Leonard cohen biography im your man youtube

Canadian singer-songwriter and poet (1934–2016)

Leonard Cohen CC GOQ
Cohen in 1988
Born	(1934-09-21)September 21, 1934 Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Died	November 7, 2016(2016-11-07) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, US
Resting place	Shaar Hashomayim Congregation Cemetery, City, Canada
Occupations	Singer songwriter musician poet novelist
Years active	1954–2016
Children	2, including Adam
Relatives	Lyon Cohen (grandfather)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Discography	Full list
Labels	Columbia
Musical artist
Website	leonardcohen.com

Leonard Norman CohenCC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was simple Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, dominant novelist.

Themes commonly explored all through his work include faith nearby mortality, isolation and depression, perfidy and redemption, social and federal conflict, and sexual and idealized love, desire, regret, and loss.^[1] He was inducted into integrity Canadian Music Hall of Designation, the Canadian Songwriters Hall exclude Fame, and the Rock vital Roll Hall of Fame.

Closure was invested as a Fellow of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian indignity. In 2011, he received song of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and glory ninth Glenn Gould Prize.

Cohen pursued a career as trig poet and novelist during decency 1950s and early 1960s, abide did not begin a descant career until 1966.

His cheeriness album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by match up more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin shield the Old Ceremony (1974). Rule 1977 record Death of fine Ladies' Man, co-written and give up by Phil Spector, was well-organized move away from Cohen's ex- minimalist sound.

In 1979, Cohen returned with the more tacit Recent Songs, which blended queen acoustic style with jazz, Accommodate Asian, and Mediterranean influences. Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was released on his seventh publication, Various Positions (1984). I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions.

Value 1992, Cohen released its sequel, The Future, which had visionless lyrics and references to public and social unrest.

Cohen reciprocal to music in 2001 write down the release of Ten Creative Songs, a major hit wonderful Canada and Europe. His ordinal album, Dear Heather, followed live in 2004. In 2005, Cohen disclosed that his manager had taken most of his money enjoin sold his publishing rights, incitement a return to touring rescue recoup his losses.

Following dexterous successful string of tours in the middle of 2008 and 2013, he on the loose three albums in the terminating years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014), and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks earlier his death. His posthumous, ordinal, and final studio album Thanks for the Dance, was unconfined in November 2019.

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him crowd 103 in their "200 Maximum Singers of All Time" list.^[2]

Early life

Leonard Norman Cohen was domestic into an Orthodox Jewish kinsmen in the Montrealanglophone enclave give evidence Westmount, Quebec, on September 21, 1934.

His Lithuanian Jewish dam, Marsha ("Masha") Klonitsky (1905–1978),^[3][4] emigrated to Canada in 1927 enjoin was the daughter of Talmudic writer and rabbi Solomon Klonitsky-Kline.^[5][6] His paternal grandfather, who confidential emigrated from Suwałki, in Hearing Poland, to Canada, was Intermingle Jewish Congress founding president Metropolis Cohen.

His parents gave him the Hebrew name Eliezer, which means "God helps".^[7] His pop, clothing store owner Nathan Physiologist Cohen (1891–1944),^[8] died when Cohen was nine years old. Leadership family attended Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, to which Cohen retained relations for the rest of tiara life.^[9] On the topic pattern being a kohen, he oral in 1967, "I had spiffy tidy up very Messianic childhood.

I was told I was a heir of Aaron, the high priest."^[10]

Cohen attended Roslyn Elementary School skull completed grades seven through figure at Herzliah High School, whirl location his literary mentor (and consequent inspiration) Irving Layton taught.^[11] Powder then transferred in 1948 jump in before Westmount High School, where prohibited studied music and poetry.

Flair became especially interested in leadership Spanish poetry of Federico García Lorca.^[12] During high school, sand was involved in various adulterous activities, including photography, yearbook, cheerleading, arts club, current events bat, and theater. He also served as president of the Students' Council.

During that time, why not? taught himself to play nobleness acoustic guitar and formed straight country–folk group that he dubbed the Buckskin Boys. After boss young Spanish guitar player infinite him "a few chords celebrated some flamenco", he switched tackle a classical guitar.^[12] He has attributed his love of harmony to his mother, who intone songs around the house: "I know that those changes, those melodies, touched me very well-known.

She would sing with hold back when I took my bass to a restaurant with awful friends; my mother would reaching, and we'd often sing work hard night."^[13]

Cohen frequented Montreal's Saint Laurent Boulevard for fun and throw at places such as probity Main Deli Steak House.^[14][15] According to journalist David Sax, noteworthy and one of his cousins would go to the Persist in Deli to "watch the nether regions, pimps, and wrestlers dance spend time with the night".^[16] When he nautical port Westmount, he purchased a unseat on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in justness previously working-class neighbourhood of Tiny Portugal.

He would read diadem poetry at assorted nearby clubs. In that period and relocate, he wrote the lyrics interruption some of his most illustrious songs.^[15]

Poetry and novels

In 1951, Cohen enrolled contempt McGill University, where he became president of the McGill Debating Union and won the Metropolis MacNaghten Literary Competition for depiction poems "Sparrows" and "Thoughts endlessly a Landsman".^[18] Cohen published monarch first poem in March 1954 in the magazine CIV/n.

Probity issue also included poems alongside Cohen's poet–professors (who were too on the editorial board) Author Layton and Louis Dudek.^[18] Cohen graduated from McGill the mass year with a B.A. degree.^[12] His literary influences during that time included William Butler Dramatist, Irving Layton (who taught public science at McGill and became both Cohen's mentor and crown friend),^[12]Walt Whitman, Federico García Playwright, and Henry Miller.^[19] His head published book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), was published by Dudek as primacy first book in the McGill Poetry Series the year end Cohen's graduation.

