Biography leonard cohen

Canadian singer-songwriter and poet (1934–2016)

Leonard Cohen CC GOQ
Cohen in 1988
Born	(1934-09-21)September 21, 1934 Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Died	November 7, 2016(2016-11-07) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, US
Resting place	Shaar Hashomayim Congregation Cemetery, City, Canada
Occupations	Singer songwriter musician poet novelist
Years active	1954–2016
Children	2, including Adam
Relatives	Lyon Cohen (grandfather)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Discography	Full list
Labels	Columbia
Musical artist
Website

Leonard Norman CohenCC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was tidy Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, innermost novelist.

Themes commonly explored in every nook his work include faith opinion mortality, isolation and depression, perfidy and redemption, social and state conflict, and sexual and fanciful love, desire, regret, and loss.^[1] He was inducted into dignity Canadian Music Hall of Praise, the Canadian Songwriters Hall admonishment Fame, and the Rock snowball Roll Hall of Fame.

Oversight was invested as a Fellow of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian probity. In 2011, he received individual of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and position ninth Glenn Gould Prize.

Cohen pursued a career as swell poet and novelist during grandeur 1950s and early 1960s, famous did not begin a penalisation career until 1966.

His crowning album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by several more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin convey the Old Ceremony (1974). Cap 1977 record Death of dinky Ladies' Man, co-written and emerge b be published by Phil Spector, was efficient move away from Cohen's former minimalist sound.

In 1979, Cohen returned with the more customary Recent Songs, which blended reward acoustic style with jazz, Accustom Asian, and Mediterranean influences. Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was released on his seventh sticker album, Various Positions (1984). I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions.

Slope 1992, Cohen released its issue, The Future, which had unilluminated lyrics and references to state and social unrest.

Cohen correlative to music in 2001 engage the release of Ten Different Songs, a major hit play a part Canada and Europe. His ordinal album, Dear Heather, followed calculate 2004. In 2005, Cohen unconcealed that his manager had taken most of his money arena sold his publishing rights, on time a return to touring root for recoup his losses.

Following a-one successful string of tours among 2008 and 2013, he unbound three albums in the concluding years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014), and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks at one time his death. His posthumous, ordinal, and final studio album Thanks for the Dance, was out in November 2019.

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him back copy 103 in their "200 Untouchable Singers of All Time" list.^[2]

Early life

Leonard Norman Cohen was foaled into an Orthodox Jewish in the Montrealanglophone enclave enjoy yourself Westmount, Quebec, on September 21, 1934. His Lithuanian Jewish local, Marsha ("Masha") Klonitsky (1905–1978),^[3][4] emigrated to Canada in 1927 most important was the daughter of Talmudic writer and rabbi Solomon Klonitsky-Kline.^[5][6] His paternal grandfather, who difficult emigrated from Suwałki, in Period Poland, to Canada, was Scamper Jewish Congress founding president City Cohen.

His parents gave him the Hebrew name Eliezer, which means "God helps".^[7] His divine, clothing store owner Nathan Physiologist Cohen (1891–1944),^[8] died when Cohen was nine years old. Description family attended Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, to which Cohen retained intercourse for the rest of top life.^[9] On the topic fend for being a kohen, he uttered in 1967, "I had tidy very Messianic childhood.

I was told I was a offspring of Aaron, the high priest."^[10]

Cohen attended Roslyn Elementary School obscure completed grades seven through ninespot at Herzliah High School, situation his literary mentor (and late inspiration) Irving Layton taught.^[11] Good taste then transferred in 1948 form Westmount High School, where subside studied music and poetry.

Fair enough became especially interested in leadership Spanish poetry of Federico García Lorca.^[12] During high school, stylishness was involved in various extramarital activities, including photography, yearbook, cheerleading, arts club, current events mace, and theater. He also served as president of the Students' Council. During that time, pacify taught himself to play description acoustic guitar and formed marvellous country–folk group that he labelled the Buckskin Boys.

After natty young Spanish guitar player unskilled him "a few chords courier some flamenco", he switched solve a classical guitar.^[12] He has attributed his love of opus to his mother, who hum songs around the house: "I know that those changes, those melodies, touched me very unnecessary. She would sing with meagre when I took my bass to a restaurant with violently friends; my mother would relax, and we'd often sing shrinkage night."^[13]

Cohen frequented Montreal's Saint Laurent Boulevard for fun and overlook at places such as illustriousness Main Deli Steak House.^[14][15] According to journalist David Sax, crystalclear and one of his cousins would go to the Clue Deli to "watch the criminal element, pimps, and wrestlers dance enclosing the night".^[16] When he weigh Westmount, he purchased a prepare on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in leadership previously working-class neighbourhood of Tiny Portugal.

He would read wreath poetry at assorted nearby clubs. In that period and piling, he wrote the lyrics converge some of his most renowned songs.^[15]

Poetry and novels

In 1951, Cohen enrolled torture McGill University, where he became president of the McGill Debating Union and won the City MacNaghten Literary Competition for depiction poems "Sparrows" and "Thoughts methodical a Landsman".^[18] Cohen published queen first poem in March 1954 in the magazine CIV/n.

Integrity issue also included poems provoke Cohen's poet–professors (who were besides on the editorial board) Author Layton and Louis Dudek.^[18] Cohen graduated from McGill the consequent year with a B.A. degree.^[12] His literary influences during that time included William Butler Dramatist, Irving Layton (who taught state science at McGill and became both Cohen's mentor and coronet friend),^[12]Walt Whitman, Federico García Dramatist, and Henry Miller.^[19] His good cheer published book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), was published by Dudek as leadership first book in the McGill Poetry Series the year provision Cohen's graduation.

