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Post 1767, Day 319 of 2016
- 2,145 days since I started this blog -
- 2,145 days since I started this blog -
The first time Leonard Cohen came onto my life was as the songwriter of 'Suzanne', my favorite song from Judy Collins' album, In My Life. I learned the song. I played the song. I thought it was the most beautifully-written song I had ever heard. The melody calmed me, the lyrics excited me.
I loved his first few records, but their overall dark and melancholy sound (as I heard it) prevented their ever having a regular place on my turntable - the sound was inconsistent with my spirit, even though the songs were the opposite. Plus, I couldn't reconcile the sparse sound of a singer-songwriter with guitar against the big production values of his own work.
I read Beautiful Losers shortly after it came out in paperback, about 1969. The book knocked me out.
Then there came a period of time when he was not in my consciousness. My admiration for him didn't fade at all - he just didn't cross my path. I never seemed to be where he was playing, his music didn't play on the radio stations I listened to, and I was listening, mostly, to jazz and classical music.
In the early '80s, I found a book of his poems, Spice Box of Earth while browsing at Shakespeare & Co. after a shopping trip to Zabar's. Outside of textbook anthologies, it was the first book of poetry I ever bought. I thought it was beyond wonderful, and it inspired me to begin the second poetry-reading binge of my life (the first was in high school).
Next stop on my Leonard Cohen journey came about while I was almost completely ignoring pop music of all kinds. I was, however, still deeply into hi-fi, and I read a glowing review of a CD of Cohen's songs in an audiophile magazine. It was in the first year after moving to North Carolina, and it was Jennifer Warnes' 'Famous Blue Raincoat - the songs of Leonard Cohen'. Once again, I was blown away. The songs were fantastic, the performances and arrangements were excellent. The musicians involved were the creme de la creme (Stevie Ray Vaughan!), and the recording was the finest I'd ever heard on the CD medium. This CD became one of my favorites, and it was, for almost six years, the only pop album I played.
In the last twenty years, Cohen has shown up in odd places - occasionally on the radio (NPR), sometimes I recognize one of his songs on a soundtrack, sometimes performed by somebody at an open mic or, more rarely, at a concert I'm attending. Every time, I recall with fondness the feelings more intentional encounters with his oeuvre have brought me.
My emotional response to his every work has been complex, yet consistent over the years.
I really only knew a little about him before he died last week. He was an author, a poet, a songwriter, a performer. With various articles about him, I know more about his very rich life, and no revelations (which were many) does nothing but increase my respect and awe of him. RIP, Leonard Cohen.
I am grateful for what you brought to my life.
I loved his first few records, but their overall dark and melancholy sound (as I heard it) prevented their ever having a regular place on my turntable - the sound was inconsistent with my spirit, even though the songs were the opposite. Plus, I couldn't reconcile the sparse sound of a singer-songwriter with guitar against the big production values of his own work.
I read Beautiful Losers shortly after it came out in paperback, about 1969. The book knocked me out.
Then there came a period of time when he was not in my consciousness. My admiration for him didn't fade at all - he just didn't cross my path. I never seemed to be where he was playing, his music didn't play on the radio stations I listened to, and I was listening, mostly, to jazz and classical music.
In the early '80s, I found a book of his poems, Spice Box of Earth while browsing at Shakespeare & Co. after a shopping trip to Zabar's. Outside of textbook anthologies, it was the first book of poetry I ever bought. I thought it was beyond wonderful, and it inspired me to begin the second poetry-reading binge of my life (the first was in high school).
Next stop on my Leonard Cohen journey came about while I was almost completely ignoring pop music of all kinds. I was, however, still deeply into hi-fi, and I read a glowing review of a CD of Cohen's songs in an audiophile magazine. It was in the first year after moving to North Carolina, and it was Jennifer Warnes' 'Famous Blue Raincoat - the songs of Leonard Cohen'. Once again, I was blown away. The songs were fantastic, the performances and arrangements were excellent. The musicians involved were the creme de la creme (Stevie Ray Vaughan!), and the recording was the finest I'd ever heard on the CD medium. This CD became one of my favorites, and it was, for almost six years, the only pop album I played.
In the last twenty years, Cohen has shown up in odd places - occasionally on the radio (NPR), sometimes I recognize one of his songs on a soundtrack, sometimes performed by somebody at an open mic or, more rarely, at a concert I'm attending. Every time, I recall with fondness the feelings more intentional encounters with his oeuvre have brought me.
My emotional response to his every work has been complex, yet consistent over the years.
I really only knew a little about him before he died last week. He was an author, a poet, a songwriter, a performer. With various articles about him, I know more about his very rich life, and no revelations (which were many) does nothing but increase my respect and awe of him. RIP, Leonard Cohen.
I am grateful for what you brought to my life.
Food and Diet
Today's Weight: 203.2 lbs.
Diet Comment
Previous Weight (11/11): 201.0 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: + 2.2 lbs.
Diet Comment
I view this gain, over the weekend, as quite all right, given that I did cheat a bit.
Food Log
Breakfast
5:00pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, extra-large organic egg, chia gel, kale, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, celery, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.
5:00pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, extra-large organic egg, chia gel, kale, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, celery, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.
Lunch
8:50pm: Pepperoni and Dubliner cheese and a Quest bar.
Dinner
Dinner
12:45am: A Quest bar, cottage cheese, and dark chocolate.
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 1; Coffee: 0 oz.; Tea: 0 oz.; Water: 72+ oz.
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nice commentary
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