The book selfcontained poems written largely when Cohen was between the ages conduct operations 15 and 20, and Cohen dedicated the book to top late father.^[12] The well-known Disorder literary critic Northrop Frye wrote a review of the notebook in which he gave Cohen "restrained praise".^[12]

After completing his pedagogue degree, Cohen spent a designation in the McGill Faculty comment Law and then a origin (1956–1957) at the Columbia Further education college School of General Studies.

Cohen described his graduate school be aware of as "passion without flesh, enjoy without climax".^[20] Consequently, Cohen assess New York and returned on top of Montreal in 1957, working indefinite odd jobs and focusing provide for the writing of fiction advocate poetry, including the poems make public his next book, The Spice-Box of Earth (1961), which was the first book that Cohen published through the Canadian bruiting about company McClelland & Stewart.

Cohen's first novella and early tiny stories were not published 2022 (A Ballet of Lepers).^[21] His father's will provided him with a modest trust resources sufficient to allow him approximately pursue his literary ambitions ration the time, and The Spice-Box of Earth was successful elation helping to expand the assignation for Cohen's poetry, helping him reach out to the metrical composition scene in Canada, outside authority confines of McGill University.

Greatness book also helped Cohen bring in critical recognition as an meaningful new voice in Canadian metrics. One of Cohen's biographers, Fto Nadel, stated that "reaction in close proximity the finished book was apex and admiring...." The critic Parliamentarian Weaver found it powerful final declared that Cohen was 'probably the best young poet oppress English Canada right now.'^[12]

Cohen spread to write poetry and fabrication throughout the 1960s and favourite to live in quasi-reclusive arrangement after he bought a sort out on Hydra, a Greek oasis in the Saronic Gulf.

Long forgotten living and writing on Constellation, Cohen published the poetry quota Flowers for Hitler (1964), come to rest the novel The Favourite Game (1963), an autobiographical Bildungsroman brake a young man who discovers his identity through writing.

Cohen was the subject of calligraphic 44-minute documentary in 1965 immigrant the National Film Board commanded Ladies and Gentlemen...

Mr. Author Cohen.

The 1966 novel Beautiful Losers received a good accord of attention from the Scrabble press and stirred up disputation because of a number grow mouldy sexually graphic passages.^[12] Regarding Beautiful Losers,the Boston Globe stated: "James Joyce is not dead. Operate is living in Montreal descend the name of Cohen." Bargain 1966 Cohen also published Parasites of Heaven, a book do in advance poems.

Both Beautiful Losers viewpoint Parasites of Heaven received mongrel reviews and sold few copies.^[12]

In 1966, CBC-TV producer Andrew Singer produced a local Montreal present affairs program, Seven on Six, and offered Cohen a selection as host. "I decided I'm going to be a songster. I want to write songs," Simon recalled Cohen telling him.^[22]

Subsequently, Cohen published less, with elder gaps, concentrating more on tape songs.

In 1966 he wrote "Suzanne", which was performed ethics same year by The Breezy Clovers, and recorded by Judy Collins on her album In My Life.

In 1978, loosen up published his first book classic poetry in many years, Death of a Lady's Man (not to be confused with character album he released the one-time year, the similarly titled Death of a Ladies' Man).

Boot out was not until 1984 make certain Cohen published his next whole of poems, Book of Mercy, which won him the Hotfoot it Authors Association Literary Award long Poetry. The book contains 50 prose-poems, influenced by the Canaanitic Bible and Zen writings. Cohen himself referred to the fragments as "prayers".^[23] In 1993 Cohen published Stranger Music: Selected Poetry and Songs, and in 2006, after 10 years of delays, additions, and rewritings, Book confiscate Longing.

The Book of Longing is dedicated to the poetess Irving Layton. Also, during justness late 1990s and 2000s, visit of Cohen's new poems give orders to lyrics were first published pollute the fan website The Writer Cohen Files, including the recent version of the poem "A Thousand Kisses Deep" (which Cohen later adapted for a song).^[24][25]

Cohen's writing process, as he booming an interviewer in 1998, was "like a bear stumbling get on to a beehive or a dear cache: I'm stumbling right impact it and getting stuck, don it's delicious and it's horrifying and I'm in it ride it's not very graceful obtain it's very awkward and it's very painful and yet there's something inevitable about it."^[26]

In 2011, Cohen was awarded the Monarch of Asturias Award for literature.^[27] His poetry collection The Flame, which he had been position on at the time observe his death, appeared posthumously play a role 2018.

Cohen's books have antiquated translated into several languages.

Recording career

1960s and 1970s

In 1967, critical with his lack of go well as a writer, Cohen upset to the United States restrain pursue a career as wonderful folk music singer–songwriter. During goodness 1960s, he was a flounce figure in Andy Warhol's "Factory" crowd.

Warhol speculated that Cohen had spent time listening cue Nico in clubs and divagate this had influenced his melodious style.^[28]

His song "Suzanne" became spick hit for Judy Collins (who subsequently recorded a number honor Cohen's other songs), and was for many years his nigh recorded song. Collins recalls renounce when she first met him, he said he could band 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 greet this big fundraiser I'm doing" ... Jimi Hendrix was on pass. He'd never sung [in advantage of a large audience] earlier then. He got out restraint stage and started singing. Each one was going crazy—they loved boot out. And he stopped about ad midway through and walked off magnanimity stage.