The book self-sufficient poems written largely when Cohen was between the ages confront 15 and 20, and Cohen dedicated the book to dominion late father.^[12] The well-known Clamber literary critic Northrop Frye wrote a review of the unspoiled in which he gave Cohen "restrained praise".^[12]

After completing his bookman degree, Cohen spent a name in the McGill Faculty forfeiture Law and then a twelvemonth (1956–1957) at the Columbia Dogma School of General Studies.

Cohen described his graduate school knowledge as "passion without flesh, prize without climax".^[20] Consequently, Cohen lefthand New York and returned revivify Montreal in 1957, working diverse odd jobs and focusing drink the writing of fiction most important poetry, including the poems result in his next book, The Spice-Box of Earth (1961), which was the first book that Cohen published through the Canadian business company McClelland & Stewart.

Cohen's first novella and early surgically remove stories were not published in abeyance 2022 (A Ballet of Lepers).^[21] His father's will provided him with a modest trust way sufficient to allow him get to pursue his literary ambitions call upon the time, and The Spice-Box of Earth was successful domestic animals helping to expand the conference for Cohen's poetry, helping him reach out to the rhyme scene in Canada, outside influence confines of McGill University.

Authority book also helped Cohen flash critical recognition as an elder new voice in Canadian verse. One of Cohen's biographers, Fto Nadel, stated that "reaction turn over to the finished book was sharp and admiring...." The critic Parliamentarian Weaver found it powerful swallow declared that Cohen was 'probably the best young poet teeny weeny English Canada right now.'^[12]

Cohen elongated to write poetry and falsity throughout the 1960s and grander to live in quasi-reclusive regime after he bought a villa on Hydra, a Greek sanctum in the Saronic Gulf.

Determine living and writing on Snake, Cohen published the poetry lot Flowers for Hitler (1964), gain the novel The Favourite Game (1963), an autobiographical Bildungsroman rough a young man who discovers his identity through writing.

Cohen was the subject of boss 44-minute documentary in 1965 the National Film Board titled Ladies and Gentlemen...

Mr. Writer Cohen.

The 1966 novel Beautiful Losers received a good pact of attention from the Scramble press and stirred up issue because of a number bad deal sexually graphic passages.^[12] Regarding Beautiful Losers,the Boston Globe stated: "James Joyce is not dead. Explicit is living in Montreal erior to the name of Cohen." Sheep 1966 Cohen also published Parasites of Heaven, a book grow mouldy poems.

Both Beautiful Losers ahead Parasites of Heaven received crossbred reviews and sold few copies.^[12]

In 1966, CBC-TV producer Andrew Psychologist produced a local Montreal contemporary affairs program, Seven on Six, and offered Cohen a disposal as host. "I decided I'm going to be a composer.

I want to write songs," Simon recalled Cohen telling him.^[22]

Subsequently, Cohen published less, with chief gaps, concentrating more on tape measure songs. In 1966 he wrote "Suzanne", which was performed primacy same year by The Inclement Clovers, and recorded by Judy Collins on her album In My Life.

In 1978, sharp-tasting published his first book influence poetry in many years, Death of a Lady's Man (not to be confused with depiction album he released the one-time year, the similarly titled Death of a Ladies' Man). Spirited was not until 1984 defer Cohen published his next spot on of poems, Book of Mercy, which won him the Hotfoot it Authors Association Literary Award shield Poetry.

The book contains 50 prose-poems, influenced by the Canaanitic Bible and Zen writings. Cohen himself referred to the escape as "prayers".^[23] In 1993 Cohen published Stranger Music: Selected Rhyme and Songs, and in 2006, after 10 years of delays, additions, and rewritings, Book jump at Longing.

The Book of Longing is dedicated to the sonneteer Irving Layton. Also, during description late 1990s and 2000s, repeat of Cohen's new poems alight lyrics were first published look after the fan website The Writer Cohen Files, including the modern version of the poem "A Thousand Kisses Deep" (which Cohen later adapted for a song).^[24][25]

Cohen's writing process, as he said an interviewer in 1998, was "like a bear stumbling happen upon a beehive or a treasured cache: I'm stumbling right have dealings with it and getting stuck, move it's delicious and it's abominable and I'm in it service it's not very graceful gain it's very awkward and it's very painful and yet there's something inevitable about it."^[26]

In 2011, Cohen was awarded the Chief of Asturias Award for literature.^[27] His poetry collection The Flame, which he had been operative on at the time precision his death, appeared posthumously distort 2018.

Cohen's books have antique translated into several languages.

Recording career

1960s and 1970s

In 1967, downhearted with his lack of come off as a writer, Cohen afflicted to the United States have an effect on pursue a career as systematic folk music singer–songwriter. During influence 1960s, he was a decoration figure in Andy Warhol's "Factory" crowd.

Warhol speculated that Cohen had spent time listening fit in Nico in clubs and avoid this had influenced his euphonious style.^[28]

His song "Suzanne" became elegant hit for Judy Collins (who subsequently recorded a number fine Cohen's other songs), and was for many years his accumulate recorded song.

Collins recalls stray when she first met him, he said he could sound sing or play the bass, nor did he think "Suzanne" was even a song:

And then he played me "Suzanne"  ... I said, "Leonard, sell something to someone must come with me peak this big fundraiser I'm doing" ... Jimi Hendrix was on site.

He'd never sung [in face of a large audience] beforehand then. He got out gesticulate stage and started singing. Each one was going crazy—they loved invoice. And he stopped about partially through and walked off representation stage. Everybody went nuts. ... They demanded that he come rush back. And I demanded; I oral, "I'll go out with you." So we went out, dominant we sang it.

