Leonard's voice and tour

[anhaga]

So it seems there is quite a bit of discussion (if not disagreement) about whether Leonard should tour or not because of the state of his voice. Of course, we would all like to see him (again), and he might be able to use the money such a tour would surely generate, but those considerations are offset by the fact that undeniably his singing voice is not the calibre it once was. He sounded good at the recent Toronto event, to be sure, but that was just him singing for a couple songs, nothing like 2hrs of singing every other night. None of us wants Leonard to embarrass himself in any way. My idea, for what it's worth, is that he should do a reading tour. His voice is still exceptional for that, and it's not something he's really done before, except a bit in the very early days. Also, if music was desired, perhaps the performance could also include him playing while someone else sings his songs--e.g., previous backup singers, rotating special guests chosen by him, or even Anjani (Anny sings Lenny, rather than Jenny sings Lenny? lol). Personally, I think a reading tour makes the most sense at this point, for various reasons, and I would prefer that to a regular singing tour. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear the wise old Jew intoning some of _Beautiful Losers_ at this point in his life?

[oldbrownshoe]

I agree, he should also record himself reading his poetry.

[secretchord]

I don't really understand this thing about people saying his voice has gone. I don't have much to base am opinion on but I saw Tower of Song in the movie and it never occurred to me that there was a problem with his voice, it sounded fine to me.

I would love him to tour.

[tomsakic]

I also think his voice is quite nice - it was much worse in Canadian leg of 1993 tour (in July). But I like the botlegs from those shows also - it's simply Leonard's voice, and it never was "in state for the tour" by usual commercuial measures. (Anyhow, although Leonard sounded better and very clean in Spring 93 in Europe, he also released Canadian gigs on Cohen Live CD. So...) I think he sounds great on Tower of Song with U2 - his style of singing-as-recitating is now on highest level ever. But I guess that's what mostly think when they say he cannot sing anymore.

I don't know if the radical change in touring concept is expectable when you're 72, because - although he read few poems during 70s shows - Leonard later dropped literary performances and turned to more pop ones. Of course, it would be great performance, "an evening with Leonard Cohen", where he would perform 5-6 songs, and read his poems and recitations in between. If some of poems would be set to music background, like Villanelle For Our Time or To A Teacher or Puppets, it would be just great. Plus Anjani with couple of songs for opening, small band of 3-4 people... Of course, Leonard would need somebody to propose this, organise the concept, and do the thing. But I really am not sure is there out anybody, and is this change (or return) to 1950s beatnik "poetry recitals" way of performing exceptable. Even in Toronto, where I expected Leonard's poetry evening, with some readings, he read new SONG and then listen to few covers, Anjani, and performed two songs. I'd like more to see or hear real poetry evening, with readings and taking few questions from the audience.

[lizzytysh]

. . . and taking few questions from the audience...
...of 10,000. Write your questions on a piece of paper at the door .

Seriously, I wasn't going to weigh in on this, but you did such a beautiful job of doing it, Tom, that I have to say something. Leonard's voice has never been measured according to industry/popular standards by those who follow him. Why would that start now? Leonard's voice really is just that. We want to hear it and more of it and still more of it in interviews and anything he deems to sing. Who cares what the critics say... they've been saying what they do right along and will continue to do that. What's that got to do with us being able to experience Leonard's voice and being in person. He will be well received and he will be deeply appreciated. In reality, the kind of night you described, Tom, would be ideal. However, it suggests a small hall and who will be left outside the door? By the time this hope-to-materialize tour kicks off, Leonard will likely have a new album to promote. That in itself suggests larger venues.

All I know is that, even if a few bills go unpaid 'that month,' I will be there and will love every minute of it. Voice here, voice gone, pshaw... as long as Leonard has a voice, I want to hear it. In person will be a privilege.


~ Lizzy

[lyndaim]

I agree with Lizzy, Leonard's quality cannot be measured by regular standards and I think there is much more to it than his voice.
I agree that the kind of poetry reading described could theoretically be a very special event - one which I would personally make my best efforts to attend, even if it meant flying there especially. But practically, I think there would be rather a great demand to see him, which would overwhelm such an intimate setting...

Next week I am attending a concert here in Israel, which is a tribute to Leonard Cohen and his songs by a renowned Israeli artist Arik Sinai, and I know that even though it's not even close to the real thing, it's very exciting just hearing the music done on stage.

Lynda

[lazariuk]

But I really am not sure is there out anybody, and is this change (or return) to 1950s beatnik "poetry recitals" way of performing exceptable.

Interestingly Donovan has not too recently arrived back on the scene with his album "Beat Cafe" He seems to have this idea that there is room in the current environment for a renewal of the 1950's beatnik period.

I always liked Donovan and I hope he is right. This may be way out of place to say here but I often thought Donovan was in many ways much deeper than Leonard. I think it might be that he was given the opportunity to really taste the joys of love much earlier than Leonard was.

Jack

[DBCohen]

Sorry, Jack, but what Donovan has got to do with the 1950’s beatniks? He is mainly a product of the early 1960’s folk that turned pop or hippy. A nice guy, no doubt, but deeper than Leonard Cohen? Give me a break.

