Why do Cohen fans seem to suffer from depression?

rocksoff · Post by **rocksoff** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 3:15 pm

Lenny, contrary to a lot of commentators is not a depressed person, and nor is most of his music. To me it is buzzing with life.

But on this site a lot of the posts seem to have been sent from people who appear to be quite depressed, and/or else seem lifeless and humourless, quite unlike Lenny himself. People out there: WAKE UP and act alive, ferchrissakes.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 3:59 pm

Idiocy, though teeming with energy, does not always equate "life." Nor does lack of it equate "depression."

Howard Stearn may have a site that suits your concept of life.

George.Wright · Post by **George.Wright** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 3:11 am

I agree with you
if people would communicate more
and laugh more, this world would be a better place
and look at things less seriously
Georges

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 5:29 pm

Sometime happy, sometime blue, I am glad that I ran into you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 1:48 am

Lilizzytysh:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You posted that: "Idiocy, though teeming with energy, does not always equate "life." Nor does lack of it equate "depression."

Howard Stearn may have a site that suits your concept of life
zzyetish."

Are you trying to be funny? Keep trying, you may one day succeed. I only hope I'll still have my sight at 90 to be around to be able to read your joke. You sure are humourless, Lezzietuchas!!!

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:09 am

R,
Being wholeheartedly serious, in fact. See my response to your most recent Mt. Baldy Post. It's at least as fitting here, if not moreso. I see ex post facto that one of your Posts [regarding Leonard's art and poem for Hydra-goers] warranted a serious response. Your spelling of my name gave you away; however, I had already read and responded before I saw that and realized it was you. Otherwise, I never would've known.

Going to the lowest common denominator to dredge up humour is humourless in itself. It's the tactic he [Stearns] relies upon. May you live to be 90, regardless of what you read.

~Lizzytysh

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:09 am

Linda...Very appropriate response. Kindness all around.
~Lizzytysh

rocksoff · Post by **rocksoff** » Wed Jul 24, 2002 1:53 am

Lizzy, I can only say that you have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick. But i like your posts anyway. Who is this Stearns guy? Is he German, or what? He sounds fun, Yah?

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Jul 24, 2002 4:46 am

R, It's very clearly a matter of taste regarding Stearns. Check him out on the Internet. I couldn't be more certain that he's there. Not sure Germany would care to claim him, but no, he's not from there. He's out of New York, as I recall....a radio personality, using that term loosely; a radio character would be more accurate. If not New York, then Philadelphia or Chicago....however, until I hear otherwise, I'm holding with New York.
~Lizzytysh

rocksoff · Post by **rocksoff** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:11 am

Liz: Is that the same guy who featured in the movie Private Parts..his life story? He's a riot.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:24 am

I'm not familiar with that movie, R. If anything he did didn't slip by me, I would be amazed. However, given the title, I would have to say if it were going to be anyone's life story, he would be at the top of the list. His primary tactic is accurately summarized with the title, in that he isolates them for purposes of [ahem] humour[?].....the consensus seems to be that either you love him or you hate him. I figured to count you among the former. I, personally, simply have no use for him ~ and can't garner enough emotion in his direction to substantiate "hate."
~Lizzytysh

Irene Teresa · Post by **Irene Teresa** » Sat Jul 27, 2002 6:53 am

I dont know you can tell if one is depressed from their posts?

As some people say LC's music is depressing but to me its totally not at all. So its a matter of who is looking.

I have always found Leonard very beautiful and loving and not really 'got' that depression thing at all - and I am also not usually depressed

So maybe the reason that depressed people ( if in fact this is true ) are attracted to his work is that his gentle, poetic and deep view of life maybe actually be healing to them. Maybe a state of deep appreciation and humor for life is actually just under the surface of depression anyway ....

My thoughts

Irene

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Sat Jul 27, 2002 2:49 pm

I don't find LC's music to be depressing at all, but the opposite. I speak from experience with depression, and his music to me has a way of reaching in and comforting your troubled soul. There is a gentle understanding in his words and then that great sense of humor in some of his songs. In my words, he is a make you feel good about yourself kind of guy.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sat Jul 27, 2002 4:08 pm

Hi Linda, Irene, and all other commenters on the nature of Leonard's music,
This was a topic we explored a lot on the VP Board way back when. The essence of my input then was that I, also, have never found his music/songs to be depressing; though when feeling depressed, his were the music/songs I turned to, to process my feelings, to work through the issues at hand, in that for me they were cathartic.

Leonard's songs impart a true sense of [not to be trite, but it does sum it up quickly] "been there, done that," and for me, I sometimes need to go in to the pain, in order to come through and out of it. His songs have had a releasing, catalytic, transforming effect for me during my most difficult times.

~Lizzytysh

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sat Jul 27, 2002 11:10 pm

I still don't get it......why is everybody out to prove that LC's music is NOT depressing ??? The number of posts denying that fact almost makes the point to the contrary. I think his music is more introspective with a substantial dose of depression, atleast relatively speaking. Well, introspection sort of goes hand in hand with atleast mild depression/nostalgia.

"There are many reasons to cry, in our own life and in what one sees in the world." - Leonard Cohen

Sorrow and solitude
These are precious things
And the only words
That are worth remembering.
- Townes Van Zandt

Why do Cohen fans seem to suffer from depression?

Why do Cohen fans seem to suffer from depression?

To rocksoff