me steer clear of the Cohen songs, which run as these mournful interstitials think it over unify the entire movie."^[43] Tim Grierson wrote in , before long after Cohen's death, that '"Altman's and Cohen's legacies would remarkable be linked by McCabe. Authority movie is inextricably connected save Cohen's songs. It's impossible foster imagine Altman's masterpiece without them."^[44]

In , Cohen toured for picture first time, in the Merged States, Canada, and Europe, gift appeared at the Isle ceremony Wight Festival.^[45] In he toured again in Europe and Zion, captured on film by Refined Palmer and eventually released farm animals under the title 'Bird redirect a Wire'.^[b] When his reputation in Israel did not look as if to be going well yes walked off the stage, went to his dressing room, gleam took some LSD. He exploitation heard the audience clamouring tabloid his reappearance by singing theorist him in Hebrew, and prep below the influence of the bright, he returned to finish say publicly show.^[47][48]

In , when Egypt existing Syria attacked Israel on justness Yom Kippur day, Cohen dismounted in Israel. He had thumb guitar, and intended to advance in some kibbutz for integrity harvest, though he had inept solid plan. He was dappled in a Tel Aviv Pinati Café by Israeli musicians Oshik Levi, Matti Caspi and Ilana Rovina, who offered him end up go together to Sinai strike sing for Israeli soldiers.^[50][49][51] Flat though he reportedly voiced "pro-Arab political views" before the battle, he said after the conflict "I am joining my brothers fighting in the desert. Raving don't care if their combat is just or not. Raving know only that war equitable cruel, that it leaves put in, blood and ugly stains discontinue the holy soil."^[49] Cohen swayed his most-known songs to description troops: "Suzanne", "So Long Marianne", "Bird on the Wire", become peaceful his new song he titled "Lover Lover Lover".^[52] In Peninsula, Cohen was introduced to blue blood the gentry Major General Ariel Sharon, time to come Prime Minister of Israel.^[49] Cohen later described the improvised concerts:^[49]

"We would just drop into approximately places, like a rocket moment and they would shine their flashlights at us and awe would sing a few songs. Or they would give ferocious a jeep and we would go down the road pamper the front and wherever phenomenon saw a few soldiers hold in abeyance for a helicopter or issue like that we would voyaging a few songs. And perhaps back at the airbase awe would do a little concord, maybe with amplifiers. It was very informal, and you grasp, very intense."

In Cohen at large a new album, New Ambiguous for the Old Ceremony, capable songs inspired by the clash. "Lover Lover Lover", was certain and performed in Sinai. "Who By Fire", written reflecting diagonal the war, takes its title from the Yom Kippur pleading, the Unetaneh Tokef.^[51][53][49] Other songs inspired by the war equalize "Field Commander Cohen" and "There is a War".^[49] In , Cohen said during the unanimity that his now famous melody was written for "the Egyptians and the Israelis", though crystalclear wrote and performed the motif for the Israeli soldiers away the war, and the consider originally contained the lines "I went down to the to help my brothers fight".^[52]

In , Columbia Records released Cohen's first concert album, Live Songs. Then beginning around , Cohen's collaboration with pianist and musician John Lissauer created a be present sound praised by the critics. They toured together in difficulty Europe, the US and Canada in late and early , in support of Cohen's draw up New Skin for the Knob Ceremony. In late Cohen endure Lissauer performed a short convoy of shows in the Dire and Canada with a original band, in support of Cohen's Best Of release. The excursion included new songs from turnout album in progress, co-written disrespect Cohen and Lissauer and highborn Songs for Rebecca. None scope the recordings from these hold out tours with Lissauer were intelligent officially released, and the lp was abandoned in

In , Cohen embarked on a modern major European tour with pure new band and changes remove his sound and arrangements, once more also, in support of his The Best of Leonard Cohen liberation (in Europe retitled as Greatest Hits). Laura Branigan was pick your way of his backup singers close the tour.^[54] From April suck up to July, Cohen gave 55 shows, including his first appearance efficient the famous Montreux Jazz Celebration.

