Happiness is going to a Leonard Cohen Concert!

[LadyLilley]

I live in New Zealand, and as such, we are often thought of as being ‘just that island off Australia’.
We are a country in our own right, even if there are only 4 million of us.
Just like everyone else we have our favorite singers but most of them hail from Europe or Canada and the USA.
The chances of seeing them live in concert is a miracle….to get an autograph…well…impossible!

I’ve revered Leonard Cohen and his work for some time and seeing him in concert was on my ‘bucket list’.
I have a couple of his dvd’s but its just not the same is it. To listen to The Man himself along with like-minded people has to be the ultimate experience.

I learned that Mr. Cohen was to go on tour and having saved earnestly for just such an occasion I decided it was now or never.
But which country to fly to? Which Venue would give me the best of everything?
On a dial up connection I was spending most nights reading reviews and suggestions and coming up with nothing except
sweaty palms for fear of making the wrong choice.

Visiting France was also on my bucket list…could I manage the two? But then I would have the task of convincing my spouse
who doesn’t share my admiration of either, come with me? I’d be doing the trip alone.
Under pressure also from closing sales, ‘sold out’ signs on the obvious choices, I was fast running out of options.

But when you’ve been waiting for a miracle to come, faith can deliver it.

An email from an eventfinder which arrives at intervals heralding news of travelling musicians
touring New Zealand. There it was….Leonard Cohen!
Yeah right I said to my husband….another lookalike…or soundalike….but NOT the real Leonard Cohen.

I have two tickets, row 8. January 22nd Auckland New Zealand.

I’d like to say that there is no happier Leonard Cohen fan.

What constitutes a happy fan? It’s a bit like explaining what it is like to be in love. You know it when
it happens.

I can best describe how I feel this way. Leonard Cohen makes me happy.
When I hear his voice, it calms me. His words make sense when not much else around me does.
He is in my world, I invite him in. He will never know me, nor will I ever know him.
But we share something.
And as his fans, we also share something together.
Call it joy…call it happiness, call it madness…it doesn’t really matter what name you give it.
We understand and smile.

For a short while in both our lives Mr Cohen and I will share the same time zone, he will sing
and I will listen, and I’ll be very very happy.

Lilley - Marlene

[reubensmum]

Hi Lilley -Marlene,
You are so lucky to have this to look forward to - I went to Leonard's Montreux concert (and others), and I can honestly say that it is the best thing I have ever seen in my life. Words cannot describe the happiness I felt.
Enjoy!
Alison

[LadyLilley]

Thanks Alison,

I consider myself very fortunate indeed. When I read the reviews they are always fantastic which says
alot for Leonard and his team. I have no idea what to expect, not having ever seen him perform before,
but I just know I will never forget this concert! Once my feet are back on the ground I'll be sure to be
giving a full report! Only seven more sleeps to go!

Lilley - Marlene

[Andrew (Darby)]

Hi Lilley - Marlene

Your email about what the prospect of finally see Leonard in concert meant to you, struck a real chord with me , so I'm now wondering how the experience actually was for you?

I hope you will be able to find some more apt words to express this!

Cheers
Andrew

[LadyLilley]

Please forgive my absence and slow response to recall my experience at Mr Leonard Cohen’s Auckland concert.

I have read the reviews given by professional writers and of fans, and I can verify that all they have said is
the truth! Words actually fail me, how I wish I could express myself better, if only for this one time alone!

It wasn’t just a concert, it was more of an experience.

I had never before seen Leonard in person and previously only seen a couple of dvd’s so to see him with my own eyes was indeed wonderful. To watch his hand almost cup the microphone, to see a smile develop and widen more on one side than the other, to offer all a cheeky smile, was so endearing.
If there could be one word that best describes him, it is humility. It is around him and in him at all times.
When you see him you can’t help but want to sit at his feet and listen to all that he has to say. He hesitates and lowers his eyes, as if giving great thought to everything before he speaks. You find yourself holding your breath in anticipation. Then sighing when the last word is spoken. And you are left smiling like you have found something that was long ago lost.



He came to the edge of the stage and stood so quiet and still looking far into the crowd and then in the softest kindest voice I have ever heard, proceeded to utter the lines of A Thousand Kisses Deep. I believe
there were 15,000 people in the Vector Arena, and you could not hear the slightest sound…not even of breathing. Not a cough, nor the shuffle on a hard seat, nothing accidentally dropped to the floor. He had a look on his face as if he were speaking to God Himself and we were his witnesses.
When the last word was spoken, I was in tears, as I’m sure many others were also. There was an atmosphere amongst the crowd of momentary confusion. Still spellbound by what they had just witnessed and utter admiration of such a man. You wanted to leap from your seat and give a standing ovation, yet your legs were heavy and your body motionless because you were still trying to come to terms with what had just happened. We didn’t just hear the lines from A Thousand Kisses Deep. We had BEEN A Thousand Kisses Deep!

This wonderful man took us on a journey of his life. His songs had been written over many years yet on Thursday night he gave them to us fresh and with meaning. His hands and face seem to take them from within his very soul. As an offering to us, as if paying us a debt. He would gracefully remove his fedora to humble himself before his band and to us his loving audience. And all the while, he would smile so peacefully, looking around him, then lowing his eyes as if he were not worthy of such applause, such admiration.

He spoke more as the evening moved on, and what touched me most was seeing him standing there at the end, his head bowed, his hat held across his chest, and with such sincerity thanked us all for keeping his music alive. It wasn’t so much what he said, but the way that he said those words. The humble way he stood before us all, the softness in his voice, it cannot be described, it can only be felt.

