leonardcohenforum.com

A while ago Annie Blue asked for our votes for top three songs for the tour. Thinking that It would be a shame to let this totally unscientific survey go to waste, so I've just spent an hour totting up the scores, (Yes, I really should get a life!)

There's some surprises, but overall, probably not far off. Then again “Ain't no cure for love” had just one vote and “Everybody knows” just three!

So, in all 65 tracks were mentioned, 40 of them getting scattered votes.

Among the top 25 there were................

significant votes for
I can't forget (4 votes)
Tonight will be fine 4
A singer must die 4
The faith 4
I'm your man 4

Bubbling under, the following pack, were
The Partisan 5 votes
Joan of Arc 5
Chelsea Hotel 5
Sisters of Mercy 6
Tower of song 6
Avalanche 6
So long Marianne 7
Seems so long ago, Nancy 7
Story of Isaac 7
Anthem 7
Bird on the wire 8
Suzanne 8
Closing Time 8


Joint sixth place-
Take this Waltz 10 votes
Dance me to the end of love 10
One of us cannot be wrong 10

Fifth place-
In my secret life 11

Joint third place -
Alexandra Leaving 12
Hallelujah 12

Surprise (to me, even though I voted for it) runner-up - If it be your will (14 votes)

But, (Drum roll) The undisputed, unchallenged, outright winner by a country mile - Famous Blue Raincoat (with 24 votes!)

At least next time you hear it said that LC is only famous for “Suzanne” and “Bird” you'll have some evidence to answer back with.

So, all we need now is for Jarkko to forward this setlist to Leonard and we can all relax!

Ha ha ha Brokenhill you are indeed a very sad man lol but the outcome was well worth reading ... well done and fingers crossed

Hi guys
I read the list and comments and enjoyed what i read [ should i get a life] but i have to dissagree with the top vote, i think it is Chelsea Hotel, second the Partisan, and third,Take this waltz.

We all have our favourties Stan but fair play to brokenhill for taking the time to do that, and I love the songs that finished near the top, so here's hoping but really really I don't care what he sings or says, just him being there is enough for me

Hi Tinderella
Im not slagging him of or anything like that,i think its great and wish i could have done it, but i only went to a secondry modern school.[sorry]

Money dont talk it swears

Thanks brokenhill,

I thought about doing it, but was just too lazy!

No worries Stan, I have to say that I disagree too, (but thanks for the support Jondi and Tinderella )

Aha you guessed, it was indeed a grammar school that prepared me for this exciting life where the best thing I can find to do on a Sunday afternoon is to try and unravel the thinkings of the assorted lifeforms that make this board so, well, so! Had I paid attention in said school maybe I'd have been too busy inventing a cure for dread disease or an alternative to Ticketmaster or something.

Famous Blue Raincoat would really struggle into my top 10, and I had to be very strict with myself to avoid slipping in extra votes for The Partisan. As a live track with the Oud in the band, that'll be magic, pure magic!

So feel free to slag off the results. There's too much good stuff out there for anyone to agree with all 25.

Brokenhill (aka Dai)

hi brokenhill

Oh dear! i wish i had never used the word slag off , in reading the replies i feel like i have upset some people even though i probably have not?
when in secondry modern i was told if you cant beat them join them ,cos we were not allowed to think for our selves, so im going back a few years[40] and i think ill change my mind and agree with your poll[what a brilliant choice].

Money doesnt talk it swears.

Interesting to see which songs mean the most to people - perhaps it's partly related to the point in time that they got to know the music? Although some of the early material is great, I'll admit to best liking the songs released when I first heard Mr C - so that's the I'm Your Man and Future albums for me, then.

Ain't no Cure for Love is certainly in my top three - just love the imagery and the soaring refrains contained within the song ("boquet of cactus")and the "walked into an empty church....." middle eight. Take this Waltz is beautiful too (in a dream of Hungarian lanterns!).

But can I also put in a word for "Heart With No Companion" from the Live Songs album. Never heard it anywhere else - couldn't have been produced by anyone else!

Jeremy wrote: But can I also put in a word for "Heart With No Companion" from the Live Songs album. Never heard it anywhere else - couldn't have been produced by anyone else!

Heart With No Companion is not on Live Songs. Presumably you mean Cohen Live. The studio version is on Various Positions.

Thank you, Richard - accuracy is important. And yes, Cohen Live, a brilliant example of just how good live albums can be.

Hallelujah and There is a War especially good "finds" for me when I bought it back in the mid nineties.

I am suprised too that Who by Fire was not on the top 25 list.... I think his live version of that song.... ( along with Hallelujah) on Cohen Live are better than the recorded ( not in front of an audience) versions. Just my humble opinion but I hope he sings both of those live