I just heard Thom Hartmann play the song "Democracy" on his talk show and I love this song!
I've heard Leonard Cohen's music in several movies but I've never heard it on the radio before.
He has a deep voice and a somber slow mood to his songs. I guess he would fit mostly into the Alternative category but I doubt that he would appeal to most Alternative fans.
It's coming through a hole in the air, from those nights in Tienanmen Square. It's coming from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there. From the wars against disorder, from the sirens night and day, from the fires of the homeless, from the ashes of the gay: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. It's coming through a crack in the wall; on a visionary flood of alcohol; from the staggering account of the Sermon on the Mount which I don't pretend to understand at all. It's coming from the silence on the dock of the bay, from the brave, the bold, the battered heart of Chevrolet: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming from the sorrow in the street, the holy places where the races meet; from the homicidal bitchin' that goes down in every kitchen to determine who will serve and who will eat. From the wells of disappointment where the women kneel to pray for the grace of God in the desert here and the desert far away: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
Sail on, sail on O mighty Ship of State! To the Shores of Need Past the Reefs of Greed Through the Squalls of Hate Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.
It's coming to America first, the cradle of the best and of the worst. It's here they got the range and the machinery for change and it's here they got the spiritual thirst. It's here the family's broken and it's here the lonely say that the heart has got to open in a fundamental way: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming from the women and the men. O baby, we'll be making love again. We'll be going down so deep the river's going to weep, and the mountain's going to shout Amen! It's coming like the tidal flood beneath the lunar sway, imperial, mysterious, in amorous array: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
Sail on, sail on ...
I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean I love the country but I can't stand the scene. And I'm neither left or right I'm just staying home tonight, getting lost in that hopeless little screen. But I'm stubborn as those garbage bags that Time cannot decay, I'm junk but I'm still holding up this little wild bouquet: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. ******************************************************* 01-04-06, 04:33 PM jusork I've seen so many people who like him. It's been making a pretty good name for himself lately as a way under the radar musician. I don't know how well known he was earlier on in his career though. What are some of the movies you've heard him in? I wonder if I've heard him and just didn't recognize it.
I think he would appeal to fans of light alternative and when alternative means non-mainstream. He definitely fits here. Thanks for the post.
01-04-06, 04:42 PM RoverRoad I believe that Christian Slater played him on a record in the 1990 movie "Pump Up the Volume". He isn't on the soundtrack album though. I've heard him on other movie soundtracks but I can't recall which ones.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: RoverRoad, 01-04-06 04:19 PM
01-04-06, 05:35 PM aminator2002 I was a fan back in the early nineties when I also liked the Smiths and suicidal rock was really hip. I came to realize that just because someone is super f'ed up, doesn't mean I should actually care enough to listen to their music.
Leonard Cohen = TOTAL DOWNER... I prefer to just go lay down in a puddle and let dogs **** on me. Smile
A couple of his songs were in Pump up the Volume and if you want to find other movies... look for themes of suicide and drug abuse. He was probably on "Leaving Las Vegas" soundtrack.
His big hit ... "Everybody Knows"... I know you've heard it justin.
01-04-06, 05:43 PM RoverRoad
quote: Leonard Cohen = TOTAL DOWNER...
It is definitely not the kind of music that you would listen to everyday. But you have to admit, the music is interesting!
I know, a pile of crap is interesting too...
Well, the song that I mention "Democracy" is good, but I'm already tired of it, until another day.
01-04-06, 06:59 PM Kelleygirl I'm a fan --- especially love his song "Suzanne"
01-04-06, 07:24 PM RoverRoad If you don't like the sound of his music there is definitely a poetic quality to his lyrics that is worth reading. I downloaded "Suzanne" (Don't worry, I paid) and I like it!
Aminator, some of the best art out there is a "downer" theme. Kudos for the whistle blowers and shame on the ignorant. ALL ISSUES SHOULD RAISE AN EYEBROW!
Kelleygirl, If you like Suzanne you may also like the Kris Kristofferson song, Sunday Morning Coming Down.
01-04-06, 08:17 PM babthrower I have Songs of Leonard Cohen on vinyl, and it has some great cuts: Suzanne, which was done later by other artists, So Long Marianne, Travelling Lady,Sisters of Mercy are all intoned in his hypnotic style. It's kind of minimalist -- acoustic guitar, jaw's harp, subdued girl singers using voice as instrumental backup. The music has a weird beauty all its own. And the language is very poetic. I read his novel, Beautiful Losers, too, years ago. I see he's on Amazon.com for 10 bucks.
