Leonard Cohen - Avalanche

Live 1988

[@unforgiven6016]

When you are a Viltrumite with depression and existential problems wandering in space. Leonard, wherever you are, thank you.

[@fingerermantraut234]

Avalanche is one of my favorite songs ever and means so much for me. Whenever I pick my guitar I play it. Every time. I was so shocked when I heard it in invincible. That brought a tear to my eye

[@rxsheepxr]

This is the hardest shit on the planet. I miss Leonard so much.

[@meme6335]

Indeed shit is hard af haha this is going to be the opposite of hard though and is honestly just first world person soft lmao 😂but I feel like sharing it anyway. In a typically modern way I just stupidly browsed my social media and got caught up in a wave of negativity due to all of the ugliness and hypocrisy I seen on there so I took a breath , got off and immediately turned this song on to cleanse my fucking soul lol This song at least for one moment allows you to invite all of the coldness, ugliness and hatefulness in this world to come have lunch by your side and laugh with you, Leonard’s very own words help you to not fall into that same avalanche he claims to have fell into and for me this is why this song is so powerful and perhaps one of the his best songs. There are other ways to interpret it of course but this is what I’m able to get out of it individually and it most definitely has the ability to heal you for a short while when you need it. I can barely even scratch the surface of how many times this song has helped guide me in a better direction than the one I was headed.

[@ludgert.balkenhol152]

You are not the only one

[@dillona2349]

Leonard was a great song writer but his guitar work deserves more recognition.

[@meyou8977]

Dillon Aubin I have tried to play that I watch his movements on his strumming hand I look like I’m having a seizure he looks like his just rubbing them what the actual fuck haha

[@DollySvengali]

He was a fucking beast on that guitar. Sometimes when he does this song I feel like he's praying to the goddess who taught him to play guitar like that while singing.

[@josyfalcon5442]

@@DollySvengali Have you watch his speech at the Principe de las Asturias prize?

[@balance1182]

That's what I always said. Totally underrated guitar player.

[@lordoflightning7506]

Learn this leonard cohen song i said Now here i am realizing that some people are just simply not human

[@spiritofthewinds9089]

Okay... this is one of the most fascinating performances of all time I have ever seen. It is so intense and deep and pure and fuck.... I can't. Made me cry. Hard. And I never cry. He was a very very special human being. this is so different from every other performer. He just stares and doesn't move in the least but that's exactly what makes it so intense and wonderfully worthful. It's the first live performance I have watched of him. But this will be on my mind for a very very long time.

[@Can-wn2nh]

you also made me cry. hard. and I never cry :,)

[@fiorellafenati5395]

the same impression it made on me. one of the wonderful interpretations of him, he brought tears to me too. he is so beautiful and engaging and he gives us all the pain he feels. there are no possible comparisons,

[@pinorkle2728]

Nick Cave does a great cover, check it out

[@id10tcertified]

Cohen said Cave butchered it... in a good way, let there be more butchers.

[@Deadinaditchofficial]

I’ve stolen that guitar intro of this specific performance many many times….. the first time it struck me, I think I cried and cried. Thank you Leonard for everything you were and are for me, and we miss you

[@AndyHope970]

2019 anyone? I miss this man

[@hessianmusicdealer]

2024 my man

[@melinda82]

What a song! Thank God he eventually got into the music business and gave the world such very rare gems.

[@jis87BE]

OMG...life long fan and only discovered this pure gold now!! Even after alllll these years, he never ceases to amaze me!! Thank you, Dexter, thank you mr. Cohen!!!

[@iesus68]

You can go round and round, you can search for something good in music, you can listen to tons of songs, eventually even very very good. But if you want to have your soul touched by the God of music is here that you have to return, submerged by this avalanche feelings

[@cheekerpot3008]

The lyrics... his voice... tears

[@garyhosty]

beautiful song. depressing ? not at all - the complete opposite - this is life saving stuff.

[@juaquinrodriguez8333]

adam diamond this song saved my life. LONG LIVE LEONARD!!!!!

[@pedrocesarferrada4775]

Master....

[@itsallgoodman4108]

Lord Dickens being able to have someone speak to your situation woth great dark wit and underlying compassion. It makes you feel a little less alone in your pain

[@meme6335]

He made the most of what he knew how to play, really great picking in a lot of his songs too. I remember him talking about how he first learned guitar from I believe a Spanish man in Montreal who sadly committed suicide, really good sorry told by him if you haven’t heard it yet.