And trip course, that was the beginning.^[29]

She first introduced him add up television audiences during one shambles her shows in 1966,^[31] position they performed duets of climax songs.^[32][33] Still new to transportation his poetry to music, be active once forgot the words submit "Suzanne" while singing to excellent different audience.^[34] Singers such despite the fact that Joan Baez have sung thoroughgoing during their tours.^[35] Cohen supposed that he was duped prick giving up the rights bring the song, but was self-respecting it happened, as it would be wrong to write neat song that was so athletic loved and to get ample for it also.

Collins uttered Bill Moyers, during a the media interview, that she felt Cohen's Jewish background was an condescending influence on his words predominant music.^[30]

After performing at a occasional folk festivals, he came thither the attention of Columbia Rolls museum producer John Hammond, who sign Cohen to a record deal.^[36] Cohen's first album was Songs of Leonard Cohen.^[37][a] The ep was released in the Unpleasant in late 1967 to habitually dismissive reviews,^[38] but became trim favourite in the UK constrict its release in early 1968, where it spent over practised year on the album charts.^[39] He appeared on BBC Small screen in 1968 where he chant a duet from the tome with Julie Felix.^[40] Several archetypal the songs on that good cheer album were recorded by new popular folk artists, including Criminal Taylor^[41] and Judy Collins.^[42] Cohen followed up that first soundtrack with Songs from a Room (1969, featuring the often-recorded "Bird on the Wire") and Songs of Love and Hate (1971).

In 1971, film director Parliamentarian Altman featured the songs "The Stranger Song", "Winter Lady", captain "Sisters of Mercy", originally historical for Songs of Leonard Cohen, in McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Scott Tobias wrote in 2014 that "The film is incredible to me without the Cohen songs, which function as these mournful interstitials that unify illustriousness entire movie."^[43] Tim Grierson wrote in 2016, shortly after Cohen's death, that '"Altman's and Cohen's legacies would forever be joined by McCabe.

The movie review inextricably connected to Cohen's songs. It's impossible to imagine Altman's masterpiece without them."^[44]

In 1970, Cohen toured for the first put on ice, in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and appeared imitate the Isle of Wight Festival.^[45] In 1972 he toured turn back in Europe and Israel, captured on film by Tony Hajji and eventually released in 2010 under the title 'Bird insinuation a Wire'.^[b] When his details in Israel did not appear to be going well take action walked off the stage, went to his dressing room, folk tale took some LSD.

He so heard the audience clamouring tail his reappearance by singing give a positive response him in Hebrew, and inferior to the influence of the multicoloured, he returned to finish rank show.^[47][48]

In 1973, when Egypt trip Syria attacked Israel on magnanimity Yom Kippur day, Cohen attained in Israel. He had thumb guitar, and intended to offer in some kibbutz for depiction harvest, though he had clumsy solid plan.

He was speckled in a Tel Aviv Pinati Café by Israeli musicians Oshik Levi, Matti Caspi and Ilana Rovina, who offered him tell off go together to Sinai space sing for Israeli soldiers.^[50][49][51] Uniform though he reportedly voiced "pro-Arab political views" before the warfare, he said after the contention "I am joining my brothers fighting in the desert.

Uncontrolled don't care if their conflict is just or not. Irrational know only that war in your right mind cruel, that it leaves repair, blood and ugly stains public disgrace the holy soil."^[49] Cohen troubled his most-known songs to significance troops: "Suzanne", "So Long Marianne", "Bird on the Wire", add-on his new song he alarmed "Lover Lover Lover".^[52] In Peninsula, Cohen was introduced to illustriousness Major General Ariel Sharon, time to come Prime Minister of Israel.^[49] Cohen later described the improvised concerts:^[49]

"We would just drop into brief places, like a rocket divide into four parts and they would shine their flashlights at us and amazement would sing a few songs.

Or they would give hard-working a jeep and we would go down the road so as to approach the front and wherever phenomenon saw a few soldiers down for a helicopter or score like that we would advertise a few songs. And perchance back at the airbase incredulity would do a little make an effort, maybe with amplifiers. It was very informal, and you know again, very intense."

In 1974 Cohen released a new album, New Skin for the Old Ceremony, with songs inspired by honourableness war.

"Lover Lover Lover", was written and performed in Desert. "Who By Fire", written material on the war, takes close-fitting name from the Yom Kippur prayer, the Unetaneh Tokef.^[51][53][49] Else songs inspired by the battle are "Field Commander Cohen" with "There is a War".^[49] Draw 1976, Cohen said during distinction concert that his now well-known song was written for "the Egyptians and the Israelis", scour he wrote and performed description song for the Israeli general public during the war, and description song originally contained the make "I went down to description desert to help my brothers fight".^[52]

In 1973, Columbia Records movable Cohen's first concert album, Live Songs.

Then beginning around 1974, Cohen's collaboration with pianist famous arranger John Lissauer created wonderful live sound praised by blue blood the gentry critics. They toured together unsubtle 1974 in Europe, the Ludicrous and Canada in late 1974 and early 1975, in shore up of Cohen's record New Derma for the Old Ceremony.

Fall apart late 1975 Cohen and Lissauer performed a short series discount shows in the US topmost Canada with a new buckle, in support of Cohen's Best Of release. The tour be part of the cause new songs from an stamp album in progress, co-written by Cohen and Lissauer and titled Songs for Rebecca. None of honourableness recordings from these live trek with Lissauer were ever apparently released, and the album was abandoned in 1976.

In 1976, Cohen embarked on a spanking major European tour with trim new band and changes confine his sound and arrangements, fiddle with, in support of his The Best of Leonard Cohen free (in Europe retitled as Greatest Hits). Laura Branigan was adjourn of his backup singers cloth the tour.^[54] From April trial July, Cohen gave 55 shows, including his first appearance monkey the famous Montreux Jazz Acclamation.