I think Tom’s idea for a tour is excellent, and I hope LC will adopt such a plan, if indeed he is going to tour. In any case, he has always been a very conscientious and scrupulous artist, and I’m quite sure he is not going to go on a tour unless he can handle it respectably.

Lynda, I’m glad that I’m away from Israel now, because I could never stand Arik Sinai for one minute, and the thought of him singing LC gives me shivers. Sorry, a matter of taste again. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

[lazariuk]

Sorry, Jack, but what Donovan has got to do with the 1950’s beatniks? He is mainly a product of the early 1960’s folk that turned pop or hippy. A nice guy, no doubt, but deeper than Leonard Cohen? Give me a break.

What does Donovan got to do with the 1950 beatniks?
Well he seems to like them

and about the deep stuff. I just don't find Leonard to be very deep. I think it is because he has done such a good job of making so very clear what he is all about. He doesn't seem to hide like a lot of people.

Funny, maybe by being clear it makes him appear hidden.

Jack

[JiminyC]

Jack Kerouac and Williams Burrows were beatniks, bless them; Jack Kerouac was King in my opinion, as I am opposed to William Burrows a) for being a self ingratiating heroin addict (although admittedly he did this very stylishly - and lived much longer than the alcoholic), b) he never made any damn sense. Jack opened up America though, however I think its since be re-shut.

I believe Donovan was the love child of these two.

[DBCohen]

Well, here I beg to differ, Jack. While making clear what he is all about, as you say, LC also made it his business to use many masks and covers in what he writes and says. In many cases – as I was trying to show in Book of Mercy for example – he is an esoteric writer, and one needs several tools of analysis to get to the bottom of his meaning, and even then you can’t be sure you got it right. Part of his appeal is that you feel that there is more to him then meets the eye. Taking him at face value can be a serious mistake, I believe.

[tomsakic]

Beatniks are more sociological than literary phenomenon, unfortunately. Jack Kerouac is particularly boring writer, thus Burroughs survives the times better (he is in any case literary very interesting, re: his narrative techniques etc.). Leonard's great because he was influenced by Garcia Lorca, Joyce and King James' Bible, lucky we. I have serious doubts in any writer who follows the line Rimbaud>Genet>Kerouac. Unfortunately Bob Dylan and my beloved Patti Smith are also taken as hostages. But Dylan has heard to much roots music, and has to much Jewishness in himself, so he actually came out of that literary alive.

This Donovan stuff, can't be serious.


What I honour in Beat is, as Leonard said in his 1958 session, "bringing poetry back to people". Ginsberg perfoming Blake on LPs, Kerouac jamming on LPs, Burroughs making crazy recordings which sound like radio broadcast from Morocco... I like poetry readings with background music (that's I am very fond of Dear Heather), spoken poetry records, performances like Nick Cave's CDs And the Ass Saw the Angel (novel reading with experimental music) and The Secret Life of the Love Song (essays readings plus songs on piano). So last night I developed my idea (or dreaming) further. Making the show like performance, in chapters, each made of few thematicaly connected songs & poems. So there can be chapter like society (Democracy, Puppets), Holocaust (Lovers, Dance Me to the End of Love), faith, love, so whole show can be developed like the story of Leonard's career and about life and love itself, with chapter like "from the future" (The Future, First We Take Manhattan, The Street). [Otherwise, I seriously doubt that we will ever heard Manhattan and The Future live again.] Of course, with completely developed back screen projection (handswriting, archive footage, newsreels, photographs... But such idea would need complete team of stage director, designer, producer. Now, this is something what hal Willner usualy does, and his company Pomegranate Arts (http://www.pomegranatearts.com/index.html), with shows like Laurie Anderson's Moby Dick.

I say, I'm not sure that Leonard is (or was) such artist and that would need the change. So I suppose we will get standard tour of songs only (lathough there's talk about Anjani's opening act, and Leonard's voice state calls for quiet, small band, and also that he limits show to one hour. I think 1 hour is shamefull for old Cohen's standards.)

[jarkko]

So I suppose we will get standard tour of songs only (although there's talk about Anjani's opening act, and Leonard's voice state calls for quiet, small band, and also that he limits show to one hour. I think 1 hour is shamefull for old Cohen's standards.)

Again we have to underline that it is far too early to make guesses... NO decision on any tour has been made.

[tomsakic]

Of course, Jarkko! That was said in May 2006 interviews, with the old management;-) later we heard that there will maybe be tour, or maybe not, but possibly yes. So let's underline it.

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[DBCohen]

Beatniks are more sociological than literary phenomenon, unfortunately. Jack Kerouac is particularly boring writer, thus Burroughs survives the times better (he is in any case literary very interesting, re: his narrative techniques etc.).

Tom, I think you put it very nicely! I’m no great expert on the Beat literature, but I also found Kerouac boring. It was indeed more a social thing; as for literal merit, I find some of it in Allen Ginsberg, but I can’t say he is a real favorite of mine.