LEONARD COHEN - Avalanche | FIRST TIME REACTION

[@hongfang2348]

Cohen was a published poet before he got into music.

[@sherryheim5504]

LC was raised in a traditional Jewish family but he lived in a very Christian community growing up, so he was aware of the differences in religion from very early on, though he said he did not feel as though his religion had an effect on his relationships and friendships. Later, in the mid 1990's, he was ordained as a Zen Buddhist Monk stating that he was happy to be living a life where you don't have to worry about what you will be doing next and lived within the brotherhood for a few years. When he finally left the monks, he found that his business manager had stolen over 5 million dollars of his money and that he was broke. While very disillusioned by both the Buddhist experience and the human spirit, he went on to continue to write some of his most amazing poetry and put some of it to song. Musically, Cohen was a total perfectionist and expected the absolute best out of those who performed with him. If you couldn't grasp what he wanted then he either scrapped it or you were out so he always had the best bands that he recorded and toured with. Production on his albums, even the early ones, was always top tier. Leonard Cohen does play guitar but he always said he did not play it well. I think on his albums he hired more professional musicians. To me, this song does indeed sound like God speaking to those appealing to him. Cohen's poetry is always at least 10 stanzas and sometimes triple that number, so getting a clear idea of what he is saying in a song is sometimes difficult, but I believe he always wanted his songs to be more loose and subjective. His poetry is often much more pointed and clear. Most, if not all of his songs come from his poetry, so if you can find books of his poems, you will be wowed by his words and how he actually felt when he was writing them and how he then turned them into songs.

[@AncientExplorationCanada]

This explains it very well. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and thoughts on the song. I learned a lot

[@theomanazir]

Leonard is playing guitar on most of these earlier recordings. He only had about 3 or 4 picking patterns he used but man did he get a lot out of them. This gypsy/flamenco-y pattern in particular is so cool and pretty tricky to get the hang of at first. He uses it on Stranger Song as well, which is definitely worth you checking out at some point. There’s a pretty good live version on here with him in a turtleneck where he cries a little at the end and it’s just crushing. Loving the reactions, thanks!

[@hongfang2348]

Songs of Love and Hate was his 3rd album (1971). His first 3 albums are jewels. His most famous early song is Suzanne.

[@curtadams7406]

Thank you for this. Do not be alarmed at not "understanding" Cohen's lyrics, he felt that the listeners (or the readers in the case of his poetry) should be free to arrive at their own interpretations based on their own life experiences, and he generally shied away from providing explanations. On the Leonard Cohen forum a group of us spent more than a year going through all his songs and discussing potential meanings, but we did not get very far with "Avalanche." The interpretation that you related seems to make much more sense than anything we came up with. For a twelve minute investment of your time, watch the video of Cohen's "Prince of Asturius Award" acceptance speech on youtube (the one posted by Allan Showalter is the best version), you will gain many insights about the man.

[@27thangel23]

Hey, man- greetings from Canada. Love your reactions- and the paths + speed you're digesting good music. Anybody who can enjoy Leonard, Dire Straits and Led Zeppelin is tops in my books. Peace, love and bellbottoms.

[@ShawnSalvadori]

Thanks for tuning in and happy you enjoy, always great to know others are hanging out 😁

[@viceroyzh]

I suggest that you start your Leonard Cohen journey with his first song "Suzanne". Already there - as in many of his later songs up to "You want it darker" - you will find the divine and the key to his work.

[@ritagryphon222]

I like so much that you make an effort to understand the lyrics and the meaning of the songs you're reacting to

[@ShawnSalvadori]

Thanks, I do make an effort but still miss the mark sometimes 😅 but I do my best 😁

[@lynneyoung-beggs2363]

You do really well with your reactions & I have subscribed. Keep up the good work & looking forward to more from you.

[@ShawnSalvadori]

Thank you, appreciate it 🙏

[@lynneyoung-beggs2363]

This is from a really old album of his & I love every song on it.

[@stuarthastie6374]

I guess this is written when he lived as a Hermit on top a mountain. He started out a rich kid and like Sidhatha tried out every spiritual path even was a Zen Monk for 5 yeafrs. Famous Blue Raincoat is from his Scientology period. No wonder Joni Mitchel found him bitter and so sweet.

[@JamesLMason]

This was written way before he was up in Mount Baldy.

[@kentclark6420]

I just realized how similar Leonard's voice is to Lee Hazlewood's.

[@leemorgan4799]

This album is from the 70s..I have it.

[@15larryn]

Tom Waits in one of songs say's there is no Devil only God when he's drunk.

[@15larryn]

P.S. Tom Waits (Heart Attack and Vine)

[@chimpansi2]

The guitar is so great. I tried it, its tuned down and the picking is hard. Dont think leo played on this one😅

[@LumberjackHands]

There is a video of him playing it live 😉

[@reneedevry4361]

I was a huge fan of Leonard Cohan since the late 70's. But never to be listened to while depressed.🤣🤣🤣 Almost 5 years ago when I first heard Dimash, he became a vocal drug where it took years before I could listen again to other voices. Leonard is one of the few artists that I still cringe everytime I listen. I love his lyric poetry as always but listening to him sing is almost painful. 😢🥰🥰🥰🇨🇦

[@gforce4063]

God is dead and we killed him

[@youreatoilet]

Nice reaction man! On an unrelated note you seriously NEED to react to Black Sabbath! You've done Zeppelin and Deep Purple, but Sabbath completes the "unholy trinity of british hard rock & heavy metal" Sabbath are widely considered the first and most important heavy metal band! Highly recommend you react to their classic 'War Pigs', the studio version is incredible but there is also an amazing live video version from 1970 in Paris which demonstrates their immense pioneering heavy sound. P.S. if you didn't know the lead singer is Ozzy Osbourne who I'm sure you've heard of! He was Sabbaths original singer from 1968 all the way until 1979 when he was kicked out due to his drug and alcohol problems and was replaced by Ronnie James Dio