El statement issued on the death of Leonard Cohen It goes like this: "We have lost one of the most respected and prolific visionaries in music." However, this statement does not specify the place or causes of death.
The note does announce a tribute to the artist in Los Angeles, the city in which the mythical singer resided, on a date yet to be determined.
Cohen has been a musical figure of reference among the singer-songwriters emerged in the 60s, active throughout his life, combining music and poetry.
Not long ago we have on the market his new album «You Want It Darker», one more example of his prolific career.
Its beginnings and a peculiar style
Cohen was born on September 21, 1934 in Montreal (Canada) into a Jewish family. From a very young age he began to be interested in poetry and, especially, in the work of the Spanish Federico García Lorca.
After publishing his first books and poems and spending a long time in Greece, Cohen made his debut in music with the album "Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1967), considered a masterpiece, with songs that have gone down in musical history, as is the case of "So Long, Marianne" o "Suzanne".
His whispering voice, like a caress in our ears, grave and deep and elaborate literary style, in which he mixed romantic reflections with spiritual and existential themes, they penetrated an audience that was looking for much more than the lyrics of his songs.
In his successful career, Cohen has been a true reference for songwriters of all generations. Some well-known records have been "Songs of Love and Hate" (1971) "I'm Your Man" (1988) o "Various Positions" (1985). In the latter appeared "Hallelujah", one of his most popular songs.
During the 90s, the Canadian artist retired for a time. Among other things because he learned that his representative Kelley Lynch had scammed him and left him on the brink of ruin.
On his return to the present, he surprised us again with "Old Ideas"(2012) "Popular Problems" (2014) and its musical epilogue "You Want It Darker", which has entered the market this year, very recently.
Throughout his life, Leonard Cohen hHe has received different awards and recognitions. To highlight our Prince of Asturias Award for Literature, obtained in 2011.
His latest thoughts
In an October interview for "The New Yorker," Cohen claimed to be ready to die, although he asked that it not be "too painful." And he ended the statement with a resounding "That's it for me."
It was not long ago that the Canadian genius he had lost his muse Marianne Ihlen, who passed away last July. Two days before her death, knowing that everything was lost for her, she wrote her a note saying: “Well Marianne, we have reached this point where we are so old that our bodies are falling apart and i think i'm going to follow you very soon. I'm so close behind you that if you reach out, I think you can reach mine, "he said.
Poco después appeared in Los Angeles, to present his latest album, stating that his words of being prepared to die were exaggerated, that he actually had a firm intention of reaching 120 years.
In these last appearances, Cohen walked very slowly and spoke with little energy. But his wonderful voice still penetrated the ears of the audience, especially for its depth and for that special tone that has always characterized him.
An important detail is that, in this appearance, he was not wearing the hat that we have all seen throughout his life.
Reactions to your death
Different demonstrations have taken place after Cohen's death. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau He has said on his Twitter account: “There is no music by any other artist that sounded and felt like Leonard Cohen's. His work reached generations. Canada and the world will miss him.
Justin Timberlake has said of Cohen that he has been "A spirit and a soul without comparison."
The Grammy Academy, which awarded Cohen its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, has released a statement saying: “Throughout an influential career that lasted more than five decades, Leonard became one of the most adored poets of pop and a reference for many composers (…) He will be tremendously missed ”.
Cohen and poetry
In addition to his music, Leonard Cohen has also been known to be a great poet, as witnessed by the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature, the same one that Günter Grass, Amos Oz and Paul Auster had received.
Upon receiving this award, Cohen would say, "I have always had Ambiguous feelings about poetry awards. Poetry comes from a place that no one controls and no one conquers. So I feel a bit like a charlatan accepting an award for an activity that I am not proficient. "
Cohen's first book, a compilation of poems, was published in 1956, when he was only 22 years old. His career as a poet continued and his publications also, especially during the 60s, the year in which he began in the musical universe of pop.
Cohen claimed to have gotten into music because he could not earn a living from poetry.