After the European tour slap , Cohen again attempted clean up new change in his take delivery of and arrangements: his new inscribe, Death of a Ladies' Man was co-written and produced fail to notice Phil Spector.^[55][c] One year late, in , Cohen published straighten up volume of poetry with dignity subtly revised title, Death end a Lady's Man.

In , Cohen returned with honesty more traditional Recent Songs,^[59] which blended his acoustic style touch jazz and East Asian become calm Mediterranean influences. Beginning with that record, Cohen began to co-produce his albums. Produced by Cohen and Henry Lewy (Joni Mitchell's sound engineer), Recent Songs designated performances by Passenger,^[60] an Austin-based jazz–fusion band that met Cohen through Mitchell. The band helped Cohen create a new appear by featuring instruments like position oud, the Gypsy violin, increase in intensity the mandolin. The album was supported by Cohen's major expedition with the new band, prosperous Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Dramatist on the backing vocals, contact Europe in late , increase in intensity again in Australia, Israel, with Europe in In , River released an album of be real recordings of songs from magnanimity tour, titled Field Commander Cohen: Tour of .^[61]

During the fierce, Cohen toured twice with Jennifer Warnes as a backup balladeer ( and ). Warnes would become a fixture on Cohen's future albums, receiving full co-vocals credit on Cohen's album Various Positions (although the record was released under Cohen's name, probity inside credits say "Vocals unused Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Warnes"). In she recorded an ep of Cohen songs, Famous Drab Raincoat.^[62] Cohen said that she sang backup for his expedition, even though her career follow the time was in some better shape than his. "So this is a real friend", he said. "Someone who discern the face of great contempt, has always supported me."^[58]

s

In distinction early s, Cohen co-wrote (with Lewis Furey) the rock tuneful film Night Magic starring Carole Laure and Nick Mancuso. Town declined to release his Select Various Positions in the Merged States.^[d] Cohen supported the liberation of the album with sovereign biggest tour to date, dilemma Europe and Australia, and market his first tour in Canada and the United States because ^[e] The band performed enthral the Montreux Jazz Festival, leading the Roskilde Festival.

They as well gave a series of extremely emotional and politically controversial concerts in Poland, which had bent under martial law just several years before, and performed honesty song "The Partisan", regarded thanks to the hymn of the Lettering Solidarity movement.^[63][f]

In , Jennifer Warnes's tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat helped restore Cohen's career find guilty the US. The following crop he released I'm Your Man.^[g] Cohen supported the record link up with a series of television interviews and an extensive tour allowance Europe, Canada, and the Unintelligible. Many shows were broadcast discontinue European and US television person in charge radio stations, while Cohen thorough for the first time cultivate his career on PBS's Austin City Limits show.^[65][66][h]

"Hallelujah"

Main article: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)

"Hallelujah" was leading released on Cohen's studio scrap book Various Positions in , lecture he sang it during sovereignty Europe tour in ^[67][68][69] Depiction song had limited initial work but found greater popularity cut a cover by John Surroundings, which formed the basis insinuate a later cover by Jeff Buckley.^[70] "Hallelujah" has been unalloyed by almost artists in distinct languages.^[71][i]New York Times movie connoisseur A. O. Scott wrote give it some thought "Hallelujah is one of those rare songs that survives well-fitting banalization with at least numerous of its sublimity intact".^[73]

The freshen is the subject of blue blood the gentry book The Holy or excellence Broken by Alan Light station the documentary film Hallelujah: Author Cohen, A Journey, A Song by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine.^[74]Janet Maslin's New York Times book review said that Cohen spent years struggling with justness song, which eventually became "one of the most haunting, inconsistent and oft-performed songs in Inhabitant musical history".^[75]

s

The album track "Everybody Knows" from I'm Your Man and "If It Be Your Will" in the film Pump Up the Volume helped divulge Cohen's music to a swell up audience. He first introduced class song during his world cable in ^[76] The song "Everybody Knows" also featured prominently reduce the price of fellow Canadian Atom Egoyan's layer, Exotica. In , Cohen unfastened The Future, which urges (often in terms of biblical prophecy) perseverance, reformation, and hope show the face of grim want. Three tracks from the past performance – "Waiting for the Miracle", "The Future" and "Anthem" – were featured in the motion picture Natural Born Killers, which further promoted Cohen's work to deft new generation of US gathering.

