leonardcohenforum.com

When Leonard was touring in Australia in 2009 we had a terrible bushfire in Victoria, 173 lives were lost and the destruction to properties and wildlife immense. Even though he was still getting on his own feet financially he saw it in his heart to donate $200,000.00 to help the victims - https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/wh ... sne3j.html

LC said: "Sometimes the losses are too deep .. and the pain is too acute for anyone in those circumstances to be comforted. So, far from us to try to comfort those in those circumstances. All we can do is provide blankets, and clothes and shelter and money. That's our position, and we hope it's yours too."

and here too - https://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewt ... nt#p215419

Ten years later I feel he would be pleased that he is once again contributing and helping out with all the terrible current multi bushfires tragedies in Australia by way of his songs being performed at a benefit concert -
https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/6 ... rt/?cs=181

Some of Australia's best-loved musicians will band together to support bushfire-affected communities this month.
Singer, actor and Highlands resident John Waters has organised the FireAid 2020 concert, to raise funds for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the bushfires.
The concert, hosted by Julia Zemiro, will be held at Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse in Bowral on Friday, January 24.
Gates will open at 2pm and the show will start at 3pm.
The line-up will include John Waters, Darryl Braithwaite, John Paul Young, Megan Washington, Jack Jones, Margaret Urlich, Leo Sayer and Stewart D'Arrietta with the songs of Leonard Cohen.

Thanks for posting this, Bev!

Nice of you to say so, Hartmut!

Hi Bev, we are praying for fire relief for Aussie's weary people and critters and hope you are safe.

Glad you posted about Leonard's gracious fire relief gift ten years ago, I had forgotten about that kind gesture.

Looked up Stewart D'Arrietta, his will be an interesting performance to say the least. Saw this on youtube:

https://youtu.be/27U_ZVj9XPI

4

Hi Curt, Lovely to catch up with you!
I'm safe where I live. We had fires and lots of smoke here about a month ago.
Properties and animals were lost but not on the scale as in the other states at the moment.
So good of people to help out and I hope they raise a lot of money for the fire victims.
It's a comforting thought that Leonard is once again through his music playing a part in doing that too.

EDIT:
There are more benefit concerts but this one caught my eye - https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment ... spartandhp
One of the singers is k.d. lang and most probably she will sing Leonard's 'H' song

EDIT:
And that last statement is now confirmed -

...KD Lang, who will perform her showstopping rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah...

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/ce ... 53qs0.html

and here too - https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/kd-lan ... 2020-01-13
Monday, January 13, 2020
k.d. lang to Perform in Fire Fight Australia Concert for Bushfire Relief on February 16

k.d. lang will be among the artists to perform in the Fire Fight Australia concert on Sunday, February 16, 2020, to benefit bushfire relief in Australia. The nine-plus-hour event will take place at ANZ Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park and will be hosted by writer, actor, and comedian Celeste Barber, who has already raised more than $50 million towards bushfire relief. lang will perform two songs, including her famed rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Also scheduled to perform are Queen + Adam Lambert, Alice Cooper, and a score of Australian musicians, including Olivia Newton-John, with many more to be announced.

I can't resist adding this "shocking" statement about singer "o"k.d. lang and her version of Hallelujah

“Grammy award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter ok.d. lang will carry out two songs together with her shocking rendition of “Hallelujah”, the Leonard Cohen vintage.

https://dailyresearchstack.com/2020/01/ ... reduction/

B4real wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2020 4:59 am I can't resist adding this "shocking" statement about singer "o"k.d. lang and her version of Hallelujah

“Grammy award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter ok.d. lang will carry out two songs together with her shocking rendition of “Hallelujah”, the Leonard Cohen vintage.

...

That's just bizarre, including the syntax. I clicked on the link you provided, and the entire article reads like something that was translated (badly) from a language other than English by google or some such thing.

Nonetheless, I wish all the best to those who have suffered losses in the fires.

Yes, for whatever reason, it certainly does appear to be "bad" English

And thanks for your best wishes about the fires.
You know, there have been so many people here and all over the world who are helping out in their own ways.
It surely gives you reassurance about the inherent goodness of human nature!

I watched this last night on my local TV.
The whole Fire Fight Australia concert went for 10 hours and was broadcast globally too.
All the artists and crew donated their time and talent for free -so generous of them!!

Here are two videos of k.d. Lang singing Hallelujah -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFuB-hkGiro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2XgwVoTGM

She first sang "The Valley" just after they displayed the names and ages of some of those who had died in the fires - other names were withheld for various reasons.