Everybody went nuts. ... They demanded that he come assume. And I demanded; I uttered, "I'll go out with you." So we went out, direct we sang it. And in this area course, that was the beginning.^[29]

She first introduced him be selected for television audiences during one have a phobia about her shows in 1966,^[31] situation they performed duets of diadem songs.^[32][33] Still new to conveyance his poetry to music, crystal-clear once forgot the words motivate "Suzanne" while singing to out different audience.^[34] Singers such bring in Joan Baez have sung patch up during their tours.^[35] Cohen assumed that he was duped cross the threshold giving up the rights rent the song, but was proud it happened, as it would be wrong to write pure song that was so come after loved and to get wealthy for it also.

Collins said Bill Moyers, during a urgency interview, that she felt Cohen's Jewish background was an interfering influence on his words title music.^[30]

After performing at a erratic folk festivals, he came render the attention of Columbia Registers producer John Hammond, who sign Cohen to a record deal.^[36] Cohen's first album was Songs of Leonard Cohen.^[37][a] The lp was released in the Validate in late 1967 to conventionally dismissive reviews,^[38] but became fastidious favourite in the UK confide in its release in early 1968, where it spent over top-notch year on the album charts.^[39] He appeared on BBC Idiot box in 1968 where he hum a duet from the recording with Julie Felix.^[40] Several defer to the songs on that have control over album were recorded by mocker popular folk artists, including Outlaw Taylor^[41] and Judy Collins.^[42] Cohen followed up that first manual with Songs from a Room (1969, featuring the often-recorded "Bird on the Wire") and Songs of Love and Hate (1971).

In 1971, film director Parliamentarian Altman featured the songs "The Stranger Song", "Winter Lady", brook "Sisters of Mercy", originally filmed for Songs of Leonard Cohen, in McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Scott Tobias wrote in 2014 that "The film is overwhelming to me without the Cohen songs, which function as these mournful interstitials that unify birth entire movie."^[43] Tim Grierson wrote in 2016, shortly after Cohen's death, that '"Altman's and Cohen's legacies would forever be interrelated by McCabe.

The movie disintegration inextricably connected to Cohen's songs. It's impossible to imagine Altman's masterpiece without them."^[44]

In 1970, Cohen toured for the first disgust, in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and appeared package the Isle of Wight Festival.^[45] In 1972 he toured homecoming in Europe and Israel, captured on film by Tony Pilgrim and eventually released in 2010 under the title 'Bird request a Wire'.^[b] When his execution in Israel did not look as if to be going well inaccuracy walked off the stage, went to his dressing room, tube took some LSD.

He next heard the audience clamouring come up with his reappearance by singing be introduced to him in Hebrew, and botchup the influence of the brilliant, he returned to finish justness show.^[47][48]

In 1973, when Egypt soar Syria attacked Israel on excellence Yom Kippur day, Cohen alighted in Israel. He had rebuff guitar, and intended to need no invitation in some kibbutz for high-mindedness harvest, though he had rebuff solid plan. He was dappled in a Tel Aviv Pinati Café by Israeli musicians Oshik Levi, Matti Caspi and Ilana Rovina, who offered him appreciation go together to Sinai find time for sing for Israeli soldiers.^[50][49][51] Regular though he reportedly voiced "pro-Arab political views" before the combat, he said after the clash "I am joining my brothers fighting in the desert.

Unrestrainable don't care if their conflict is just or not. Side-splitting know only that war go over cruel, that it leaves cut, blood and ugly stains pleasure the holy soil."^[49] Cohen hollow his most-known songs to honesty troops: "Suzanne", "So Long Marianne", "Bird on the Wire", prosperous his new song he titled "Lover Lover Lover".^[52] In Desert, Cohen was introduced to nobleness Major General Ariel Sharon, forwardlooking Prime Minister of Israel.^[49] Cohen later described the improvised concerts:^[49]

"We would just drop into about places, like a rocket aim and they would shine their flashlights at us and miracle would sing a few songs.

Or they would give repetitive a jeep and we would go down the road do by the front and wherever astonishment saw a few soldiers check for a helicopter or sense like that we would travelling a few songs. And back at the airbase incredulity would do a little make an effort, maybe with amplifiers. It was very informal, and you be acquainted with, very intense."

In 1974 Cohen released a new album, New Skin for the Old Ceremony, with songs inspired by significance war.

"Lover Lover Lover", was written and performed in Peninsula. "Who By Fire", written distracted on the war, takes disloyalty name from the Yom Kippur prayer, the Unetaneh Tokef.^[51][53][49] Subsequent songs inspired by the armed conflict are "Field Commander Cohen" lecture "There is a War".^[49] Worry 1976, Cohen said during rank concert that his now renowned song was written for "the Egyptians and the Israelis", albeit he wrote and performed picture song for the Israeli private soldiers during the war, and primacy song originally contained the build "I went down to illustriousness desert to help my brothers fight".^[52]

In 1973, Columbia Records loose Cohen's first concert album, Live Songs.

Then beginning around 1974, Cohen's collaboration with pianist avoid arranger John Lissauer created simple live sound praised by ethics critics. They toured together stop in full flow 1974 in Europe, the Harmless and Canada in late 1974 and early 1975, in uphold of Cohen's record New Doubtful for the Old Ceremony.

Pressure late 1975 Cohen and Lissauer performed a short series be more or less shows in the US nearby Canada with a new have to, in support of Cohen's Best Of release. The tour play a part new songs from an autograph album in progress, co-written by Cohen and Lissauer and titled Songs for Rebecca. None of leadership recordings from these live treks with Lissauer were ever outwardly released, and the album was abandoned in 1976.

In 1976, Cohen embarked on a another major European tour with pure new band and changes joy his sound and arrangements, reread, in support of his The Best of Leonard Cohen help (in Europe retitled as Greatest Hits). Laura Branigan was reschedule of his backup singers meanwhile the tour.^[54] From April get to July, Cohen gave 55 shows, including his first appearance fighting the famous Montreux Jazz Anniversary.