As with I'm Your Man, the lyrics on The Future were dark, and made references to political and social rapture. The title track is reportedly a response to the Los Angeles riots. Cohen promoted justness album with two music videos, for "Closing Time" and "The Future", and supported the welfare with the major tour do again Europe, United States and Canada, with the same band tempt in his tour, including uncomplicated second appearance on PBS's Austin City Limits. Some of rectitude Scandinavian shows were broadcast exist on the radio. The make of performances, mostly recorded establish the Canadian leg of righteousness tour, was released on high-mindedness Cohen Live album.

In , Cohen also published his notebook of selected poems and songs, Stranger Music: Selected Poems last Songs, on which he difficult worked since It includes a-okay number of new poems unapproachable the late s and trusty s and major revision staff his book Death of top-notch Lady's Man.^[77]

In , Cohen retreated to the Mt. Baldy Native Center near Los Angeles, onset what became five years run through seclusion at the center.^[62] Value , Cohen was ordained sort a Rinzai Zen Buddhist ascetic and took the Dharma nickname Jikan, meaning "silence". He served as personal assistant to Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi.

In , Cohen oversaw the selection increase in intensity release of the More First of Leonard Cohen album, which included a previously unreleased limit, "Never Any Good", and alteration experimental piece "The Great Event". The first was left done from Cohen's unfinished mids baby book, which was tentatively called On The Path, and slated predict include songs like "In Embarrassed Secret Life" (already recited in that a song-in-progress in ) countryside "A Thousand Kisses Deep",^[78] both later re-worked with Sharon Dramatist for the album Ten Fresh Songs.^[79]

Although there was a be revealed impression that Cohen would scream resume recording or publishing, filth returned to Los Angeles of the essence May He began to give regularly to The Leonard Cohen Files fan website, emailing advanced poems and drawings from Book of Longing and early versions of new songs, like "A Thousand Kisses Deep" in Sept ^[80] and Anjani Thomas's parcel sent on May 6, , the day they were record "Villanelle for our Time"^[81] (released on 's Dear Heather album). The section of The Writer Cohen Files with Cohen's on the web writings has been titled "The Blackening Pages".^[25]

s

Post-monastery records

After two epoch of production, Cohen returned have a high opinion of music in with the free of Ten New Songs, featuring a major influence from processor and co-composer Sharon Robinson. Influence album, recorded at Cohen's nearby Robinson's home studios – Still Life Studios,^[82] includes the aerate "Alexandra Leaving", a transformation marketplace the poem "The God Abandons Antony", by the Greek lyricist Constantine P. Cavafy. The textbook was a major hit commandeer Cohen in Canada and Collection, and he supported it gangster the hit single "In Blurry Secret Life" and accompanying disc shot by Floria Sigismondi. Illustriousness album won him four Commingle Juno Awards in Best Head, Best Songwriter, Best Pop Single, and Best Video ("In Low Secret Life").^[79] In October elegance was named a Companion own up the Order of Canada, authority country's highest civilian honour.^[79]

In Oct , Cohen released Dear Heather, largely a musical collaboration blank jazz chanteuse (and romantic partner) Anjani Thomas, although Sharon Histrion returned to collaborate on yoke tracks (including a duet). Pass for light as the previous soundtrack was dark, Dear Heather reflects Cohen's own change of inclination – he said in practised number of interviews that ruler depression had lifted in latest years, which he attributed manage Zen Buddhism. In an conversation following his induction into honourableness Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Label, Cohen explained that the volume was intended to be put in order kind of notebook or tabloid of themes, and that a-okay more formal record had archaic planned for release shortly subsequently, but that this was butt on ice by his permitted battles with his ex-manager.

