- from "A Thousand Kisses Deep"

Cohen is 74 years old, but he has the charm and swagger of someone half his age. Perhaps this is in part due to his five years spent in seclusion as a Zen Buddhist monk, maybe it's that, with age, his baritone voice has deepened into a velvety growl. The poet, novelist, and songwriter is best known by generation X as the original writer of "Halleleuigh," the quintessential ballad of the early 90's, as sung by Jeff Buckley. At the concert, however, "Halleleuigh" only plays a small part in his collection of songs. "Chelsea Hotel No. 2," for example, is about Cohen's brief relationship with Janis Joplin, and the audience cheered after their favorite lines. "You told me again you preferred handsome men/but for me you would make an exception," and "you fixed yourself, you said, 'Well never mind/we are ugly but we have the music.'" And in the beginning of the song, when Cohen sings, "you were talking so brave and so sweet/giving me head on the unmade bed," such lyrics never seem crude, it's beautiful and it's sincere. It is a man who, over four decades into his career, must give a retrospective of his entire life's work in the span of a three hour show. And it is intense.

Accompanied by a full band - three backup singers, bassist/cellist, organ/keyboardist, guitar/steel guitarist, jack of all trades wind instrumentalist, and a classical guitarist imported straight from Barcelona - Cohen will take the stage again at Radio City tonight, May 17th. Tickets are still on sale. Check out The Music Slutor msg.com for pictures from last night's show. 

Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel No.2.mp3



Subscribe to PopSense via feed or email, or friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for free updates!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of article, view comments-