[@dinospumoni5611]

Yeah it's a Christian piece

[@christophermoon64]

How in the Hell did I not see this until now? This is Heartachingly perfect. Does anyone but me notice Leonard doesn't blink for 4 minutes?? He was fucking intense 😳 I love Songs of Love & Hate, but I have to be ready for it. It is the most depressing & beautiful record ever recorded -- we were lucky Leonard graced this earth 🌎 ❤

[@fiorellafenati5395]

a song that I shouldn't listen to because it's too good. and it brings tears to my eyes. it is so beautiful and Leonard's interpretation so heartfelt and profound, as if it were the first time he sang it. hi Leonard, RIP

[@scottcreek942]

One of the people who made religion beautiful

[@guitarista666]

I think that's true. The only religion I've ever really known is the church of Leonard Cohen. All others pale in comparison.

[@famousblueraincoat.]

my best and most favorite tattoo I've gotten is a portrait of him, rip leonard you are so missed

[@nickguord1107]

How can he not move an inch but still put on such a passionate performance

[@fincher7185]

imagine this song while drifts through space

[@seancyril70]

Thank you Leonard. For everything. I love you. Always. Goodbye my friend

[@henryporter2081]

There will never be anyone like him again. Thanks for it all Leonard. PS: THANKS FOR THE DANCE IS WONDERFUL.

[@OktoberFilms]

An incredible song and a perfect album opener. The chords are relatively simple and I strum the song, but the way he fingerpicks it is beautiful. Oh, and the way he ends it here. Beautiful. RIP, Field Commander Cohen.

[@meyou8977]

Look at that face. He is where he needs to be.

[@lenahjonsson]

I have begun to long for you; I who have no greed... Miss you L.C.

[@RAMLIA1]

Rest in peace Mister Leonard Cohen :(

[@corlejune5403]

Ahora vendrán fanáticos de Dexter New Blood a oír y reescuchar esta canción (como con Runaway de Del Shannon) de la época de la Guerra de Vietnam. INCREÍBLE.

[@natasadzafer9007]

no words to explain 💜 u

[@LalisasToxicHusband]

I like that subtitles are in Spanish. I wonder if people enjoyed this song in Spain... so much Spanish influence in his superb guitar playing on this song

[@ima1986]

We do

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

Una gran canción.!!!

[@davestreatfield2527]

Astonishing performance ! Some interesting lyric changes from the original recording too ! It's the first time I've found this clip , so thank you very much for posting ! Good wishes

[@garywilson3042]

RIP Mr Cohen

[@chaoswitch1974]

One of my favorites.

[@TheObicobiHD]

Beautiful

[@FuzzYSrb]

This song and Black Sails,a perfect match !

[@ringoslover]

This song was actually IN Our Flag Means Death. And it was a perfect match!

[@blueoystercultforevs]

Interesting to hear the changes he made here from the studio recording: He omitted "I, who have no greed" and replaced it with "I, who rule the seven seas." And the penultimate line became "This is your world, beloved" instead of "It's your turn, beloved."

[@iwillregretthis5127]

it is interesting, i saw another performance where he changed “i, who have no greed” into “i’m waiting on my knees” … always cool to see what he decided to switch up!

[@mikeg1745]

love u LC!

[@lelecobudd]

Amazing.

[@sfoemw]

I love ghosts cover of this song

[@Bavodekat]

Awesome.

[@SwarnaShanmugalingam]

Beautiful.

[@robertkelly5515]

i never known anyone in my life with a voice so deep as leonard Cohen's, I mean it's un - naturally DEEP, like h's putting it on - Hehehehehe - makes me laugh!!! he's brill like.

[@alexanderduluoz]

I’ve met many people with voices that deep. Hell, my voice is that deep when I first wake up

[@Cornloaf]

Can't wait to hear the Ghost take on this song!!

[@kunah1000]

They did an amazing job ;)

[@joseluisfelixsaborit5335]

¡Genial!, Cohen,gracias por tu poesía,que es nuestra.

[@cinemelies734]

When you want to go to a cave with your mom to Alaska for a cure

[@mariehone7130]

Nous pensons à toi ,Léonard ....

[@brunavendramini8875]

Violonista sensacional.

[@fernandotoyos8122]

Maravillosa

[@vicshere99]

I imagine God sounds like this.

[@luisardilag7931]

Genio

[@alphaq3368]

Anyone else here because of the show invincible?

[@viniciusrodrigues8797]

First the glove now smell. One plus one is equal.....

[@Ifbbprostevenwain]

What year is this from?

[@TheWadanambi]

Love from Ceylon! 😘

[@Can-wn2nh]

I am here again

[@robertkelly9508]

he was a humble man I guess, but I like that as humbleness is the future.

[@manuelantoniocortesballest6006]

Robeert, More than humble, he was honest ... with himself and with others. That honesty makes his Poetry immortal.

[@RorschachCZ]

Anyone knows how is called that incredibly cool guitar move he does with all of his fingers when he finishes the song?