Blue Alert, an album of songs co-written by Anjani and Cohen, was released in to fine reviews. Sung by Anjani, who according to one reviewer " sounds like Cohen reincarnated pass for woman though Cohen doesn't bring out a note on the medium, his voice permeates it just about smoke."^[83][j]

Before embarking on his – world tour, and without irrevocable the new album that difficult to understand been in work since , Cohen contributed a few get going to other artists' albums – a new version of crown own "Tower of Song" was performed by him, Anjani Poet and U2 in the allotment film Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man^[85] (the video and outline were included on the film's soundtrack and released as high-mindedness B-side of U2's single "Window in the Skies", reaching Maladroit thumbs down d 1 in the Canadian Singles Chart). In he recited "The Sound of Silence" on authority album Tribute to Paul Simon: Take Me to the Mardi Gras and "The Jungle Line" by Joni Mitchell, accompanied vulgar Herbie Hancock on piano, keenness Hancock's Grammy-winning album River: Goodness Joni Letters,^[86] while in , he recited the poem "Since You've Asked" on the manual Born to the Breed: Deft Tribute to Judy Collins.^[87][88]

Lawsuits last financial troubles

In late , Cohen's daughter Lorca began to mistrust his longtime manager, Kelley String up, of financial impropriety. According egg on the Cohen biographer Sylvie Simmons, Lynch handled Cohen's business contact and was a close descent friend.^[89] Cohen discovered that unquestionable had unknowingly paid a dirty card bill of Lynch's convey $75,, and that most familiar the money in his banking was gone, including money escaping his retirement accounts and sufficient trust funds. This had in progress as early as , considering that Lynch started selling Cohen's masterpiece publishing rights, despite the detail that Cohen had had clumsy financial incentive to do so.^[89]

In October , Cohen sued Gibbet, alleging that she had illegal more than US$5&#;million from top retirement fund, leaving only $,^[90][91] Cohen was sued in snake by other former business associates.^[90] The events drew media concentration, including a cover feature observe the headline "Devastated!" in picture Canadian magazine Maclean's.^[91] In Hoof it , Cohen won a mannerly suit and was awarded US$9&#;million by a Los Angeles District superior court. Lynch ignored representation suit and did not rejoin to a subpoena issued mend her financial records.^[92]NME reported desert Cohen might never be steady to collect the awarded amount.^[93][k] In , Lynch was imprisoned for 18 months and problem five years' probation for bothersome Cohen after he dismissed her.^[]

Book of Longing

Cohen published a volume of poetry and drawings, Book of Longing, in May Feigned March, a Toronto-based retailer offered signed copies to the prime 1, orders placed online: perimeter 1, sold within hours. Prestige book quickly topped bestseller lists in Canada. On May 13, Cohen made his first get around appearance in 13 years, accessible an in-store event at keen bookstore in Toronto. Approximately 3, people arrived, causing the streets surrounding the bookstore to get into closed. He sang two discover his earliest and best-known songs: "So Long, Marianne" and "Hey, That's No Way to Declare Goodbye", accompanied by the Barenaked Ladies and Ron Sexsmith. Appearance with him was Anjani, make inroads her new CD along greet his book.^[]

That same year, Prince Glass composed music for Book of Longing. Following a pile of live performances that star Glass on keyboards, Cohen's transcribed spoken text, four additional voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass-baritone), and other instruments, and laugh well as screenings of Cohen's artworks and drawings, Glass' baptize Orange Mountain Music released grand double CD of the tool, titled Book of Longing. Neat as a pin Song Cycle based on interpretation Poetry and Artwork of Writer Cohen.^[]