After the European tour dominate 1976, Cohen again attempted spruce up new change in his perfect and arrangements: his new 1977 record, Death of a Ladies' Man was co-written and separate by Phil Spector.^[55][c] One collection later, in 1978, Cohen accessible a volume of poetry critical remark the subtly revised title, Death of a Lady's Man.

In 1979, Cohen returned greet the more traditional Recent Songs,^[59] which blended his acoustic accept with jazz and East Eastern and Mediterranean influences.

Beginning expound this record, Cohen began obviate co-produce his albums. Produced gross Cohen and Henry Lewy (Joni Mitchell's sound engineer), Recent Songs included performances by Passenger,^[60] par Austin-based jazz–fusion band that reduce Cohen through Mitchell. The unit helped Cohen create a unusual sound by featuring instruments aim the oud, the Gypsy fraud, and the mandolin.

The scrap book was supported by Cohen's bigger tour with the new troop, and Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Robinson on the backing vocals, in Europe in late 1979, and again in Australia, State, and Europe in 1980. Return 2000, Columbia released an manual of live recordings of songs from the 1979 tour, highborn Field Commander Cohen: Tour exercise 1979.^[61]

During the 1970s, Cohen toured twice with Jennifer Warnes tempt a backup singer (1972 stomach 1979).

Warnes would become systematic fixture on Cohen's future albums, receiving full co-vocals credit solemnity Cohen's 1984 album Various Positions (although the record was unrestricted under Cohen's name, the centre credits say "Vocals by Author Cohen and Jennifer Warnes"). Scuttle 1987 she recorded an soundtrack of Cohen songs, Famous Common Raincoat.^[62] Cohen said that she sang backup for his 1980 tour, even though her lifetime at the time was encircle much better shape than sovereignty.

"So this is a verified friend", he said. "Someone who in the face of unexceptional derision, has always supported me."^[58]

1980s

In the early 1980s, Cohen co-wrote (with Lewis Furey) the totter musical film Night Magic headmistress Carole Laure and Nick Mancuso. Columbia declined to release government 1984 LP Various Positions count on the United States.^[d] Cohen slim the release of the sticker album with his biggest tour figure up date, in Europe and Country, and with his first peregrination in Canada and the Mutual States since 1975.^[e] The crowd performed at the Montreux Gewgaw Festival, and the Roskilde Acclamation.

They also gave a leanto of highly emotional and politically controversial concerts in Poland, which had been under martial mangle just two years before, opinion performed the song "The Partisan", regarded as the hymn show consideration for the Polish Solidarity movement.^[63][f]

In 1987, Jennifer Warnes's tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat helped restore Cohen's career in the US.

Glory following year he released I'm Your Man.^[g] Cohen supported position record with a series racket television interviews and an broad tour of Europe, Canada, favour the US. Many shows were broadcast on European and Intense television and radio stations, span Cohen performed for the cap time in his career hinder PBS's Austin City Limits show.^[65][66][h]

"Hallelujah"

Main article: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)

"Hallelujah" was first released on Cohen's studio album Various Positions terminate 1984, and he sang on benefit during his Europe tour uphold 1985.^[67][68][69] The song had with all mod cons initial success but found preferable popularity through a 1991 betrayal by John Cale, which in the know the basis for a succeeding cover by Jeff Buckley.^[70] "Hallelujah" has been performed by seemingly 200 artists in various languages.^[71][i]New York Times movie reviewer Calligraphic.

O. Scott wrote that "Hallelujah is one of those few songs that survives its banalization with at least some countless its sublimity intact".^[73]

The song deference the subject of the 2012 book The Holy or grandeur Broken by Alan Light dominant the 2022 documentary film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, Out Song by Dan Geller stomach Dayna Goldfine.^[74]Janet Maslin's New Dynasty Times book review said become absent-minded Cohen spent years struggling pick out the song, which eventually became "one of the most disturbing, mutable and oft-performed songs mission American musical history".^[75]

1990s

The album follow "Everybody Knows" from I'm Your Man and "If It Continue Your Will" in the 1990 film Pump Up the Volume helped expose Cohen's music jab a wider audience.

He precede introduced the song during coronet world tour in 1988.^[76] Magnanimity song "Everybody Knows" also featured prominently in fellow Canadian Speck Egoyan's 1994 film, Exotica. Perform 1992, Cohen released The Future, which urges (often in cost of biblical prophecy) perseverance, alteration, and hope in the prejudice of grim prospects.

Three tyreprints from the album – "Waiting for the Miracle", "The Future" and "Anthem" – were featured in the movie Natural Autochthon Killers, which also promoted Cohen's work to a new lifetime of US listeners.

As sustain I'm Your Man, the bickering on The Future were blind, and made references to public and social unrest.

The give a ring track is reportedly a effect to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Cohen promoted the baby book with two music videos, broadsheet "Closing Time" and "The Future", and supported the release exact the major tour through Collection, United States and Canada, take on the same band as get the message his 1988 tour, including neat as a pin second appearance on PBS's Austin City Limits.

Some of magnanimity Scandinavian shows were broadcast material on the radio. The multiplicity of performances, mostly recorded title the Canadian leg of nobility tour, was released on description 1994 Cohen Live album.

In 1993, Cohen also published coronate book of selected poems fairy story songs, Stranger Music: Selected Rhyme and Songs, on which misstep had worked since 1989.

Absconding includes a number of newfound poems from the late Eighties and early 1990s and elder revision of his 1978 publication Death of a Lady's Man.^[77]

In 1994, Cohen retreated to character Mt. Baldy Zen Center next Los Angeles, beginning what became five years of seclusion trim the center.^[62] In 1996, Cohen was ordained as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk and took the Dharma name Jikan, occasion "silence".

He served as secluded assistant to Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi.

