The first Leonard Cohen I heard was at the home of the son of my father's best friend, just going through his tape collection. He had dropped out of seminary and joined the army and then started a successful business. He seemed embarrassed to have the tapes around...they didn't fit in with his happy home and children, he probably thought. I was immediately hooked.
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Re: who introduced you?
Fri, November 4, 2005 - 2:37 PMMy first love. And although I am no longer in touch with him, my life in those moments is still tangible every time I hear Leonard. -
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Re: who introduced you?
Sat, November 5, 2005 - 11:19 AMWhat was it about Cohen that became so intertwined with your first romance?
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Re: who introduced you?
Fri, November 4, 2005 - 5:01 PMI was a big fan of his poetry and, of course, 'Beautiful Losers' in the 60's. Then along came 'Suzanne' and I creamed myself: not only was he the best poet in the universe, he was a genius songwriter too!
He's a fellow Canadian and a Buddhist (me, too) and writes lyrics that tear you up; and composes/ arranges music to go with the lyrics that is unnerringly and beautifully conceived.
I'm a fan till death removes me from this plane. -
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Re: who introduced you?
Sat, November 5, 2005 - 11:22 AMI heard Suzanne before I knew anything about Cohen himself. The college Catholic community was quite lefty, and they would have guitar masses with Suzanne a regular feature.
I know what you mean about having an affinity for Canadian artists...my grandfather was Canadian, so I also have a soft spot for Gordon Lightfoot and Robertson Davies.
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Re: who introduced you?
Mon, November 7, 2005 - 5:16 AMMy father introduced me to Leonard when I was a teenager. He was shocked that I liked him, and so was I. My father and I had very different musical taste :)
I suppose it was fortunate that I was brooding in my bedroom and just happened to hear my dad's music through the walls :)
I started collecting his music avidly after that. My father and I went to see him in concert in (I think 1993) SF.
Best live performance ever.
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Re: who introduced you?
Mon, November 7, 2005 - 8:03 AMA friend went to see him in the 80s and said he was wonderful, and that all the women were in love with him. -
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Re: who introduced you?
Mon, November 7, 2005 - 9:54 AMMy father introduced me to Cohen as well. I fondly remember him awkwardly plunking out the chords of "Suzanne" on our beat-up piano and singing out of tune.
Maybe that should be his new slogan: "Leaonard Cohen. Bringing fathers and sons together for 40 years." -
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Re: who introduced you?
Mon, November 7, 2005 - 11:44 AMMaybe it's time to sit down with my son and pull out some of the vinyl. I wonder what he'll make of our Mr. Cohen, at age 15. -
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Re: who introduced you?
Wed, November 9, 2005 - 3:41 AMMy friend Jonah, the kid who introduced me to The Velvet Underground, Sid Barrett, Frank Zappa, and psychadelics...he is the culprit. I'd love to give that boy a hug. As for all you Cohen fans, if you live in the Bay Area, and you see or hear me singing his songs on the bus or on Bart, please lend a voice. I'll even let you pick the song. =)
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Re: who introduced you?
Sun, February 5, 2006 - 10:50 PMI can't remember... But I know that by the age of fifteen I was already listening to him and totally obsessed with "The Master Song". I copied it on one side of a tape back to back to back... and listened to it for hours trying to figure out all the meanings and layers... I was just learning English at the time so some of it was difficult but I felt that cracking the code of that song would give me the secrets to love and relationships!
Paloma -
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Re: who introduced you?
Mon, February 6, 2006 - 3:01 PMI too loved the Master Song, both as a poem (I carried a collection of Cohen's poems around SF bars for a month staight, as I recall) and as music. What did you learn?
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