01-04-06, 08:32 PM RoverRoad babthrower, I believe that Leonard Cohen is a fellow Canadian of yours. I am also familiar with Sisters of Mercy. I was a big fan in high school. Only listen on rare occasions now. But it was all good music! Good enough for me to think of them as nostalgia 15 years later.
01-04-06, 10:16 PM jusork Damn, Ami, you must really hate Leonard Cohen!
quote: Originally posted by aminator2002: His big hit ... "Everybody Knows"... I know you've heard it justin.
Ok, I just listened to it. I don't think I have heard it actually. It came out in 1988? Well I was three in 1988 so maybe that's why. Wink I didn't even know he had a big hit!
01-04-06, 10:26 PM aminator2002
quote: Originally posted by RoverRoad: Aminator, some of the best art out there is a "downer" theme. Kudos for the whistle blowers and shame on the ignorant. ALL ISSUES SHOULD RAISE AN EYEBROW!
Uh... (what on Earth does that mean?) Maybe you can explain that one.
Jackson Pollack is a great artist, but I'll be damned if you'll find me standing in front of his canvasses. It isn't for me.
01-04-06, 10:28 PM RoverRoad jusork, Concrete Blond sang Everybody Knows on the Pump Up the Volume soundtrack and had a big hit with it. Leonard Cohen was heard singing it in the movie while Christian Slater played in on his pirate radio station. Leonard Cohen wasn't mentioned on the soundtrack.
01-04-06, 10:39 PM RoverRoad
quote: Originally posted by aminator2002: Uh... (what on Earth does that mean?) Maybe you can explain that one.
That means we **** each other off... always have and always will. Smile
01-04-06, 10:48 PM aminator2002
quote: Originally posted by jusork: Damn, Ami, you must really hate Leonard Cohen!
Actually, I don't hate him, but I wouldn't voluntarily listen to his music. It makes my skin crawl at this point.
quote: Originally posted by aminator2002: His big hit ... "Everybody Knows"... I know you've heard it justin.
Ok, I just listened to it. I don't think I have heard it actually. It came out in 1988? Well I was three in 1988 so maybe that's why. Wink I didn't even know he had a big hit![/QUOTE]
Okay so now you've made me feel old! You should watch the movie that Rover mentions. It was actually a pretty good film back in the day - 1990 (but didn't really have cult appeal until about 1992). I don't think Leonard Cohen would have been a "hit" had it not been for that movie. He had a good audience, but not like after the movie. Prior to that, my friends and I were passing cassettes around to listen to him. Pump up the Volume
I am biased about Cohen. His music was adopted by those around me that wanted to obsess with misery and suicide. I just can't stand the stuff. It brings back memories of people being miserable over Kurt Cobain's suicide and listening to Cohen because he was so "real" and "dark"... ick. I remember being very affected by many of his songs, but I don't want to listen to things that make me want to hide under my bed.
01-04-06, 10:53 PM jusork I'm confused about the part about whistle blowers and raising eyebrows.
Ah, so it was Concrete Blonde. Ok, I tried their version. And still no. Although the guitar sounds very slightly familiar. But only slightly!
Ah, thanks, Ami. See, when you're older you get to say sweet things like 'back in the day.' Wink I'll check out that movie sometime. So you don't like bleak and dreary music at all? Are there any songs that have been likeable enough for you to be exceptions?
01-04-06, 10:57 PM aminator2002
quote: That means we **** each other off... always have and always will.
uh. hmmm..
01-04-06, 11:11 PM RoverRoad
quote:
I'm confused about the part about whistle blowers and raising eyebrows.
Jusork, Music can have political overtones.
01-04-06, 11:35 PM jusork Oh of course, but is Leonard Cohen very musicially political? 01-04-06, 11:43 PM
RoverRoad
quote: Originally posted by jusork: Oh of course, but is Leonard Cohen very musicially political?
Is a song called "Democracy" political? You tell me.
01-05-06, 12:03 AM jusork Oh ok you were just refering to Democracy. Sorry about the confusion.
01-06-06, 11:12 PM Tree I skimmed through this thread and just have to say that I've been a Leonard Cohen fan for a LONG time. He's more of a poet and interjects this with music. I LOVE most of his stuff! Wink
01-06-06, 11:13 PM jusork Yeah, isn't he called the last of the beatniks?
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