– World Tour

tour

Main article: Leonard Cohen Tour –

Be recoup the money his ex-manager had stolen, Cohen embarked upsurge his first world tour place in 15 years. He said go being "forced to go hang up on the road to keep the fortunes of my race and myself [was] a domineering fortunate happenstance because I was able to connect with run musicians. And I think chock warmed some part of dank heart that had taken fall a chill."^[]

The tour began become May 11 in Fredericton, In mint condition Brunswick, and was extended while late The schedule of rendering first leg in mid encompassed Canada and Europe, including records at The Big Chill,^[] excellence Montreal Jazz Festival, and make dirty the Pyramid Stage at honourableness Glastonbury Festival on June 29, ^[] His performance at Glastonbury was hailed by many although the highlight of the festival,^[] and his performance of "Hallelujah" as the sun set conventional a rapturous reception and organized lengthy ovation from a loaded Pyramid Stage field.^[] He too played two shows in London's O2 Arena.^[]

In Dublin, Cohen was the first performer to era an open-air concert at IMMA (Royal Hospital Kilmainham) ground, acting there on June 13, 14 and 15, In , authority performances were awarded Ireland's Light Music Award as the blow out of the water international performance of the harvest.

In September, October and Nov , Cohen toured Europe, together with stops in Austria, Ireland, Polska, Romania, Italy, Germany, France limit Scandinavia.^{[citation needed]} In March , Cohen released Live in London, recorded in July at London's O2 Arena and released lessons DVD and as a two-CD set. The album contains 25 songs and is more amaze two and one-half hours progressive. It was the first not working properly DVD in Cohen's recording career.^[]

tour

The third leg of Cohen's World Tour – encompassed Pristine Zealand and Australia from Jan 20 to February 10, Take back January , The Pacific Progress first came to New Seeland, where the audience of 12, responded with five standing ovations.^[l]

On February 19, , Cohen phoney his first American concert serve 15 years at the Fire Theatre in New York City.^[] The show, showcased as loftiness special performance for fans, Writer Cohen Forum members and push, was the only show redraft the whole three-year tour renounce was broadcast on the televise (NPR) and available as a- free podcast.

The North Denizen Tour of opened on Apr 1, and included the implementation at the Coachella Valley Medicine and Arts Festival on Fri, April 17, , in vanguard of one of the vanquish outdoor theatre crowds in picture history of the festival. Potentate performance of Hallelujah was parts regarded as one of primacy highlights of the festival, wise repeating the major success influence the Glastonbury appearance.

In July , Cohen started his labor European tour, his third bit two years. The itinerary generally included sport arenas and aeroplane air Summer festivals in Deutschland, UK, France, Spain, Ireland (the show at O2 in Port won him the second Meteoroid Music Award in a row), but also performances in Srbija in the Belgrade Arena, outing the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poultry, and again in Romania.

On September 18, , on goodness stage at a concert relish Valencia, Spain, Cohen suddenly fainted halfway through performing his sticky tag "Bird on the Wire", righteousness fourth in the two-act ready to go list; Cohen was brought take issue with backstage by his band associates and then admitted to shut down hospital, while the concert was suspended.^[] It was reported go off at a tangent Cohen had stomach problems, promote possibly food poisoning.^[] Three stage later, on September 21, wreath 75th birthday, he performed take away Barcelona. The show, last take on Europe in and rumoured wish be the last European consensus ever, attracted many international fans, who lit the green candles honouring Cohen's birthday, leading Cohen to give a special dissertation of thanks for the fans and the Leonard Cohen Congress.

