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| Leonard Cohen: 1936-2016 |
What's NOT to love? The Set-up
Among many other things, I love poets, philosophers, and musicians. I have a Pinterest board entitled Muses, Madmen, and Minstrels containing snippets about Van Morrison, Walt Whitman, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello, Mark Nepo, Robert Pirsig, and many whose keen observations of the human condition stir my soul.
By nature, I am primarily a rational, pragmatic person. My artistic side is often well-hidden. Poets, actors, painters, philosophers, singers, and dancers interest and amaze me. That is why I love "muses, madmen, and minstrels" among many other things.
Scan through the archives of PhilosFX and you will see that Leonard Cohen makes not infrequent appearances. So that explains how it came to pass that, flipping through the TV channels on a Notre Dame football bye weekend (Sat, Oct 20), I found something at the nexus of many things I love, something that made my jaw drop, my heart race, and my mind forget about everything else on my To Do list. Thank goodness I had the presence of mind to hit the Record button on my DVR.
Tower of Song
A Memorial Tribute Documentary
by Jack Bender
This moving documentary tribute to the life and loves of poet, artist, philosopher, monk, and performer Leonard Cohen was showing as a fundraiser on my local Public Broadcasting System (PBS) affiliate, Maryland Public TV (MPT). For those who may not recognize his name, Jack Bender, a producer and director, is known for Alias (2001), Lost (2004), and Game of Thrones (2011).
What's NOT to love? The Scene
I loved all of these aspects of this production:
- Leonard Cohen's autobiographical poems about pain, longing, hope, love, and loss were lovingly resurrected and re-interpreted by the likes of Elvis Costello, Bettye Lavette, and Sting
- I enjoy supporting Public TV and radio.
- The timing and the location of this event were special. Leonard is Montreal's favorite son, and people from around the world came to see this show almost exactly one year after he passed.
- The stage and set creatively evoked Cohen's overwatching presence
What's NOT to love? The Songs
These were just a few of the standout performances
- "Bird on the wire," the second of two powerful appearances by Elvis Costello
- Leonard Cohen's son, Adam, singing "So Long, Marianne" better than his old man ever did, while backup singer Hattie Webb looks at him like she knows a secret.
- The Lumineers (or, at least, some of them) did a great job on "Democracy."
- "Suzanne" performed by Ron Sexsmith. Need I say more?
- Peter Gabriel's cameo at 47:43. Perfect!
- And so much more... For 90 minutes, one gut-wrenching moment was followed by another...
I want to circle back to Adam Cohen's twist on "So Long, Marianne," because that performance absolutely floored me. But first, I need to share what was, for me, clearly the most visceral moment of the show.
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| k. d. lang performing Hallelujah for Tower of Song |
Maybe you have heard "Hallelujah" performed a few dozen times. It's a masterpiece. Many artists have covered it. I even wrote a post about the many different versions, concluding that none performed better than Cohen himself. But I must admit, I now must publish a retraction and an update. I had never heard this classic song performed to its soulful perfection until I heard k. d. lang's rendition for "Tower of Song."
I was mesmerized. Reduced to elements. When was the last time you cried? For me, it when k. d. lang reminded me why I love muses, madmen, and minstrels. But the story does not end here. I mentioned the devastating twist Adam gave to his father's love song to Marianne. Let's look into that more deeply.
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| Cohen with Marianne Ihlen, his Norwegian muse |
What is the story of Leonard and Marianne?
As a young man in his mid-20s, Leonard Cohen moved to the Greek island of Hydra from Montreal to find his muse. There he met a beautiful woman named Marianne. The two stayed together through the 60s, raising her son and commuting between Hydra, her home in Oslo, his home in Montreal, and a home they made together in New York. Throughout their relationship, Cohen wrote about Marianne and dedicated many songs, poems, and drawings to her. The lyrics to "So Long, Marianne" offer many clues as to why the relationship did not last.
Time rolled along. Fifty-seven years after the two lovers first met, and when he himself was in failing health, Leonard received word that Marianne was on her deathbed. Cohen wrote to her in a letter read to her two days before her death, and again at her funeral, saying:
Marianne died in hospital in Oslo on 28 July 2016, aged 81. Leonard died three months later, on November 7. Tower of Song, the memorial tribute, was recorded a day shy of a year later, in Montreal, on 6 November 2017.
Now you know the backstory about the namesake for Cohen's song, "So long, Marianne." One day short of a year after Leonard's passing, Adam Cohen performed his father's song. He looked just like his father, and accompanying vocalist Hattie Webb looked remarkably similar to Marianne Ihlen. These resemblances took my breath away, and I couldn't help but notice glances between the two. And then the kicker: the music softens, as do the lights, and Adam recites portions of his father's letter to Marianne. I lost it! You have got to see this! Total tear-jerker.
There are too many other highlights to recount in this soulful summation of Cohen's life and loves. His was a complicated journey, one which has touched me deeply.
Here is a link to a video of the program. You will want to watch the whole thing. Of course, I also encourage you to purchase the two-DVD set, either directly, or via a donation to Public Broadcasting. Watch this tribute and connect with what it means to inhabit this mortal coil if only briefly.
Time rolled along. Fifty-seven years after the two lovers first met, and when he himself was in failing health, Leonard received word that Marianne was on her deathbed. Cohen wrote to her in a letter read to her two days before her death, and again at her funeral, saying:
"Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine... Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road."
Marianne died in hospital in Oslo on 28 July 2016, aged 81. Leonard died three months later, on November 7. Tower of Song, the memorial tribute, was recorded a day shy of a year later, in Montreal, on 6 November 2017.
Now you know the backstory about the namesake for Cohen's song, "So long, Marianne." One day short of a year after Leonard's passing, Adam Cohen performed his father's song. He looked just like his father, and accompanying vocalist Hattie Webb looked remarkably similar to Marianne Ihlen. These resemblances took my breath away, and I couldn't help but notice glances between the two. And then the kicker: the music softens, as do the lights, and Adam recites portions of his father's letter to Marianne. I lost it! You have got to see this! Total tear-jerker.
+++++++
There are too many other highlights to recount in this soulful summation of Cohen's life and loves. His was a complicated journey, one which has touched me deeply.
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Hineni, Hineni
Here I am Lord
I'm with you, my Lord
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"I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin." --LNC
Here is a link to a video of the program. You will want to watch the whole thing. Of course, I also encourage you to purchase the two-DVD set, either directly, or via a donation to Public Broadcasting. Watch this tribute and connect with what it means to inhabit this mortal coil if only briefly.