After the European tour collide 1976, Cohen again attempted systematic new change in his sound out and arrangements: his new 1977 record, Death of a Ladies' Man was co-written and befall by Phil Spector.^[55][c] One yr later, in 1978, Cohen in print a volume of poetry confront the subtly revised title, Death of a Lady's Man.

In 1979, Cohen returned catch on the more traditional Recent Songs,^[59] which blended his acoustic enhance with jazz and East Eastern and Mediterranean influences.

Beginning get the gist this record, Cohen began succeed co-produce his albums. Produced from end to end of Cohen and Henry Lewy (Joni Mitchell's sound engineer), Recent Songs included performances by Passenger,^[60] wish Austin-based jazz–fusion band that fall down Cohen through Mitchell.

The visitors helped Cohen create a unique sound by featuring instruments approximating the oud, the Gypsy skin game, and the mandolin. The publication was supported by Cohen's chief tour with the new belt, and Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Robinson on the backing vocals, in Europe in late 1979, and again in Australia, Country, and Europe in 1980.

Place in 2000, Columbia released an autograph album of live recordings of songs from the 1979 tour, aristocratic Field Commander Cohen: Tour defer to 1979.^[61]

During the 1970s, Cohen toured twice with Jennifer Warnes orangutan a backup singer (1972 courier 1979). Warnes would become straighten up fixture on Cohen's future albums, receiving full co-vocals credit absolution Cohen's 1984 album Various Positions (although the record was at large under Cohen's name, the contents credits say "Vocals by Author Cohen and Jennifer Warnes").

Delight 1987 she recorded an book of Cohen songs, Famous Negative Raincoat.^[62] Cohen said that she sang backup for his 1980 tour, even though her existence at the time was assimilate much better shape than sovereign. "So this is a bullying friend", he said. "Someone who in the face of resolved derision, has always supported me."^[58]

1980s

In the early 1980s, Cohen co-wrote (with Lewis Furey) the quake musical film Night Magic important Carole Laure and Nick Mancuso.

Columbia declined to release dominion 1984 LP Various Positions guaranteed the United States.^[d] Cohen trim the release of the volume with his biggest tour jump in before date, in Europe and Land, and with his first peregrination in Canada and the Combined States since 1975.^[e] The strip performed at the Montreux Bells Festival, and the Roskilde Party.

They also gave a rooms of highly emotional and politically controversial concerts in Poland, which had been under martial statute just two years before, professor performed the song "The Partisan", regarded as the hymn near the Polish Solidarity movement.^[63][f]

In 1987, Jennifer Warnes's tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat helped restore Cohen's career in the US.

Leadership following year he released I'm Your Man.^[g] Cohen supported illustriousness record with a series distinctive television interviews and an broad tour of Europe, Canada, roost the US. Many shows were broadcast on European and Unequivocal television and radio stations, greatest extent Cohen performed for the twig time in his career backdrop PBS's Austin City Limits show.^[65][66][h]

"Hallelujah"

Main article: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)

"Hallelujah" was first released on Cohen's studio album Various Positions entertain 1984, and he sang exodus during his Europe tour recovered 1985.^[67][68][69] The song had desire initial success but found better popularity through a 1991 dangle by John Cale, which blown the basis for a afterwards cover by Jeff Buckley.^[70] "Hallelujah" has been performed by apparently 200 artists in various languages.^[71][i]New York Times movie reviewer Far-out.

O. Scott wrote that "Hallelujah is one of those thin songs that survives its banalization with at least some model its sublimity intact".^[73]

The song denunciation the subject of the 2012 book The Holy or probity Broken by Alan Light ahead the 2022 documentary film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, Smart Song by Dan Geller increase in intensity Dayna Goldfine.^[74]Janet Maslin's New Dynasty Times book review said consider it Cohen spent years struggling get together the song, which eventually became "one of the most recurring, mutable and oft-performed songs lecture in American musical history".^[75]

1990s

The album outline "Everybody Knows" from I'm Your Man and "If It Cast doubt on Your Will" in the 1990 film Pump Up the Volume helped expose Cohen's music dissertation a wider audience.

He gain victory introduced the song during queen world tour in 1988.^[76] Say publicly song "Everybody Knows" also featured prominently in fellow Canadian Crumb Egoyan's 1994 film, Exotica. Persuasively 1992, Cohen released The Future, which urges (often in price of biblical prophecy) perseverance, saving, and hope in the example of grim prospects.

Three get going from the album – "Waiting for the Miracle", "The Future" and "Anthem" – were featured in the movie Natural Basic Killers, which also promoted Cohen's work to a new reproduction of US listeners.

As finetune I'm Your Man, the disagreement on The Future were blind, and made references to public and social unrest.

The appellation track is reportedly a reply to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Cohen promoted the tome with two music videos, untainted "Closing Time" and "The Future", and supported the release check on the major tour through Collection, United States and Canada, come together the same band as advance his 1988 tour, including tidy second appearance on PBS's Austin City Limits.

Some of probity Scandinavian shows were broadcast be situated on the radio. The multiplicity of performances, mostly recorded dissection the Canadian leg of say publicly tour, was released on justness 1994 Cohen Live album.

In 1993, Cohen also published coronet book of selected poems opinion songs, Stranger Music: Selected Rhyme and Songs, on which closure had worked since 1989.

Flow includes a number of unique poems from the late Decennary and early 1990s and important revision of his 1978 volume Death of a Lady's Man.^[77]

In 1994, Cohen retreated to rendering Mt. Baldy Zen Center in Los Angeles, beginning what became five years of seclusion shell the center.^[62] In 1996, Cohen was ordained as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk and took the Dharma name Jikan, doctrine "silence".

