What's more important? The lyrics or the tune/song?
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What's more important? The lyrics or the tune/song?
When listening to Leonard, do you feel the lyric is more important or the overall experience through melody and music?
For me, it's the melody/music, though I appreciate many of his lyrics as beautiful poetry. It seems a lot of people read a lot into the lyrics whereas I prefer to just enjoy the songs for how they feel.
For me, it's the melody/music, though I appreciate many of his lyrics as beautiful poetry. It seems a lot of people read a lot into the lyrics whereas I prefer to just enjoy the songs for how they feel.
No one writes lyrics like Leonard Cohen. "And you know that she's half crazy / But that's why you want to be there," "And just when you mean to tell her / That you have no love to give her / Then she gets you on her wavelength / And she lets the river answer / That you've always been her lover," and "He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone" were the beginning of my realization of that.
However, no one writes melodies or uses instrumentation like Leonard does, either. They merge with the lyrics, and the result is far greater than the sum of its parts. Music carries the words where they need to go. He knows that intimately. He somehow knew the ideal combination. It's impossible to excise them from one another.
However, to quote Perla, if you had a gun to my head, I guess I would be forced to confess to the power of his words. Therein, his sustaining wisdom is imparted for us all.
~ Elizabeth
However, no one writes melodies or uses instrumentation like Leonard does, either. They merge with the lyrics, and the result is far greater than the sum of its parts. Music carries the words where they need to go. He knows that intimately. He somehow knew the ideal combination. It's impossible to excise them from one another.
However, to quote Perla, if you had a gun to my head, I guess I would be forced to confess to the power of his words. Therein, his sustaining wisdom is imparted for us all.
~ Elizabeth
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As for me music was on first place because when I listen LC first time I didn't knew English at all. But later, when I learn few words on English, lyrics came on first place...
PS. Yesterday's morning I listen "Tacoma trailer" maybe four or five times and think that in that moment this was the best melody for me
PS. Yesterday's morning I listen "Tacoma trailer" maybe four or five times and think that in that moment this was the best melody for me

I'd have to agree, without good music it's poetry and though poetry can be inspirational and moving, music takes it to another level. The best written lyrics tend to be not so memorable if the melody falls short.
I find LC's music to be uplifting (even though he has this bad wrap of being dark and gloomy!). It's often celebratory to me, an affirmation of some kind. Sadly, though I've know about him for many many years, it's only recently that I really started to appreciate it. All things in time I guess!
I find LC's music to be uplifting (even though he has this bad wrap of being dark and gloomy!). It's often celebratory to me, an affirmation of some kind. Sadly, though I've know about him for many many years, it's only recently that I really started to appreciate it. All things in time I guess!
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I've not met anybody that likes Leonard and doesn't have a cultured taste in music, that's for sure.lizzytysh wrote:It has seemed to me that Leonard is often someone people need to 'grow into.' He's not the easily-accessible 'pop rock' of the radio. Generally speaking, I believe he's for the more serious-minded amongst the general population.
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Music or lyrics?
While I'm more into music than poetry, I find it's the combination of the two that makes Leonard's work so great. The way that Leonard sings the songs adds to the greatness, and the atmosphere is further enhanced by the excellent musicians he works with. I feel that Leonard's songs are so personal to him, that (with the rare exception) when anyone sings them, another essential ingredient is lost. It's hard to say that any Leonard song is weak musically or lyrically, because he's such a perfectionist, and has maintained such a level of excellence. His very greatest songs (the really transcendent ones ) combine his greatest melodies and lyrics. For example, take the following: Sisters of Mercy, Suzanne, Famous Blue Raincoat, Hallelujah, The Window, Ballad of the Absent Mare, Take This Waltz, Anthem and Alexandra Leaving. Leonard can also transform a more basic melody into something much greater however, by the strength of his lyrics - take One of Us Cannot be Wrong, Story of Isaac, Death of a Ladies Man, Heart with No Companion or The Captain. Reading the lyrics of Dear Heather they seem fairly simple overall. However, with his masterly touch, I've no doubt that Leonard will produce a work where the combined ingredients result in something that is totally exquisite.
John Etherington
John Etherington
- justinburnett
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For me, the two have to be in harmony with each other (no pun intended). The best lyrics in the world won't hold my attention if backed by lousy music, and wonderful music can't save a song whose lyrics are distractingly bad. I'm very attuned to the rhythm and flow of the words, the syncopation, patterns, variations... and then if the music is doing the same kind of dance, a whole new dimension opens up and truly worthwhile music ensues.
Take care
-J-
Take care
-J-
- Frankie Lee
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What's more important? The lyrics or the tune/song?
Both are important. What makes Cohen so attractive is more than the combination of lyrics and tune. But the connection between both is Cohen's powerful voice with which you can fall in love. It is so dark and deep, so demanding and rousing: it gives birth to his lyrics, makes them human.
Cohen is a storryteller.
Cohen is a storryteller.