Leonard Cohen

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Montréal, Quebec, Canada (1934 – present)

Leonard Cohen, (b. 21st September 1934 in Montréal, Quebec, Canada) is a , and musician. His musical career has largely overshadowed his prior work as a poet and novelist, although he has continued to publish poetry sporadically after his breakthrough in the music industry.

Musically, Cohen’s early songs are based in music, in terms of both melody and instrumentation; from the 1970s, though, his work begins to show the influence of various types of popular and music. Since the 1980s he has typically sung in a deep bass register, accompanied by synthesisers and female backing vocals.

Despite not embarking on a tour since 1993, Cohen was forced to go on the road in 2008, following the alleged misappropriation of over U.S. $5 million from his retirement by his longtime former manager, Kelley Lynch. This left him close to bankruptcy and Cohen’s mammoth world tour lasted two and a half years and included 246 shows.

Cohen’s songs are often emotionally heavy and lyrically complex, owing more to the metaphoric word play of poetry than to established conventions of songcraft. His work often explores the themes of , , and complex interpersonal relationships.

Cohen’s music has become highly influential to other singer-songwriters, and more than a thousand cover versions of his works have been recorded. He is also popular in his native land, having been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and awarded the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
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Popular tags: singer-songwriter, folk, canadian, blues, rock  See more

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  • Peter024

    Love the new album. I get the impression he was born to be old, seriously.

    Thursday evening

  • chrisdeg

    pure melancholy in a good way when listening to this

    Thursday evening

  • FlagOfHate

    Easily one of the best - if not the best - lyricists of all-time. Most musicians writing lyrics don't even come close.

    Wednesday afternoon

  • harajukudude

    please join my group! its a fun addictive way of talking about and sharing your tastes! all i need is members :) http://www.last.fm/group/Last.fm+Song+Contest

    Wednesday afternoon

  • allisonmichele

    I love old Leonard. Hmph.

    Wednesday morning

  • vivekananda66

    Loving the new album. He's been making magic since 1967.

    Tuesday morning

  • MajorTom1234567

    the poet, the singer, the lover, the songwriter, the soldier, the zen master, the greatest.

    Sunday morning

  • michal-kichal

    Going Home <3

    last week

  • Sentenzia22

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    last week

  • Miss_Mahrie

    the artist that will never write himself out, will never be unproductive. that is what happens when you use your heart and soul for to write your songs. if i'd be an artist, i'd prefer to be Cohen...

    last week

  • youthhaunts

    Nice feature in the new issue of MOJO

    last week

  • wetwillies

    someone gave me wishes and i wished for an embrace....

    last week

  • myxunintended

    Cold War Kids covering their favorite Leonard Cohen song "There Is a War" --> http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/media/entry/watch_cold_war_kids_there_is_a_war

    last week

  • AledMCR

    The new album gets better with every listen. Pure poetry!

    last week

  • heatherosie

    My favorite Cohen song is "Chelsea Hotel no. 2" I really hope someone covers it for the Old Ideas With New Friends project! Check out this installment of Cults covering "Everybody Knows." http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/feb/01/new-music-cults-everybody-knows

    12 days ago

  • smee85

    www.last.fm/music/Leonard+Cohen/+images/73152766

    12 days ago

  • benrogers223

    Old Ideas including in JOMEC's pick of this week's albums feature: http://cardiffian.jomec.co.uk/article/pick-weeks-albums

    14 days ago

  • Whiskerss

    he knows music shall be treated like a lady....

    15 days ago

  • DaniRai

    flipe

    15 days ago

  • chr504

    I am in love with Bradford Cox's cover of "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy".. http://pitchfork.com/news/45313-watch-bradford-cox-cover-leonard-cohen/

    15 days ago
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Performance of New Song, "Feels So Good"

13 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/leonardcohenlegacy

Mr. Cohen recently performed a new song, "Feels So Good," at Sligo's Lissadell House in Ireland on July 31st. Enjoy!

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