leonardcohenforum.com

The Big Apple critic fails to appreciate "Dear Heather"

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/art ... index.html

Now, there's an understatement, Lightning. Unbelievable trashing . It's good to know that this person will never again enter a room where Dear Heather is being enjoyed and appreciated by so many. Leonard has no reason to "look away" from anything or anyone with his creation in Dear Heather. Seeing that picture causes a feeling of sadness in me. I feel the reviewer crossed the boundaries with it, in conjuncting it with his review. Many of his comments also seem very jaded. He sounds like [no idea whether he is] someone who has gotten older and not enjoyed the attention that Leonard has, and carries a certain bitterness.

I like the description of Leonard as "defiantly romantic", and the suggestion that the next album should be just Leonard and his guitar.

Otherwise, this critic's tendency to look down his superior American nose at the poor "creepy" Canadians is, to say the least, unfortunate. He is at least honest enough to admit that he once thought he knew what Leonard was about, and he seems rather piqued that Leonard no longer falls tidily into the same category. I think this review says much more about the reviewer than it does about Dear Heather.

Likewise, more about the reviewer than about Leonard.

Yes, thank you for mentioning his condescending position on all the wonderful Canadian performers, whom he seems to believe have regressed as they became older. 'Superior', 'American' nose is right! This review just leaves a "Yuk" feeling of distaste ~ not about Leonard, not about "Dear Heather."

Otherwise, this critic's tendency to look down his superior American nose at the poor "creepy" Canadians is, to say the least, unfortunate.

Hi Linmag,
I think that is more in good humor than anything else. Its the way French people talk of Belgians and English people talk of the rest of Europe (just kidding). I myself sometimes make some Canadian jokes with and without Canadians present, its quite common.

As for the rest of the review, a person is surely entitled to his opinion. As surely as you are entitled to your opinion of his review .

Hi Kush,

I suppose that's one problem caused by a review being read by an audience it was never intended for. It was written by an american for americans, who would presumably have seen the humour.

I must be getting overly politically correct in my old age - I don't like to see that sort of thing in print.

I don't even buy that it's supposed to be humour. I didn't see any humour in it, and still don't. In fact, the people I've known, where Canadians have been discussed or mentioned, have spoken of them with respect ~ not as the brunt of tasteless 'humour.' If this is this person's idea of humour, this review is a reflection in the mirror, wherein his projections of 'tasteless'ness are coming full-square back where they belong. The review itself is what feels smutty here.

I'd be interested in any review this person may have written regarding Mick Jagger in the past 10 years or so. Where dignity is an issue, Leonard's is impeccable.

There's probably a "Letters to the Editor" section of New York Magazine Online where you can feel free to review the reviewer, criticize the critic. Why not?

Thanks for that information, Lightning. When I get a chance to organize all of those thoughts, and submit them there, I'll do that. I'll definitely do that. I hope some others, who were similarly affected by it, will do the same.