UH, RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN?

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 3:50 pm

Thanks, Linda.....yeah, I got the Emoticons figured out, but thanks anyway

. How about the Font Colour.....can you give me a hand there? Thanks.

Hey, that's a great point you made

[I can't get the icon to tell me what this means, but it looks pleasant enough....] about one word coming across time to represent a whole phrase for Leonard, through the distillation process. So true. I guess it's too much to ask for his creatory* notes, eh?

I've also found his songs [generally speaking] to be more accessible for me; however, I think the music and expression in his voice facilitate that. When words are put to music, or music put to words, what occurs is a third entity greater than the sum of its parts.....there's a word for that, so I won't make one up, but it's too early Sunday morning to think of it. I can almost say it....

* occurring through the creator, during the creative process [don't know that, that word exists anywhere, but it works for me

.

Lizzytysh

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 3:58 pm

Hi eeey...."the sort-of fan".....

So how long have you been listening to and reading Leonard? I've seen your Posts frequently enough on the old site to suggest that you attend fairly regularly. Is it because of your feelings for his art, or because of the people you've met there? Why are you "sort-of"? Are you fine with his songs and a bit non-plussed by his poetry? How do you feel about his books? For what singer/songwriter/writer/musician/philosopher would you be able to omit the qualifier

Just counted.....we have 6 questions there.

Lizzytysh

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 4:35 pm

Using the word artsy to describe Leonard Cohen would be a bit off, not only a bit, but way off. But most likely where it was coming from wasn't meant offensively. Actually the word is used more often affectionately (even with the addition) where I come from. Off course not referring to a real artist such as LC, but hey, how many real artists do I know. But then what defines a real artist.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 6:48 pm

Hmm, Linda

...prrettty circular there, eh? No, I don't think she meant to be offensive either. Generally, here, the term is used with an element of condescension ~ by the speaker saying "artsy;" or regarding the one being spoken about when the full phrase is used.

Off to get some things accomplished at home today....if you can come up with something on the Font Colour usage, please let me know. I click on the color choice, and then look around for an "OK" button to seal it, but can't find anything that appears to be it.

Thanks.

Lizzytysh

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 8:19 pm

I always thought 'artsy' was a neutral descriptive term, rather than as offensive or inoffensive. 'artsy' as in 'It's an artsy little town' or 'she's the artsy type'. I agree it's a little strange to see it being used to decribe specifically a musician (LC or anybody else - 'C. Daniels is an artsy guitarist ????") but I think it was probably the first term that came to her head to describe a non-commercial/non-mainstream artist. In that sense it could probably be applied to any non-mainstream musician of varying merits.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jun 30, 2002 10:27 pm

Good point with your last 2 sentences and 1 word, Kush. I agree that I don't think she meant it negatively. I know what you're saying regarding the neutrality of the term in the way you're using it....[rather like George's take on it], however, when I've heard it, it's had more of a pejorative slant to it. Yeah, it is a bit like a mixed metaphor regarding a musician, particularly in your example with C. Daniels. Very funny.

It's beginning to sound like it's one of those words with different shades of meaning in different places.....making the difference whether or not you'd use it in any particular circumstance. However, when it came to Leonard, I really think it was the first word she grabbed out of the air as non-mainstream, for the benefit of those listeners who did not know him. The "sy" of it just makes it way too light to have anything to do with him, really.

Lizzytysh

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 1:34 am

Hi Lizzytysh

You don't need an OK button to confirm the text colour, just highlight the text you want to change the colour of and then click on the colour you want.

By the way, be careful you don't get your Lindas mixed up. There are at least two of us on this site so far. That's why I chose to go with 'Linmag' this time, whereas on the old board on this site I was one of the Lindas.

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 1:49 am

I'm confused. I seem to gather from some of these posts that this interview was taking place on a C&W station, and that Leonard was described as artsy for the benefit of a C&W audience. Yet I distinctly remember reading an article on this site that describes Leonard as 'setting old testament lyrics to country western tunes'. I certainly find that he sometimes gets uncomfortably close to C&W for my taste. (Tonight Will be Fine, on the first live album, is almost pure hootenanny. You can almost hear the bits of straw sticking in his hair.) Am I to understand that a US country audience would not know him at all?

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 1:58 am

Hi Linda.....

OK...thanks !

So far, so good on my Lindas...Linmag was how I knew it was you, so I naturally called you by your name [as love does...ha. Couldn't resist]. I'll be aware that when the other Linda shows up [unless she already has] that she won't be going by Linmag.

I remember her from the Board.

Lizzytysh

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 5:48 pm

In my experience (having lived many years in Texas), a US country audience is far more likely to know him than a US pop or rock audience.....thanks to the likes of Johnny Cash, Austin City Limits program and many others. And of course, LC himself loves country music and identifies strongly with it.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 6:48 pm

Lizzythish
The "other" Linda goes by that name always has and always will on this board.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Jul 01, 2002 11:46 pm

Hi Linda.....Yes, I know. My comment was a winking one specifically to Linmag, as she knows I know her by that, as well as being the Linda I've known on the Board for awhile now [after you left, except for your occasional returns]. I also know that the two of you were/got confused by others on Jarkko's old message board. So, I was already aware of who was who, going in...particularly with her id being Linmag.

Was the lisp intentional or a typo?

Lizzytysh

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 12:04 am

Hi Kush....

My own, uneducated guess is that your presumption/perception regarding "country" audiences' awareness of Leonard may be skewed by the fact that you have been living in Texas for a long time, with Texas as the home of Austin City Limits.

I've met many solid, "country" fans in the past 12+ years in this area, with none of them ever having heard of Leonard. As far as U.S. pop or rock, I agree that they remain pretty much in the dark, as well. My sense has been that Leonard is best known in the alternative-music circles [in the U.S., Texas perhaps being an exception].

When I first saw his video'd performance on A.C.L., I specifically thought how fortunate Austin was to have so many Leonard appreciators.

Elizabeth

I didn't reply to your other comment re: manic-depression, as I have a tough time feeling that someone else's burden is in any way "right" for me. Leonard has, indeed, produced many profound works. I am consumed by admiration and awe that he was able to write at all. However, you know what I'm saying with what I said, and I know what your saying with what you said. Had it been me, an apology would have been either explicit or implicit in the response. But then you're you, and I'm me. [So, even though I "didn't reply," I guess I just did.]

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 4:44 am

I live in NY.....

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jul 02, 2002 5:08 am

Kush.....Your tense wasn't clear in your phrasing. Regardless of where you live now, you lived perhaps near or in Austin, a fairly "hip" area.....at least the show was likely watched more widely in Texas, being a "home- grown" one, than in many of the other 49, regardless of where in that huge state you lived for a long time.

Of course, once aware of the show, even moving to New York, you'd be more likely to follow up with it.

I understand that "country" is surprizingly popular in New York [a huge country concert in Central Park, etc.]. However, Leonard's popularity in New York, I would account to New York, rather than country music.

Elizabeth