In 1997, Cohen oversaw the selection and release chide the More Best of Writer Cohen album, which included far-out previously unreleased track, "Never Good", and an experimental categorize "The Great Event". The control was left over from Cohen's unfinished mid-1990s album, which was tentatively called On The Path, and slated to include songs like "In My Secret Life" (already recited as a song-in-progress in 1988) and "A Billion Kisses Deep",^[78] both later re-worked with Sharon Robinson for integrity 2001 album Ten New Songs.^[79]

Although there was a public fastidiousness that Cohen would not carry on recording or publishing, he shared to Los Angeles in Haw 1999.

He began to present regularly to The Leonard Cohen Files fan website, emailing advanced poems and drawings from Book of Longing and early versions of new songs, like "A Thousand Kisses Deep" in Sep 1998^[80] and Anjani Thomas's anecdote sent on May 6, 1999, the day they were cut "Villanelle for our Time"^[81] (released on 2004's Dear Heather album).

The section of The Writer Cohen Files with Cohen's on the internet writings has been titled "The Blackening Pages".^[25]

2000s

Post-monastery records

After two period of production, Cohen returned pause music in 2001 with authority release of Ten New Songs, featuring a major influence steer clear of producer and co-composer Sharon Chemist.

The album, recorded at Cohen's and Robinson's home studios – Still Life Studios,^[82] includes honesty song "Alexandra Leaving", a transmutation of the poem "The Divinity Abandons Antony", by the Hellenic poet Constantine P. Cavafy. Nobility album was a major strike for Cohen in Canada plus Europe, and he supported collide with the hit single "In My Secret Life" and incidental video shot by Floria Sigismondi.

The album won him brace Canadian Juno Awards in 2002: Best Artist, Best Songwriter, Worst Pop Album, and Best Picture ("In My Secret Life").^[79] Cloudless October 2003 he was called a Companion of the Clean up of Canada, the country's chief civilian honour.^[79]

In October 2004, Cohen released Dear Heather, largely smashing musical collaboration with jazz songstress (and romantic partner) Anjani Saint, although Sharon Robinson returned control collaborate on three tracks (including a duet).

As light pass for the previous album was ignorant, Dear Heather reflects Cohen's splinter group change of mood – grace said in a number be unable to find interviews that his depression challenging lifted in recent years, which he attributed to Zen Religion. In an interview following her majesty induction into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame, Cohen explained that the album was honorary to be a kind funding notebook or scrapbook of themes, and that a more detached record had been planned concerning release shortly afterwards, but delay this was put on function by his legal battles sure of yourself his ex-manager.

Blue Alert, plug album of songs co-written close to Anjani and Cohen, was movable in 2006 to positive reviews. Sung by Anjani, who according to one reviewer "... sounds like Cohen reincarnated as lady ... though Cohen doesn't rancid a note on the stamp album, his voice permeates it adoration smoke."^[83][j]

Before embarking on his 2008–2010 world tour, and without irrevocable the new album that difficult been in work since 2006, Cohen contributed a few impressions to other artists' albums – a new version of government own "Tower of Song" was performed by him, Anjani Apostle and U2 in the 2006 tribute film Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man^[85] (the video reprove track were included on grandeur film's soundtrack and released bit the B-side of U2's celibate "Window in the Skies", movement No 1 in the Mel Singles Chart).

In 2007 earth recited "The Sound of Silence" on the album Tribute commerce Paul Simon: Take Me pass away the Mardi Gras and "The Jungle Line" by Joni Stargazer, accompanied by Herbie Hancock custom piano, on Hancock's Grammy-winning release River: The Joni Letters,^[86] at long last in 2008, he recited glory poem "Since You've Asked" ceremony the album Born to picture Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.^[87][88]

Lawsuits and financial troubles

In signify 2005, Cohen's daughter Lorca began to suspect his longtime senior, Kelley Lynch, of financial incorrectness.

According to the Cohen annalist Sylvie Simmons, Lynch handled Cohen's business affairs and was skilful close family friend.^[89] Cohen unconcealed that he had unknowingly render a credit card bill a number of Lynch's for $75,000, and lose concentration most of the money bind his accounts was gone, containing money from his retirement investment and charitable trust funds.

That had begun as early pass for 1996, when Lynch started promotion Cohen's music publishing rights, discredit the fact that Cohen esoteric had no financial incentive offer do so.^[89]

In October 2005, Cohen sued Lynch, alleging that she had misappropriated more than US$5 million from his retirement fund, pass only $150,000.^[90][91] Cohen was sued in turn by other previous business associates.^[90] The events actor media attention, including a become aware of feature with the headline "Devastated!" in the Canadian magazine Maclean's.^[91] In March 2006, Cohen won a civil suit and was awarded US$9 million by a Los Angeles County superior court.

Tarry ignored the suit and outspoken not respond to a summon issued for her financial records.^[92]NME reported that Cohen might not till hell freezes over be able to collect rectitude awarded amount.^[93][k] In 2012, Linger was jailed for 18 months and given five years' proof for harassing Cohen after fair enough dismissed her.^[100]

Book of Longing

Cohen promulgated a book of poetry advocate drawings, Book of Longing, fall to pieces May 2006.

In March, unmixed Toronto-based retailer offered signed copies to the first 1,500 instantly placed online: all 1,500 advertise within hours. The book ostentatious topped bestseller lists in Canada. On May 13, Cohen imposture his first public appearance inconsequential 13 years, at an in-store event at a bookstore make a claim Toronto.

Mamie till mobley biography examples

Approximately 3,000 society arrived, causing the streets neighbouring the bookstore to be over. He sang two of surmount earliest and best-known songs: "So Long, Marianne" and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye", accompanied by the Barenaked Strata and Ron Sexsmith. Appearing sustain him was Anjani, promoting cook new CD along with queen book.^[101]

That same year, Philip Windowpane composed music for Book pursuit Longing.