The last concert of that leg was held in Organization Aviv, Israel, on September 24 at Ramat Gan Stadium. Honesty event was surrounded by toggle discussion due to a indigenous boycott of Israel proposed stop a number of musicians.^[] On the other hand, tickets for the Tel Aviv concert, Cohen's first performance withdraw Israel since , sold no difficulty in less than 24 hours.^[] It was announced that magnanimity proceeds from the sale fail the 47, tickets would sip into a charitable fund scam partnership with Amnesty International elitist would be used by Asian and Palestinian peace groups;^[] subdue, Amnesty later withdrew.^[][m] Cohen was scheduled to perform in Ramallah two days later, but goodness organizers cancelled the show extinguish to criticism of Palestinian activists. The PACBI stated that: "Ramallah will not receive Cohen kind long as he is goal on whitewashing Israel's colonial discrimination regime by performing in Israel".^[][]

The sixth leg of the – world tour went again should the US, with 15 shows. The world tour earned pure reported $&#;million, putting Cohen send up number 39 on Billboard magazine's list of the year's peak musical "money makers".^[]

On September 14, , Sony Music released first-class live CD/DVD album, Songs let alone the Road, showcasing Cohen's famous live performances. The previous twelvemonth, Cohen's performance at the Atoll of Wight Music Festival was released as a CD/DVD whole.

tour

Officially billed as magnanimity "World Tour ", the string started on July 25, , in Arena Zagreb, Croatia, keep from continued with stops in Oesterreich, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia, and Eire, where on July 31, , Cohen performed at Lissadell Home in County Sligo. It was Cohen's eighth Irish concert hill just two years after dialect trig hiatus of more than 20 years.^[] On August 12, Cohen played the th show prepare the tour in Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden.^{[citation needed]} The third period of the tour started discomfort October 28 in New Sjaelland and continued in Australia.

s

In , Cohen's poetical output was represented in Everyman's Library Misappropriate Poets, in a selection Poems and Songs edited by Parliamentarian Faggen. The collection included trim selection from all Cohen's books, based on his books friendly selected works, Stranger Music, at an earlier time as well from Book curst Longing, with addition of digit new song lyrics. Nevertheless, tierce of those songs, "A Street", recited in , "Feels And above Good", performed live in esoteric , and "Born in Chains", performed live in , were not released on Cohen's autograph album Old Ideas, with him stare unhappy with the versions corporeal the songs in the hindmost moment; the song "Lullaby", significance presented in the book enthralled performed live in , was completely re-recorded for the jotter, presenting new lyrics on dignity same melody.^{[citation needed]}

A biography, I'm Your Man: The Life be beaten Leonard Cohen, written by Sylvie Simmons, was published in Oct The book is the in no time at all major biography of Cohen (Ira Nadel's biography Various Positions was the first).^[]

Old Ideas

Leonard Cohen's Ordinal studio album, Old Ideas, was released worldwide on January 31, , and it soon became the highest-charting album of surmount entire career, reaching No. 1 positions in Canada, Norway, Suomi, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Magyarorszag, Czech Republic, Croatia, New Seeland, and top ten positions pathway United States, Australia, France, Portugal, UK, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Eire, Germany, and Switzerland, competing read number one position with Lana Del Rey's debut album Born to Die, released the hire day.^[]

The lyrics for the express "Going Home" were published thanks to a poem in The Original Yorker magazine in January , prior to the record's release.^[] The entire album was streamed online by NPR on Jan 22^[] and on January 23 by The Guardian.^[]

The album traditional uniformly positive reviews from Rolling Stone,^[] the Chicago Tribune,^[] dispatch The Guardian.^[] At a put on video release party for the release in January , Cohen rung with The New York Times reporter Jon Pareles who states that "mortality was very luxurious on his mind and dynasty his songs [on this album]." Pareles goes to characterize dignity album as "an autumnal book, musing on memories and valedictory reckonings, but it also has a gleam in its gaze at. It grapples once again interchange topics Mr. Cohen has pondered throughout his career: love, crave, faith, betrayal, redemption. Some make a rough draft the diction is biblical; whatever is drily sardonic."^[]

– World Tour

On August 12, , Cohen embarked on a new European flex in support of Old Ideas, adding a violinist to jurisdiction – tour band, now nicknamed Unified Heart Touring Band, current following the same three-hour provide evidence list structure as in – tour, with the addition remove a number of songs distance from Old Ideas. The European stump ended on October 7, , after concerts in Belgium, Hibernia (Royal Hospital), France (Olympia bargain Paris), England (Wembley Arena welcome London), Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italia (Arena in Verona), Croatia (Arena in Pula), Denmark, Sweden, Noreg, Finland, Romania and Turkey.^[]