He served as unauthorized assistant to Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi.

In 1997, Cohen oversaw the selection and release be taken in by the More Best of Writer Cohen album, which included on the rocks previously unreleased track, "Never Set of scales Good", and an experimental share "The Great Event". The cardinal was left over from Cohen's unfinished mid-1990s album, which was tentatively called On The Path, and slated to include songs like "In My Secret Life" (already recited as a song-in-progress in 1988) and "A Multitude Kisses Deep",^[78] both later re-worked with Sharon Robinson for rendering 2001 album Ten New Songs.^[79]

Although there was a public sense that Cohen would not backslide recording or publishing, he requited to Los Angeles in Possibly will 1999.

He began to endow 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 Sep 1998^[80] and Anjani Thomas's unique sent on May 6, 1999, the day they were fasten "Villanelle for our Time"^[81] (released on 2004's Dear Heather album).

The section of The Writer Cohen Files with Cohen's on-line writings has been titled "The Blackening Pages".^[25]

2000s

Post-monastery records

After two life-span of production, Cohen returned problem music in 2001 with birth release of Ten New Songs, featuring a major influence alien producer and co-composer Sharon Actor.

The album, recorded at Cohen's and Robinson's home studios – Still Life Studios,^[82] includes nobility song "Alexandra Leaving", a renewal of the poem "The Deity Abandons Antony", by the European poet Constantine P. Cavafy. Rendering album was a major knock for Cohen in Canada brook Europe, and he supported encourage with the hit single "In My Secret Life" and allied video shot by Floria Sigismondi.

The album won him link Canadian Juno Awards in 2002: Best Artist, Best Songwriter, Finest Pop Album, and Best Telecasting ("In My Secret Life").^[79] Scuttle October 2003 he was first name a Companion of the Level of Canada, the country's maximum civilian honour.^[79]

In October 2004, Cohen released Dear Heather, largely a-ok musical collaboration with jazz songster (and romantic partner) Anjani Socialist, although Sharon Robinson returned upon collaborate on three tracks (including a duet).

As light whereas the previous album was unilluminated, Dear Heather reflects Cohen's insensitive change of mood – sand said in a number cut into interviews that his depression challenging lifted in recent years, which he attributed to Zen Religion. In an interview following coronet induction into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame, Cohen explained that the album was discretionary to be a kind closing stages notebook or scrapbook of themes, and that a more undemonstrati record had been planned sustenance release shortly afterwards, but delay this was put on contributor by his legal battles let fall his ex-manager.

Blue Alert, break album of songs co-written dampen Anjani and Cohen, was on the rampage in 2006 to positive reviews. Sung by Anjani, who according to one reviewer "... sounds like Cohen reincarnated as lady-love ... though Cohen doesn't show a note on the medium, his voice permeates it enjoy smoke."^[83][j]

Before embarking on his 2008–2010 world tour, and without bias the new album that challenging been in work since 2006, Cohen contributed a few footprints to other artists' albums – a new version of climax own "Tower of Song" was performed by him, Anjani Apostle and U2 in the 2006 tribute film Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man^[85] (the video innermost track were included on greatness film's soundtrack and released slightly the B-side of U2's unattached "Window in the Skies", movement No 1 in the Competition Singles Chart).

In 2007 noteworthy recited "The Sound of Silence" on the album Tribute knock off Paul Simon: Take Me get to the Mardi Gras and "The Jungle Line" by Joni Astronomer, accompanied by Herbie Hancock honour piano, on Hancock's Grammy-winning scrap book River: The Joni Letters,^[86] onetime in 2008, he recited picture poem "Since You've Asked" in the bag the album Born to ethics Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.^[87][88]

Lawsuits and financial troubles

In sole 2005, Cohen's daughter Lorca began to suspect his longtime inspector, Kelley Lynch, of financial gaffe.

According to the Cohen historian Sylvie Simmons, Lynch handled Cohen's business affairs and was trim close family friend.^[89] Cohen determined that he had unknowingly engender a feeling of a credit card bill relief Lynch's for $75,000, and rove most of the money riposte his accounts was gone, counting money from his retirement money and charitable trust funds.

That had begun as early despite the fact that 1996, when Lynch started bargain Cohen's music publishing rights, in defiance of the fact that Cohen challenging had no financial incentive obstacle do so.^[89]

In October 2005, Cohen sued Lynch, alleging that she had misappropriated more than US$5 million from his retirement fund, dying only $150,000.^[90][91] Cohen was sued in turn by other nag business associates.^[90] The events actor media attention, including a defend feature with the headline "Devastated!" in the Canadian magazine Maclean's.^[91] In March 2006, Cohen won a civil suit and was awarded US$9 million by a Los Angeles County superior court.

Hesitate ignored the suit and sincere not respond to a blame for issued for her financial records.^[92]NME reported that Cohen might conditions be able to collect say publicly awarded amount.^[93][k] In 2012, Cohere was jailed for 18 months and given five years' research for harassing Cohen after explicit dismissed her.^[100]

Book of Longing

Cohen accessible a book of poetry predominant drawings, Book of Longing, love May 2006.

In March, fastidious Toronto-based retailer offered signed copies to the first 1,500 immediately placed online: all 1,500 put on the market within hours. The book flashy topped bestseller lists in Canada. On May 13, Cohen bound his first public appearance bayou 13 years, at an in-store event at a bookstore meet Toronto.

Approximately 3,000 people appeared, causing the streets surrounding decency bookstore to be closed. Take steps sang two of his primitive and best-known songs: "So Well along, Marianne" and "Hey, That's Inept Way to Say Goodbye", attended by the Barenaked Ladies endure Ron Sexsmith. Appearing with him was Anjani, promoting her additional CD along with his book.^[101]

That same year, Philip Glass poised music for Book of Longing.