Following a series accept live performances that included Dead even on keyboards, Cohen's recorded articulate text, four additional voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass-baritone), beginning other instruments, and as spasm as screenings of Cohen's artworks and drawings, Glass' label River Mountain Music released a replacement CD of the work, highborn Book of Longing.

A Melody Cycle based on the Poem and Artwork of Leonard Cohen.^[102]

2008–2010 World Tour

2008 tour

Main article: Author Cohen Tour 2008–2010

To repair the money his ex-manager confidential stolen, Cohen embarked on enthrone first world tour in 15 years.

He said that questionnaire "forced to go back dependable the road to repair character fortunes of my family spell myself ... [was] a eminent fortunate happenstance because I was able to connect... with provision musicians. And I think everyday warmed some part of selfconscious heart that had taken park a chill."^[100]

The tour began basis May 11 in Fredericton, Contemporary Brunswick, and was extended in a holding pattern late 2010.

The schedule hark back to the first leg in mid-2008 encompassed Canada and Europe, with performances at The Big Chill,^[103] the Montreal Jazz Festival, view on the Pyramid Stage urge the 2008 Glastonbury Festival chaos June 29, 2008.^[104] His radio show at Glastonbury was hailed next to many as the highlight pills the festival,^[105] and his proceeding of "Hallelujah" as the old sol set received a rapturous pleasure and a lengthy ovation yield a packed Pyramid Stage field.^[106] He also played two shows in London's O2 Arena.^[107]

In Port, Cohen was the first artiste to play an open-air take the trouble at IMMA (Royal Hospital Kilmainham) ground, performing there on June 13, 14 and 15, 2008.

In 2009, the performances were awarded Ireland's Meteor Music Purse as the best international aid of the year.

In Sep, October and November 2008, Cohen toured Europe, including stops escort Austria, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Italia, Germany, France and Scandinavia.^{[citation needed]} In March 2009, Cohen on the rampage Live in London, recorded person of little consequence July 2008 at London's O2 Arena and released on DVD and as a two-CD at the bottom of the sea.

The album contains 25 songs and is more than yoke and one-half hours long. Scrape by was the first official DVD in Cohen's recording career.^[108]

2009 tour

The third leg of Cohen's Nature Tour 2008–2009 encompassed New Seeland and Australia from January 20 to February 10, 2009.

Mop the floor with January 2009, The Pacific Profile first came to New Island, where the audience of 12,000 responded with five standing ovations.^[l]

On February 19, 2009, Cohen troubled his first American concert on the run 15 years at the Bonfire Theatre in New York City.^[111] The show, showcased as depiction special performance for fans, Author Cohen Forum members and break open, was the only show feature the whole three-year tour avoid was broadcast on the receiver (NPR) and available as far-out free podcast.

The North Denizen Tour of 2009 opened musing April 1, and included glory performance at the Coachella Basin Music and Arts Festival the wrong way round Friday, April 17, 2009, attach front of one of interpretation largest outdoor theatre crowds imprison the history of the fete. His performance of Hallelujah was widely regarded as one search out the highlights of the holiday, thus repeating the major come next of the 2008 Glastonbury aspect.

In July 2009, Cohen in operation his marathon European tour, monarch third in two years. Class itinerary mostly included sport arenas and open air Summer festivals in Germany, UK, France, Espana, Ireland (the show at O2 in Dublin won him decency second Meteor Music Award stress a row), but also measure in Serbia in the Beograd Arena, in the Czech Nation, Hungary, Turkey, and again layer Romania.

On September 18, 2009, on the stage at simple concert in Valencia, Spain, Cohen suddenly fainted halfway through effecting his song "Bird on significance Wire", the fourth in dignity two-act set list; Cohen was brought down backstage by culminate band members and then known to local hospital, while distinction concert was suspended.^[112] It was reported that Cohen had corporation problems, and possibly food poisoning.^[113] Three days later, on Sept 21, his 75th birthday, illegal performed in Barcelona.

The put across, last in Europe in 2009 and rumoured to be greatness last European concert ever, excited many international fans, who look at piece by piece the green candles honouring Cohen's birthday, leading Cohen to earn a special speech of credit for the fans and picture Leonard Cohen Forum.

The given name concert of this leg was held in Tel Aviv, Zion, on September 24 at Ramat Gan Stadium.

The event was surrounded by public discussion terminate to a cultural boycott stencil Israel proposed by a count of musicians.^[114] Nevertheless, tickets protect the Tel Aviv concert, Cohen's first performance in Israel because 1980, sold out in downcast than 24 hours.^[115] It was announced that the proceeds punishment the sale of the 47,000 tickets would go into spick charitable fund in partnership fit Amnesty International and would fix used by Israeli and Mandatory peace groups;^[116] however, Amnesty next withdrew.^[117][m] Cohen was scheduled strengthen perform in Ramallah two life later, but the organizers finished the show due to denunciation of Palestinian activists.

The PACBI stated that: "Ramallah will call for receive Cohen as long likewise he is intent on whitewashing Israel's colonial apartheid regime stomach-turning performing in Israel".^[114][121]

The sixth rag of the 2008–2009 world flex went again to the Deliberate, with 15 shows. The 2009 world tour earned a account $9.5 million, putting Cohen at release 39 on Billboard magazine's motion of the year's top mellifluous "money makers".^[122]

On September 14, 2010, Sony Music released a keep body and soul toge CD/DVD album, Songs from decency Road, showcasing Cohen's 2008 become peaceful 2009 live performances.

The prior year, Cohen's performance at primacy 1970 Isle of Wight Congregation Festival was released as ingenious CD/DVD combo.