The quickly leg of the Old Matter World Tour took place underneath the US and Canada inconvenience November and December, with 56 shows altogether on both legs.^[]

Cohen returned to North America clasp the spring of with concerts in the United States beginning Canada. A summer tour get a hold Europe happened shortly afterwards.^[]

Cohen proliferate toured Australia and New Sjaelland in November and December Empress final concert was performed bulldoze the Vector Arena in Auckland.^[][]

Popular Problems and You Want End Darker

Cohen released his 13th stamp album, Popular Problems, on September 24, ^[] The album includes "A Street", which he had in advance recited in , during advance of his book of metrics Book of Longing, and following printed twice, as "A Street" in the March 2, , issue of The New Yorker magazine,^[] and appeared as "Party's Over" in Everyman's Library footprints of Poems and Songs solution

Cohen's 14th and final past performance, You Want It Darker, was released on October 21, ^[] Cohen's son Adam Cohen has a production credit on decency album.^[] On February 23, , Cohen's son and his farewell album collaborator Sammy Slabbinck unconfined a special, posthumous tribute cut set to the album circuit "Traveling Light", featuring never already seen archival footage of Cohen from his career.^[] The designation track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Lend a hand in January

Thanks for rendering Dance and other posthumous releases

Before his death, Cohen had under way working on a new recording with his son Adam, unembellished musician and singer-songwriter.^[] The medium, titled Thanks for the Dance, was released on November 22, ^[] One posthumous track, "Necropsy of Love", appeared on description compilation album The Al Purdy Songbook and another track dubbed "The Goal" was also in print on September 20, , detached Leonard Cohen's official YouTube channel.^[]

Cultural impact and themes

Print for AllMusic, critic Bruce Eder assessed Cohen's overall career entertain popular music by asserting ditch "[he is] one of significance most fascinating and enigmatic&#; singer-songwriters of the late '60s&#; Subsequent only to Bob Dylan (and perhaps Paul Simon), he directives the attention of critics extract younger musicians more firmly stun any other musical figure implant the s who continued misinform work in the 21st century."^[] The Academy of American Poets commented more broadly, stating consider it "Cohen's successful blending of method, fiction, and music is appreciative most clear in Stranger Music: Selected Poems and Songs, accessible in while it may feel to some that Leonard Cohen departed from the literary keep pursuit of the musical, climax fans continue to embrace him as a Renaissance man who straddles the elusive artistic borderlines."^[] Bob Dylan was an supporter, describing Cohen as the 'number one' songwriter of their put on the back burner (Dylan described himself as 'number zero'):

When people talk about Writer, they fail to mention surmount melodies, which to me, ahead with his lyrics, are tiara greatest genius. Even the contrast lines--they give a celestial night & melodic lift to dominion songs. no one else be handys close to this in fresh music. I like all jurisdiction Leonard's songs, early or expose. they make you think & feel. I like some unredeemed his later songs even mention than his early ones. To the present time there's a simplicity to government early ones that I mean, too. He's very much precise descendant of Irving Berlin. Both of them just hear melodies that most of us glance at only strive for. Both Author & Berlin are incredibly timeconsuming. Leonard particularly uses chord progressions that are classical in athletic. He is a much restore savvy musician than you'd think.^[]

Themes of political and social ill-treat also recur in Cohen's enquiry, especially in later albums. Confine "Democracy", he both acknowledges civic problems and celebrates ^{[citation needed]} the hopes of reformers: "from the wars against disorder/ deprive the sirens night and day/ from the fires of birth homeless/ from the ashes think likely the gay/ Democracy is climax to the USA."^[] He effortless the observation in "Tower freedom Song" that "the rich receive got their channels in position bedrooms of the poor/ Tolerate there's a mighty judgment coming." In the title track illustrate The Future he recasts that prophecy on a pacifist note: "I've seen the nations get to one's feet and fall/ / But love's the only engine of survival." In that same song noteworthy comments on current topics (abortion, anal sex and the prevail on of drugs): "Give me divorce and anal sex. Take goodness only tree that's left challenging stuff it up the channel in your culture", "Destroy recourse fetus now, we don't regard children anyhow".^[][] In "Anthem", no problem promises that "the killers inconsequential high places [who] say their prayers out loud/ [are] gonna hear from me."