Following a series of stand up for performances that included Glass donate keyboards, Cohen's recorded spoken words, four additional voices (soprano, mezzo, tenor, and bass-baritone), and mother instruments, and as well hoot screenings of Cohen's artworks with drawings, Glass' label Orange Clamp Music released a double Relate of the work, titled Book of Longing.

A Song Flow based on the Poetry avoid Artwork of Leonard Cohen.^[102]

2008–2010 Environment Tour

2008 tour

Main article: Leonard Cohen Tour 2008–2010

To recoup rank money his ex-manager had taken, Cohen embarked on his head world tour in 15 length of existence. He said that being "forced to go back on rank road to repair the happenstance of my family and themselves ...

[was] a most fortuitous happenstance because I was in compliance to connect... with living musicians. And I think it warmed some part of my sentiment that had taken on regular chill."^[100]

The tour began on Might 11 in Fredericton, New Town, and was extended until coke 2010.

The schedule of rank first leg in mid-2008 encompassed Canada and Europe, including act at The Big Chill,^[103] glory Montreal Jazz Festival, and mess the Pyramid Stage at glory 2008 Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2008.^[104] His performance test Glastonbury was hailed by distinct as the highlight of decency festival,^[105] and his performance describe "Hallelujah" as the sun throng received a rapturous reception prep added to a lengthy ovation from boss packed Pyramid Stage field.^[106] Unwind also played two shows crush London's O2 Arena.^[107]

In Dublin, Cohen was the first performer squeeze play an open-air concert sleepy IMMA (Royal Hospital Kilmainham) cause, performing there on June 13, 14 and 15, 2008.

Fit into place 2009, the performances were awarded Ireland's Meteor Music Award pass for the best international performance familiar the year.

In September, Oct and November 2008, Cohen toured Europe, including stops in Oesterreich, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Italy, Frg, France and Scandinavia.^{[citation needed]} Pavement March 2009, Cohen released Live in London, recorded in July 2008 at London's O2 Stand and released on DVD dispatch as a two-CD set.

Loftiness album contains 25 songs build up is more than two suggest one-half hours long. It was the first official DVD pound Cohen's recording career.^[108]

2009 tour

The position leg of Cohen's World Voyage 2008–2009 encompassed New Zealand move Australia from January 20 helter-skelter February 10, 2009.

In Jan 2009, The Pacific Tour foremost came to New Zealand, site the audience of 12,000 responded with five standing ovations.^[l]

On Feb 19, 2009, Cohen played jurisdiction first American concert in 15 years at the Beacon Theatre-in-the-round in New York City.^[111] Prestige show, showcased as the specific performance for fans, Leonard Cohen Forum members and press, was the only show in magnanimity whole three-year tour that was broadcast on the radio (NPR) and available as a make known podcast.

The North American Journey of 2009 opened on Apr 1, and included the track record at the Coachella Valley Meeting and Arts Festival on Weekday, April 17, 2009, in expansion of one of the overwhelm outdoor theatre crowds in birth history of the festival. Circlet performance of Hallelujah was to a large regarded as one of goodness highlights of the festival, as follows repeating the major success nominate the 2008 Glastonbury appearance.

In July 2009, Cohen started fillet marathon European tour, his 3rd in two years. The circuit mostly included sport arenas countryside open air Summer festivals incline Germany, UK, France, Spain, Eire (the show at O2 smudge Dublin won him the alternative Meteor Music Award in straight row), but also performances implement Serbia in the Belgrade Platform, in the Czech Republic, Magyarorszag, Turkey, and again in Rumania.

On September 18, 2009, superior the stage at a harmony in Valencia, Spain, Cohen a moment fainted halfway through performing circlet song "Bird on the Wire", the fourth in the two-act set list; Cohen was overwhelm down backstage by his convene members and then admitted support local hospital, while the unanimity was suspended.^[112] It was around that Cohen had stomach coercion, and possibly food poisoning.^[113] Trine days later, on September 21, his 75th birthday, he done in Barcelona.

The show, take in Europe in 2009 contemporary rumoured to be the mug European concert ever, attracted profuse international fans, who lit influence green candles honouring Cohen's sumptuously, leading Cohen to give clean up special speech of thanks possession the fans and the Writer Cohen Forum.

The last consensus of this leg was retained in Tel Aviv, Israel, haul September 24 at Ramat Gan Stadium.

The event was circumscribed by public discussion due separate a cultural boycott of Yisrael proposed by a number provide musicians.^[114] Nevertheless, tickets for authority Tel Aviv concert, Cohen's chief performance in Israel since 1980, sold out in less more willingly than 24 hours.^[115] It was proclaimed that the proceeds from dignity sale of the 47,000 tickets would go into a generous fund in partnership with Remission International and would be stirred by Israeli and Palestinian serenity groups;^[116] however, Amnesty later withdrew.^[117][m] Cohen was scheduled to match in Ramallah two days succeeding, but the organizers cancelled primacy show due to criticism commentary Palestinian activists.

The PACBI purported that: "Ramallah will not accept Cohen as long as be active is intent on whitewashing Israel's colonial apartheid regime by enforcement in Israel".^[114][121]

The sixth leg remind the 2008–2009 world tour went again to the US, partner 15 shows. The 2009 field tour earned a reported $9.5 million, putting Cohen at number 39 on Billboard magazine's list prescription the year's top musical "money makers".^[122]

On September 14, 2010, Sony Music released a live CD/DVD album, Songs from the Road, showcasing Cohen's 2008 and 2009 live performances.

The previous gathering, Cohen's performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Music Holy day was released as a CD/DVD combo.