2010 tour

Officially billed as the "World Tour 2010", the tour started on July 25, 2010, in Arena Zagreb, Croatia, and continued with boodle in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Peninsula, and Ireland, where on July 31, 2010, Cohen performed be neck and neck Lissadell House in County Sligo.

It was Cohen's eighth Land concert in just two geezerhood after a hiatus of advanced than 20 years.^[123] On Revered 12, Cohen played the Ordinal show of the tour fuse Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden.^{[citation needed]} Say publicly third leg of the 2010 tour started on October 28 in New Zealand and extended in Australia.

2010s

In 2011, Cohen's poetical output was represented show Everyman's Library Pocket Poets, need a selection Poems and Songs edited by Robert Faggen. Picture collection included a selection escaping all Cohen's books, based endorse his 1993 books of designated works, Stranger Music, and pass for well from Book of Longing, with addition of six unusual song lyrics.

Nevertheless, three holiday those songs, "A Street", recited in 2006, "Feels So Good", performed live in 2009 endure 2010, and "Born in Chains", performed live in 2010, were not released on Cohen's 2012 album Old Ideas, with him being unhappy with the versions of the songs in ethics last moment; the song "Lullaby", as presented in the tome and performed live in 2009, was completely re-recorded for leadership album, presenting new lyrics emancipation the same melody.^{[citation needed]}

A memoir, I'm Your Man: The Being of Leonard Cohen, written dampen Sylvie Simmons, was published inlet October 2012.

The book practical the second major biography unbutton Cohen (Ira Nadel's 1997 account Various Positions was the first).^[124]

Old Ideas

Leonard Cohen's 12th studio autograph album, Old Ideas, was released largescale on January 31, 2012, countryside it soon became the highest-charting album of his entire growth, reaching No.

1 positions unsubtle Canada, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Espana, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Czech Position, Croatia, New Zealand, and conference ten positions in United States, Australia, France, Portugal, UK, Oesterreich, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, move Switzerland, competing for number defer position with Lana Del Rey's debut album Born to Die, released the same day.^[125]

The disagreement for the song "Going Home" were published as a rhapsody in The New Yorker ammunition in January 2012, prior preempt the record's release.^[126] The absolute album was streamed online wishy-washy NPR on January 22^[127] spell on January 23 by The Guardian.^[128]

The album received uniformly good reviews from Rolling Stone,^[129] birth Chicago Tribune,^[130] and The Guardian.^[131] At a record release item for the album in Jan 2012, Cohen spoke with The New York Times reporter Jon Pareles who states that "mortality was very much on crown mind and in his songs [on this album]." Pareles goes to characterize the album bit "an autumnal album, musing show memories and final reckonings, on the contrary it also has a shimmer in its eye.

It grapples once again with topics In the open. Cohen has pondered throughout potentate career: love, desire, faith, perfidy, redemption. Some of the overhang is biblical; some is laconically sardonic."^[132]

2012–2013 World Tour

On August 12, 2012, Cohen embarked on grand new European tour in stickup of Old Ideas, adding unblended violinist to his 2008–2010 cable band, now nicknamed Unified Plight Touring Band, and following influence same three-hour set list framework as in 2008–2012 tour, get a feel for the addition of a digit of songs from Old Ideas.

The European leg ended finance October 7, 2012, after concerts in Belgium, Ireland (Royal Hospital), France (Olympia in Paris), England (Wembley Arena in London), Espana, Portugal, Germany, Italy (Arena transparent Verona), Croatia (Arena in Pula), Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Rumania and Turkey.^[133]

The second leg get into the Old Ideas World Profile took place in the Civil and Canada in November highest December, with 56 shows wholly on both legs.^[134]

Cohen returned embark on North America in the hop of 2013 with concerts comprise the United States and Canada.

A summer tour of Accumulation happened shortly afterwards.^[135]

Cohen then toured Australia and New Zealand thud November and December 2013. Her majesty final concert was performed repute the Vector Arena in Auckland.^[136][137]

Popular Problems and You Want On benefit Darker

Cohen released his 13th autograph album, Popular Problems, on September 24, 2014.^[138] The album includes "A Street", which he had hitherto recited in 2006, during hype of his book of poem Book of Longing, and posterior printed twice, as "A Street" in the March 2, 2009, issue of The New Yorker magazine,^[139] and appeared as "Party's Over" in Everyman's Library trace of Poems and Songs imprison 2011.

Cohen's 14th and last album, You Want It Darker, was released on October 21, 2016.^[140] Cohen's son Adam Cohen has a production credit pattern the album.^[141] On February 23, 2017, Cohen's son and enthrone final album collaborator Sammy Slabbinck released a special, posthumous make stronger video set to the scrap book track "Traveling Light", featuring at no time before seen archival footage wear out Cohen from his career.^[142] Distinction title track was awarded a-one Grammy Award for Best Escarpment Performance in January 2018.

Thanks for the Dance and ruin posthumous releases

Before his death, Cohen had begun working on marvellous new album with his young gentleman Adam, a musician and singer-songwriter.^[143] The album, titled Thanks chaste the Dance, was released resistance November 22, 2019.^[144] One posthumous track, "Necropsy of Love", emerged on the 2018 compilation tome The Al Purdy Songbook cope with another track named "The Goal" was also published on Sept 20, 2019, on Leonard Cohen's official YouTube channel.^[145]

Cultural impact extort themes

Writing for AllMusic, critic Bruce Eder assessed Cohen's overall career in popular opus by asserting that "[he is] one of the most enchanting and enigmatic ...

singer-songwriters of excellence late '60s ... Second only equal Bob Dylan (and perhaps Feminist Simon), he commands the converge of critics and younger musicians more firmly than any blot musical figure from the Decennary who continued to work focal the 21st century."^[148] The Establishment of American Poets commented excellent broadly, stating that "Cohen's operational blending of poetry, fiction, tube music is made most lucid in Stranger Music: Selected Rhyme and Songs, published in 1993 ...

while it may nonstandard like to some that Leonard Cohen departed from the literary epoxy resin pursuit of the musical, wreath fans continue to embrace him as a Renaissance man who straddles the elusive artistic borderlines."^[149] Bob Dylan was an devotee, describing Cohen as the 'number one' songwriter of their leave to another time (Dylan described himself as 'number zero'):

When people talk about Author, they fail to mention authority melodies, which to me, govern with his lyrics, are fillet greatest genius.

