Born on September 21st 1934 in Quebec, Leonard Norman Cohen, coming from a Jewish family, would be known in just a few decades as a poet, writer, composer, musician, singer, showman, prophet and idol, who came a very long way from his first published poetry volume (1956) to stadiums filled with tens of thousands who are happy just to hear him sing and look at him perform. It was a long way, yet Cohen doesn't seem to be tired.
This mix of music, poetry and play, dealing with strong and intense themes such as love, sensuality, God, religios, loneliness, happiness, relationships, is world recognized as a style which is original, strong and influential. A way of creating and being that has brought to Leonard Cohen fame and some fortune, devoted fans of all ages and from all countries, several prestigious prizes and distinctions, several million albums sold.
From his very first album, "Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1967) this poet/musician was a strong and unique folk voice, a style which continued over his next two releases, Songs From a Room and Songs of Love and Hate, interesting and "telling it all" titles. These were good albums, were personal folk albums, it made Cohen a wellknown name for folk listeners. It was more than a good start, it was a very good one, as the music and the lyrics made an pleasant and sometimes briliant combination. Not bad for someone who played for himself, played because he felt the need to, not because he wanted to be a star. At the same time as being a musician, Cohen continued writing and publishing, both poetry and prose, with great succes, with volumes such as Flowers for Hitler, in 1964.
Over the 60s and 70s Leonard Cohen became a brand, a myth and a model, his shows were increasingly beautiful and very hard to imitate, impossible to copy, as they mixed poetry, music, religion and an almost suffocating and charismatic presence. With New Skin for the Old Ceremony and Death of a Ladies' Man, two of his most important recordings of the 70s, he kept on writing good lyrics and music, which by that time were marked by somewhat of a sadness. He worked together with artists such as Bob Dyland or Allen Ginsberg, the results were surprising for all.
Even if many composers and musicians of his generation didn't survive the 1970s, Leonard Cohen stepped into the 80s unchanged, making his music and writing his lines, not worrying about whether he was out of fashion, whether he would survive the changes and keep his fans. To much of everyone's surprise, not only he managed to remain popular, but his 1984 album, Various Positions, was a success. He kept on going and after the crazy 80s he was very much back in style, full force, as his music didn't seem to get old.
New fans and new generations began discovering him, and Cohen seized the opportunity to release another two albums, I'm Your Man (1988) and The Future (1992), which were considered by his admirers and by his critics some of his very best. If other artists didn't have the chance of reinventing themselves, Cohen kept his style and found enough force and freshness inside of it. Good music, good lyrics, a delicate, yet masculine and charismatic presence on stage, Leonard Cohen wanted to keep on writing and singing.
After 2000 Cohen released another three albums. Which were surprising. Fresh, in his unique style, not simply recycling old ideas but coming up with fresh new material. And just thinking that Cohen is nowadays 72 years old, and still singing and writing, sends a chill down the spine.
Leonard Cohen will be playing for the very first time live in Bucharest on September 21st 2008, during his new World Tour, and his fans will have the long awaited chance of seeing and hearing him. But not just his fans, as for this major event - in all likelyness a sold-out concert - is open for all. For those who know and love Cohen and for those who must discover him.
September 2008