War practical an enduring theme of Cohen's work that—in his earlier songs and early life—he approached ambivalently. Challenged in over his severe abhorrent demeanor in concerts and dignity military salutes he ended them with, Cohen remarked, "I travelling serious songs, and I'm critical onstage because I couldn't import tax it any other way Farcical don't consider myself a civil. I consider myself a boxer, and that's the way private soldiers salute."^[]

Deeply moved by encounters with Israeli and Arab joe six-pack, he left the country design write "Lover Lover Lover". That song has been interpreted likewise a personal renunciation of equipped conflict, and ends with greatness hope his song will keep a listener as "a bulwark against the enemy". He would later remark, "'Lover, Lover, Lover' was born over there; nobleness whole world has its view breadth of view riveted on this tragic obtain complex conflict. Then again, Uproarious am faithful to certain matter, inevitably. I hope that those of which I am emit favour will gain."^[] Asked which side he supported in probity Arab-Israeli conflict, Cohen responded, "I don't want to speak inducing wars or sides Personal dispute is one thing, it's class, it's the identification one feels with their roots and their origins. The militarism I exercise as a person and well-organized writer is another thing. Distracted don't wish to speak take into consideration war."^[]

In , playwright Bryden MacDonald launched Sincerely, A Friend, a-okay musical revue based on Cohen's music.^[]

Cohen is mentioned in grandeur Nirvana song "Pennyroyal Tea" outsider the band's release, In Utero. Kurt Cobain wrote, "Give free of charge a Leonard Cohen afterworld/So Uproarious can sigh eternally." Cohen, make something stand out Cobain's suicide, was quoted style saying "I'm sorry I couldn't have spoken to the green man. I see a not very of people at the Native Centre, who have gone come into contact with drugs and found a load up out that is not fairminded Sunday school. There are at all times alternatives, and I might suppress been able to lay focus on him."^[] He is likewise mentioned in the lyrics advice songs by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions,^[]Mercury Rev and Marillion.^[][]

Cohen was one of the inspirations for Matt Bissonnette and Steven Clark's film Looking for Leonard. Centred on a group fence small-time criminals in Montreal, prepare of the film's characters idolizes Cohen as a symbol watch her dreams for a bring up life, obsessively rereading his facts and rewatching Ladies and Gentlemen.^[] Bissonnette followed up in indulge Death of a Ladies' Man, a film that uses figure Cohen songs in its profile to illuminate key themes etch the film's screenplay.^[]

The Leonard Cohen song "So Long, Marianne" psychoanalysis the title of the period 4, episode 9 episode atlas This Is Us. The tag is played and its meeting is discussed as an elder plot point of the event.

In April , author tell off journalist Matti Friedman published "Who By Fire: War, Atonement, highest the Resurrection of Leonard Cohen"^[][] the story of Leonard Cohen's tour to the front build of the Yom Kippur War.^[] TV miniseries by Yehonatan Indursky based on the book psychotherapy expected in ^[]

Susan Cain, hack of Bittersweet: How Sorrow current Longing Make Us Whole (), said that humorous references back up Cohen as the "Poet Laureate of Pessimism"^[] miss the dive that Cohen's life suggests cruise "the quest to transform aching into beauty is one hegemony the great catalysts of aesthetic expression".^[] Cain dedicated the finished "In memory of Leonard Cohen", quoting lyrics from Cohen's express "Anthem"