2010 tour

Officially billed brand the "World Tour 2010", illustriousness tour started on July 25, 2010, in Arena Zagreb, Hrvatska, and continued with stops security Austria, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia, opinion Ireland, where on July 31, 2010, Cohen performed at Lissadell House in County Sligo.

Thunderous was Cohen's eighth Irish agreement in just two years aft a hiatus of more ahead of 20 years.^[123] On August 12, Cohen played the 200th thing of the tour in Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden.^{[citation needed]} The base leg of the 2010 voyage started on October 28 handset New Zealand and continued foundation Australia.

2010s

In 2011, Cohen's inspiring output was represented in Everyman's Library Pocket Poets, in precise selection Poems and Songs murder by Robert Faggen. The category included a selection from lessening Cohen's books, based on empress 1993 books of selected make a face, Stranger Music, and as ok from Book of Longing, obey addition of six new sticky tag lyrics.

Nevertheless, three of those songs, "A Street", recited stop in full flow 2006, "Feels So Good", intact live in 2009 and 2010, and "Born in Chains", superb live in 2010, were snivel released on Cohen's 2012 sticker album Old Ideas, with him existence unhappy with the versions illustrate the songs in the stay fresh moment; the song "Lullaby", slightly presented in the book present-day performed live in 2009, was completely re-recorded for the jotter, presenting new lyrics on picture same melody.^{[citation needed]}

A biography, I'm Your Man: The Life catch sight of Leonard Cohen, written by Sylvie Simmons, was published in Oct 2012.

The book is primacy second major biography of Cohen (Ira Nadel's 1997 biography Various Positions was the first).^[124]

Old Ideas

Leonard Cohen's 12th studio album, Old Ideas, was released worldwide delicate January 31, 2012, and passage soon became the highest-charting textbook of his entire career, stretch No.

1 positions in Canada, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgique, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Hrvatska, New Zealand, and top sour positions in United States, Country, France, Portugal, UK, Austria, Danmark, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, and Schweiz, competing for number one incline with Lana Del Rey's first showing album Born to Die, unconfined the same day.^[125]

The lyrics endow with the song "Going Home" were published as a poem expose The New Yorker magazine top January 2012, prior to birth record's release.^[126] The entire scrap book was streamed online by NPR on January 22^[127] and go ahead January 23 by The Guardian.^[128]

The album received uniformly positive reviews from Rolling Stone,^[129] the Chicago Tribune,^[130] and The Guardian.^[131] Horizontal a record release party usher the album in January 2012, Cohen spoke with The Original York Times reporter Jon Pareles who states that "mortality was very much on his esteem and in his songs [on this album]." Pareles goes stalk characterize the album as "an autumnal album, musing on recollections and final reckonings, but court case also has a gleam encompass its eye.

It grapples in times gone by again with topics Mr. Cohen has pondered throughout his career: love, desire, faith, betrayal, repurchase. Some of the diction not bad biblical; some is drily sardonic."^[132]

2012–2013 World Tour

On August 12, 2012, Cohen embarked on a fresh European tour in support show Old Ideas, adding a player to his 2008–2010 tour congregate, now nicknamed Unified Heart Tours Band, and following the equal three-hour set list structure thanks to in 2008–2012 tour, with goodness addition of a number sequester songs from Old Ideas.

Blue blood the gentry European leg ended on Oct 7, 2012, after concerts block Belgium, Ireland (Royal Hospital), Writer (Olympia in Paris), England (Wembley Arena in London), Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy (Arena in Verona), Croatia (Arena in Pula), Danmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Romania viewpoint Turkey.^[133]

The second leg of authority Old Ideas World Tour took place in the US with the addition of Canada in November and Dec, with 56 shows altogether typeface both legs.^[134]

Cohen returned to Northward America in the spring have a high regard for 2013 with concerts in righteousness United States and Canada.

Span summer tour of Europe instance shortly afterwards.^[135]

Cohen then toured Land and New Zealand in Nov and December 2013. His terminal concert was performed at say publicly Vector Arena in Auckland.^[136][137]

Popular Problems and You Want It Darker

Cohen released his 13th album, Popular Problems, on September 24, 2014.^[138] The album includes "A Street", which he had previously recited in 2006, during promotion sustenance his book of poetry Retain of Longing, and later printed twice, as "A Street" sound the March 2, 2009, hurry of The New Yorker magazine,^[139] and appeared as "Party's Over" in Everyman's Library edition produce Poems and Songs in 2011.

Cohen's 14th and final scrap book, You Want It Darker, was released on October 21, 2016.^[140] Cohen's son Adam Cohen has a production credit on prestige album.^[141] On February 23, 2017, Cohen's son and his ending album collaborator Sammy Slabbinck unconfined a special, posthumous tribute videotape set to the album train "Traveling Light", featuring never beforehand seen archival footage of Cohen from his career.^[142] The appellation track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Execution in January 2018.

Thanks stake out the Dance and other posthumous releases

Before his death, Cohen esoteric begun working on a additional album with his son Ecstasy, a musician and singer-songwriter.^[143] Leadership album, titled Thanks for representation Dance, was released on Nov 22, 2019.^[144] One posthumous ambit, "Necropsy of Love", appeared work out the 2018 compilation album The Al Purdy Songbook and on track named "The Goal" was also published on September 20, 2019, on Leonard Cohen's legitimate YouTube channel.^[145]

Cultural impact and themes

Writing for AllMusic, reviewer Bruce Eder assessed Cohen's inclusive career in popular music unresponsive to asserting that "[he is] way of being of the most fascinating paramount enigmatic ... singer-songwriters of the rejuvenate '60s ...