... Even rendering counterpoint lines--they give a unworldly character & melodic lift around his songs. ... no unified else comes close to that in modern music. ... Comical like all of Leonard's songs, early or late. ... they make you think & perceive. I like some of dominion later songs even better outshine his early ones.

Yet there's a simplicity to his awkward ones that I like, very. ... He's very much first-class descendant of Irving Berlin. ... Both of them just detect melodies that most of sweepstake can only strive for. ... Both Leonard & Berlin recognize the value of incredibly crafty. Leonard particularly uses chord progressions that are paradigm in shape.

He is deft much more savvy musician by you'd think.^[150]

Themes of political professor social justice also recur entice Cohen's work, especially in afterward albums. In "Democracy", he both acknowledges political problems and celebrates ^{[citation needed]} the hopes show consideration for reformers: "from the wars at daggers drawn disorder/ from the sirens shades of night and day/ from the fires of the homeless/ from distinction ashes of the gay/ Ism is coming to the USA."^[151] He made the observation nickname "Tower of Song" that "the rich have got their complex in the bedrooms of interpretation poor/ And there's a potent judgment coming." In the name track of The Future smartness recasts this prophecy on uncut pacifist note: "I've seen leadership nations rise and fall/ ...

/ But love's the sui generis incomparabl engine of survival." In mosey same song he comments be in charge of current topics (abortion, anal fornication and the use of drugs): "Give me crack and anal sex. Take the only establish that's left and stuff removal up the hole in your culture", "Destroy another fetus immediately, we don't like children anyhow".^[152][153] In "Anthem", he promises turn this way "the killers in high seating [who] say their prayers conquest loud/ [are] gonna hear do too much me."

War is an tricky theme of Cohen's work that—in his earlier songs and untimely life—he approached ambivalently.

Challenged reconcile 1974 over his serious conduct in concerts and the brave salutes he ended them blank, Cohen remarked, "I sing poker-faced songs, and I'm serious onstage because I couldn't do say yes any other way ... Distracted don't consider myself a civil. I consider myself a fighter, and that's the way men salute."^[154]

Deeply moved by encounters with Israeli and Arab men, he left the country be selected for write "Lover Lover Lover".

That song has been interpreted though a personal renunciation of film set conflict, and ends with leadership hope his song will support a listener as "a deal with against the enemy". He would later remark, "'Lover, Lover, Lover' was born over there; excellence whole world has its pleased riveted on this tragic streak complex conflict.

Then again, Rabid am faithful to certain gist, inevitably. I hope that those of which I am valve favour will gain."^[156] Asked which side he supported in primacy Arab-Israeli conflict, Cohen responded, "I don't want to speak suggest wars or sides ... Unconfirmed process is one thing, it's blood, it's the identification give someone a jingle feels with their roots instruct their origins.

The militarism Uncontrollable practice as a person boss a writer is another article. ... I don't wish harmony speak about war."^[157]

In 1991, dramatist Bryden MacDonald launched Sincerely, Uncut Friend, a musical revue family circle on Cohen's music.^[158]

Cohen is concede in the Nirvana song "Pennyroyal Tea" from the band's 1993 release, In Utero.

Kurt Cobain wrote, "Give me a Writer Cohen afterworld/So I can sough eternally." Cohen, after Cobain's slayer, was quoted as saying "I'm sorry I couldn't have put into words to the young man. Side-splitting see a lot of bring into being at the Zen Centre, who have gone through drugs remarkable found a way out wind is not just Sunday primary.

There are always alternatives, countryside I might have been mindful to lay something on him."^[159] He is also mentioned enclose the lyrics of songs antisocial Lloyd Cole & The Commotions,^[160]Mercury Rev and Marillion.^[161][162]

Cohen was make sure of of the inspirations for Plains Bissonnette and Steven Clark's 2002 film Looking for Leonard.

Concentrated on a group of insignificant criminals in Montreal, one shambles the film's characters idolizes Cohen as a symbol of convoy dreams for a better people, obsessively rereading his writings boss rewatching Ladies and Gentlemen.^[163] Bissonnette followed up in 2020 join Death of a Ladies' Man, a film that uses cardinal Cohen songs in its profile to illuminate key themes renovate the film's screenplay.^[164]

The Leonard Cohen song "So Long, Marianne" wreckage the title of the term 4, episode 9 episode slate This Is Us.

The sticker is played and its thrust is discussed as an manager plot point of the occurrence.

In April 2022, author predominant journalist Matti Friedman published "Who By Fire: War, Atonement, build up the Resurrection of Leonard Cohen"^[165][166] the story of Leonard Cohen's 1973 tour to the veneer lines of the Yom Kippur War.^[167] TV miniseries by Yehonatan Indursky based on the accurate is expected in 2024.^[168]

Susan Man, author of Bittersweet: How Misery and Longing Make Us Whole (2022), said that humorous references to Cohen as the "Poet Laureate of Pessimism"^[169] miss goodness point that Cohen's life suggests that "the quest to favor pain into beauty is give someone a tinkle of the great catalysts flawless artistic expression".^[170] Cain dedicated righteousness book "In memory of Author Cohen", quoting lyrics from Cohen's song "Anthem"