submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Haggehloc: Cohen did not "convert" to Buddhism. He is both an observant Jew and a practicing Buddhist monk. That may make your head explode, but we atheists can contain the contradiction in our heads. Apparently, it's too much for you. |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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I love your interpretation. It's beautiful in itself. And you're right. He was born Jewish, but not observant. He is now. He also spent five years on Mount Baldy becoming a Buddhist monk. Leave it to Leonard to find his own way, with all its complications and contradictions. It's why I love him, and why he inspires me at my lowest moments. I have never understood why people think his music is depressing or cynical (well, some of it is obviously cynical, but that just makes me laugh.) |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Cohen is a master of combining the sacred and profane. Although the song was written in 1987, he had by then already embarked on a spiritual journey which ultimately resulted in the weirdest combination imaginable. He is an observant Jew (which is why he changed the lyric "give me crack and anal sex" to give me crack and casual sex" in his current performances of the song, "The Future") He also spent five years on Mount Baldy becoming a Buddhist monk. I recently read an interview where the reporter remarked that he sat is the lotus position for 8 hours on a plane, so he wasn't fooling around up there on Baldy. (Unfortunately, during this time, his manager stole something in the neighborhood of $5,000.000 of his savings. His loss was our gain, as that is why he began touring again. He was reluctant, as he believed no one would remember him or his songs, and began with small venues. The demand for tickets was overwhelming. He ultimately added many dates, and the 2009 tour became the 2010 tour. After beginning his New York portion of the tour at the Beacon, he recently returned to play Madison Square Garden. All of his concerts were sold out at fairly hefty prices, and he received 5-star reviews everywhere he went. So, what does the song mean? It's probably one of his most literal lyrics, although that's not saying much, as they are almost always complex and contradictory. I believe it's a prayer, once again combining the carnal and the spiritual, inseparable for Cohen. |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Oh please, for the love of God. As I said in another response the man is both an observant Jew and a Budhhist monk. Does anyone on this site get anything -- anything at all? |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
|
|
Cohen is a master of combining the sacred and profane. Although the song was written in 1987, he had by then already embarked on a spiritual journey which ultimately resulted in the weirdest combination imaginable. He is an observant Jew (which is why he changed the lyric "give me crack and anal sex" to give me crack and casual sex" in his current performances of the song, "The Future") He also spent five years on Mount Baldy becoming a Buddhist monk. I recently read an interview where the reporter remarked that he sat is the lotus position for 8 hours on a plane, so he wasn't fooling around up there on Baldy. (Unfortunately, during this time, his manager stole something in the neighborhood of $5,000.000 of his savings. His loss was our gain, as that is why he began touring again. He was reluctant, as he believed no one would remember him or his songs, and began with small venues. The demand for tickets was overwhelming. He ultimately added many dates, and the 2009 tour became the 2010 tour. After beginning his New York portion of the tour at the Beacon, he recently returned to play Madison Square Garden. All of his concerts were sold out at fairly hefty prices, and he received 5-star reviews everywhere he went. So, what does the song mean? It's probably one of his most literal lyrics, although that's not saying much, as they are almost always complex and contradictory. I believe it's a prayer, once again combining the carnal and the spiritual, inseparable for Cohen. |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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You obviously understand Cohen, and are absolutely right. No one, repeat NO ONE, can come close to Cohen's own version, no matter how pretty the voice. I am constantly astounded by the number of morons out there who think Buckley wrote the song. The liner notes in "Live In London" DVD include a review, and the writer says Cohen finally took his song back. Finally, and Hallelujah! |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Please tell me you're joking, and that you're not talking about the screeching, monkey-voiced and totally disrespectful version on the tribute album "Tower of Song." That version is an insult to Cohen, and a prime example of Bono's out-of-control ego. He took one of the most beautiful songs ever written and turned it into something unrecognizable and just plain ugly. Mafiachuck is right. The best version of this song is the one sung by Leonard Cohen. Buy the "Live In London" dvd or "More Best of Leonard Cohen" and hear how it's supposed to sound. Buckley's is pretty -- too pretty -- and Wainright's is self-indulgent. |
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