Second only to Bobfloat Dylan (and perhaps Paul Simon), he commands the attention good deal critics and younger musicians supplementary contrasti firmly than any other mellifluous figure from the 1960s who continued to work in ethics 21st century."^[148] The Academy cancel out American Poets commented more about, stating that "Cohen's successful compounding of poetry, fiction, and penalization is made most clear make a way into Stranger Music: Selected Poems favour Songs, published in 1993 ...

while it may seem type some that Leonard Cohen bygone from the literary in running after of the musical, his fans continue to embrace him tempt a Renaissance man who straddles the elusive artistic borderlines."^[149] Quiver Dylan was an admirer, telling Cohen as the 'number one' songwriter of their time (Dylan described himself as 'number zero'):

When people talk about Leonard, they fail to mention his melodies, which to me, along operate his lyrics, are his top genius.

... Even the differ lines--they give a celestial school group & melodic lift to sovereign songs. ... no one added comes close to this suspend modern music. ... I plan all of Leonard's songs, originally or late. ... they bring into being you think & feel. Distracted like some of his next songs even better than sovereign early ones.

Yet there's on the rocks simplicity to his early slant that I like, too. ... He's very much a youngster of Irving Berlin. ... Both of them just hear melodies that most of us vesel only strive for. ... Both Leonard & Berlin are very crafty. Leonard particularly uses harmonise progressions that are classical small fry shape.

He is a untold more savvy musician than you'd think.^[150]

Themes of political and public justice also recur in Cohen's work, especially in later albums. In "Democracy", he both acknowledges political problems and celebrates ^{[citation needed]} the hopes of reformers: "from the wars against disorder/ from the sirens night add-on day/ from the fires model the homeless/ from the gilding of the gay/ Democracy decline coming to the USA."^[151] Yes made the observation in "Tower of Song" that "the lavish have got their channels make real the bedrooms of the poor/ And there's a mighty opinion coming." In the title trail of The Future he recasts this prophecy on a grownup note: "I've seen the humanity rise and fall/ ...

Register But love's the only locomotive of survival." In that identical song he comments on drift topics (abortion, anal sex near the use of drugs): "Give me crack and anal fornication. Take the only tree that's left and stuff it barge in the hole in your culture", "Destroy another fetus now, amazement don't like children anyhow".^[152][153] Assimilate "Anthem", he promises that "the killers in high places [who] say their prayers out loud/ [are] gonna hear from me."

War is an enduring idea of Cohen's work that—in coronate earlier songs and early life—he approached ambivalently.

Challenged in 1974 over his serious demeanor show concerts and the military salutes he ended them with, Cohen remarked, "I sing serious songs, and I'm serious onstage for I couldn't do it peasant-like other way ... I don't consider myself a civilian. Wild consider myself a soldier, dominant that's the way soldiers salute."^[154]

Deeply moved by encounters add-on Israeli and Arab soldiers, without fear left the country to draw up "Lover Lover Lover".

This sticker has been interpreted as fine personal renunciation of armed disturbances, and ends with the hunger his song will serve well-ordered listener as "a shield argue with the enemy". He would following remark, "'Lover, Lover, Lover' was born over there; the intact world has its eyes firm on this tragic and about conflict.

Then again, I chart faithful to certain ideas, assuredly. I hope that those hint which I am in desire will gain."^[156] Asked which defeat he supported in the Arab-Israeli conflict, Cohen responded, "I don't want to speak of wars or sides ... Personal shape is one thing, it's public, it's the identification one feels with their roots and their origins.

The militarism I wont as a person and boss writer is another thing. ... I don't wish to claim about war."^[157]

In 1991, playwright Bryden MacDonald launched Sincerely, A Friend, a musical revue based pride Cohen's music.^[158]

Cohen is mentioned inferior the Nirvana song "Pennyroyal Tea" from the band's 1993 respite, In Utero.

Kurt Cobain wrote, "Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld/So I can sigh eternally." Cohen, after Cobain's suicide, was quoted as saying "I'm penitent I couldn't have spoken tell the difference the young man. I repute a lot of people trim the Zen Centre, who hold gone through drugs and grow a way out that even-handed not just Sunday school.

Close to are always alternatives, and Berserk might have been able converge lay something on him."^[159] Unquestionable is also mentioned in depiction lyrics of songs by Player Cole & The Commotions,^[160]Mercury Increase and Marillion.^[161][162]

Cohen was one be incumbent on the inspirations for Matt Bissonnette and Steven Clark's 2002 album Looking for Leonard.

Centred awareness a group of small-time gangsters in Montreal, one of interpretation film's characters idolizes Cohen bit a symbol of her dreams for a better life, fanatically rereading his writings and rewatching Ladies and Gentlemen.^[163] Bissonnette followed up in 2020 with Death of a Ladies' Man, elegant film that uses seven Cohen songs in its soundtrack suck up to illuminate key themes in greatness film's screenplay.^[164]

The Leonard Cohen strain "So Long, Marianne" is position title of the season 4, episode 9 episode of This Is Us.

The song commission played and its meaning remains discussed as an important plan point of the episode.

In April 2022, author and newspaperwoman Matti Friedman published "Who Coarse Fire: War, Atonement, and decency Resurrection of Leonard Cohen"^[165][166] integrity story of Leonard Cohen's 1973 tour to the front contours of the Yom Kippur War.^[167] TV miniseries by Yehonatan Indursky based on the book task expected in 2024.^[168]

Susan Cain, father of Bittersweet: How Sorrow obscure Longing Make Us Whole (2022), said that humorous references kind-hearted Cohen as the "Poet Laureate of Pessimism"^[169] miss the think about that Cohen's life suggests ditch "the quest to transform distress into beauty is one another the great catalysts of cultured expression".^[170] Cain dedicated the accurate "In memory of Leonard Cohen", quoting lyrics from Cohen's express "Anthem"