If you have the opportunity or if you can make the opportunity to see this unique man you will see and feel all of what I have tried to describe. Words are useless, well they are for me, I cannot put them in the right places to express the gratitude and happiness I feel. Nor can I find the words to tell you all how much I admire that man. Only he seems to have the gift of words. What a precious gift he has.

Anyone yet to witness what we all did on the 22nd January, will be truly blessed.

Thank you Leonard, and thank you for giving life to the words.


Lilley-Marlene

[ladydi]

*

[Andrew (Darby)]

Lilley-Marlene, that's such a moving report - thank you!

Despite what you say to the contrary, you so beautifully capture with your words what Leonard does for all of us who are on that same wavelength!

Cheers,
Andrew

[reubensmum]

Hi Lilley-Marlene,
I've been waiting to hear about your experience of Leonard's concert.
You have managed to put into words everything I myself felt, and more.
Thanks you, and I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!
Alison xxxxxxx

[MaryB]

Please forgive my absence and slow response to recall my experience at Mr Leonard Cohen’s Auckland concert.

I have read the reviews given by professional writers and of fans, and I can verify that all they have said is
the truth! Words actually fail me, how I wish I could express myself better, if only for this one time alone!

Lilley-Marlene

Ahh Lilley-Marlene,
Your description of your experience at the concert was enthralling and soooooo much better than probably all the reviews I have read. You put into words what so many of us feel after/while seeing him in concert. Thank you so very much for that!

Kindest regards,
Mary

[willo]

Lilly-Marlene thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I have been waiting for your review ever since I read your comments in the opening of this thread.

we the converted understand very well your feelings that you express so eloquently about Leonard and his work. I felt as you do after two wonderful nights in Dublin in june and i hope many more fans get so see/hear this living legend like you and I for the first time in the twilght of his career

[LadyLilley]

Thanks to each of you for your encouraging words.
I knew that I would not be alone with my feelings. No one surely could attend one of Leonard’s concerts and not be affected by his presence in some way. Even today, I am still a little ‘shell shocked’ I have to admit and find the concert replaying in my mind, and this has been quite blissful!

I would also like to share with those of you who may be interested, an unexpected little bonus.
You may recall me mentioning that my husband was not a fan of Leonard’s music.. Or rather pointedly, found his voice ‘dirgy’…this was something I could not understand. To me it sounds beautiful.
But I digress.
My other-half reluctantly accompanied me. Not through any great desire I can assure you. He had already tried to bribe fellow workmates, and well, anyone he could think of, who might be otherwise encouraged shall we say to take his place!

I insisted that he should come with me and that he may find that he would enjoy it. I did also offer to accompany him if he wanted to see Andre Reiu. Yes…I was that desperate!

I caught him searching the net for news and reviews of the concerts Leonard had already done. As they had been most favorable he decided to attend, especially as I had been most fortunate to get good seats.

You most probably have guessed what happened?
Yes. Leonard Cohen managed to seduce him with his words and velvety voice. The superb band, the lovely Webb sisters and not forgetting lovely Sharon all wove their magic that night. And my poor Englishman did not stand a chance.

No longer do I hear that Leonard’s voice is grating on his nerves. Instead, I hear that the cd’s do not do his voice justice.

But the pièce de résistance is this. He phoned me to say that he had tried to secure a flight to Melbourne and tickets to Leonard’s concert there. Two tickets, one for me and one for him. It was only the fact that he couldn’t get time off work that spoiled his plan.
I reckon he is a convert, what do you think ?

Lilley-Marlene

[Andrew (Darby)]

Lilley-Marlene

That is just so cool - I am so happy for you! Convincing non-believers of Leonard's worth can be such a difficult thing, particularly when they keep regurgitating the "music to slit your wrists to" angle from 30 plus years ago!

What a superb bonus for you

Cheers
Andrew

[LadyLilley]

Yes Andrew, if someone has already formed their opinion of what they 'think' the music is about
or even just what they think they can hear, its hard to 'let the light in'. But Leonard's own beautiful
persona shone a beam onto a cynics soul.

Now that Leonard is in Australia, it won't be long before you too get your opportunity to see this
superb concert. I'll be watching for a report from your good self in due course.
Best Wishes,
Lilley-Marlene

[pe swijngedouw]

dear lady lilley

thank you for sharing your feelings about your leonard cohen concert ; you really are describing what a lot of us are experiencing.
and that is exactly what is so confusing : i went to see him in bruges in the summer, and to paris in winter, and even if both concerts were rather different, leaving some songs behind, and adding "new" ones in the fall tour, mr cohen grabbed me by the throat, at exactly the same moments, in exactly the same way, at both occasions, with exactly the same words and gestures, and i never had a feeling that this was not a unique moment, even if i had heard several recordings of previous shows - which is not at all the right word for these evenings of delight - and so i knew most of the words and jokes and bending of words.
i don't think this is just a "performance", i don't think someone could "act" this convincingly, even though he is repeating this act everyday again ; so i don't know what this really is ; miracles happen only once, but this happens over and over again ; even now, listening to the moncton recording, tears come back, and i never thought i was that sentimental, so i am really very confused, now.
but perhaps that's the time of day, it's getting late, here, so i'll wish you goodnight, or goodmorning that is, to you.

pe

[Irene Teresa]

I second what everyone else has said lilley marlene. Thanks so much for your first post and your review of the concert. You put into words what so many of us feel and experience.

Yes Andrew, if someone has already formed their opinion of what they 'think' the music is about
or even just what they think they can hear, its hard to 'let the light in'. But Leonard's own beautiful
persona shone a beam onto a cynics soul.

BIG SMILE


ps My dad aged 2 years old than the man,and alot less cool has just recently in his older age become a fan . *smile* we gave him a mp3 player for Christmas and loaded it with various muisc including Leonard. Last night he rings me up singing everybody knows. It was funny