[@thekid8200]

it's a flamenco move called rasgueado, althoug he does his on take on this and also moves the fingers upwards

[@dinospumoni5611]

Are we all in agreement this is an explicit Christian allegory spoken from the perspective of Christ?

[@Perom6696]

♥♥♥

[@niginit]

He didn't fucking blink........................................the entire song.

[@niginit]

The only other time I've seen this happen is with Maynard from Tool in the 93' club bootleg video. His eyes never shut.

[@lukeleonard2504]

If anyone knows the tablature to the opening picking and scale before he hits the first Am chord, I'd be eternally grateful if you let me know where to find it. I've been listening to this so much but I just can't quite figure it out!

[@marie-josehoppenbrouwers6300]

perhaps ?? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmGWYomOnMiLoLc&ab_channel=franskuijpers

[@lukeleonard2504]

@@marie-josehoppenbrouwers6300 Hi thanks, I've seen that previously. However, that lesson starts at the first Am chord. What is unique to this live performance is prior to hitting the 1st Am chord he plays a really nice intro scale, particularly with a descending base. This is what i'm trying to figure out but can't.

[@Pindakaaspot]

@@lukeleonard2504 I think it's the Andalucian cadence

[@MOUBARRET]

👁 El ojo

[@erenjager9943]

Does anyone know what is the technique he is using in the guitar?

[@user-cn9sn7zp1m]

Tremolo

[@erenjager9943]

@@user-cn9sn7zp1m thanks!!

[@branavila3843]

ghost- Avalanch (cover)

[@Xedome]

Bloody hell remove the undertexts! Where's the original without!?

[@chrisconnolly7492]

I like both versions. leonard cohen avalanche and Nick Cave and the bad seeds version. But I have to say Nick Caves version is so much darker and more fitting like it was made for him to cover. I've heard a few covers of this song and they don't really sound that great. Nick Cave actually naild the song and did it right. Both versions are are absolutely awesome.

[@TheShylock44]

Yes! Exactly!

[@adamnicholson1273]

And justin Bieber can get billions of views, and Mr, Leonard Cohen gets,, a few thousand :(

[@juaquinrodriguez8333]

Adam Nicholson ugh! I know right? I fuckin love this man, he's my favorite song writer of all time!

[@hmao4466]

why?

[@flashgm41]

The kids will eventually grow up.

[@slint69]

Just goes to show there are a lot of mindless idiots in the world. Nothing you can do about it but kill everybody with an IQ lower than 75. But that would put me out off a Job.And it wouldn't be that kind or caring

[@joaopinto3320]

Pedro Barroso

[@joseluisfelixsaborit5335]

Quiso tocar la 🎸 como Paco de Lucía, y recuperar los restos de García Lorca.

[@albertotarintarin3499]

Cohen es idolatra a las mujeres guapas, pero en esta canción parece que se venga de alguna de ellas...

[@ezescorpiocerbero]

Creo que es una metafora sobre la depresion

[@manuelantoniocortesballest6006]

Supongo que en estos años has podido ver de quién se trataba... de una de sus relaciones más tumultuosas, la que mantuvo con Christa Päffgen "Nico, modelo y musa de Andy Warhol... Le dedica otras canciones: Take This Longing, One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong y Joan Of Arc

[@manuelantoniocortesballest6006]

@@ezescorpiocerbero, no... la canción nace del dolor en una relación tumultuosa y llena de "cuernos" con Christa Päffgen (una modelo de la que en un poema dice: "la conocí en un póster nazi") sobre la que habla en muchos otras canciones y poemas.

[@ezescorpiocerbero]

@@manuelantoniocortesballest6006 la cancion es totalmente metaforica ¿de que manera habla de una mujer?

[@manuelantoniocortesballest6006]

@@ezescorpiocerbero, la capacidad poética de Cohen va más allá de las simples metáforas o las descripciones pormenorizadas... En sus poemas crea un climax religioso/pagano, interior/exterior, al igual que los grandes poetas místicos españoles del XVI, que para cada uno de sus lectores puede tener significados distintos... Para mí, es evidente que en este poema (Avalanche) une sentimientos paralelos, uno, el más profundo, la DEPRESIÓN que le acompañó casi toda su vida pero además, el DESENCANTO por su trayectoria poética, el DOLOR por la ruptura de su vida en Hydra y su llegada a New York para emprender una carrera que le aterroriza, la Canción, y un tercero, el DESAMOR (ha roto con Marianne y está enfrascado en una relación difícil con Nico que le hace escribir canciones como Take This Longing, One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong o Joan Of Arc). ¿Cuál es la causa primera de AVALANCHE? Eso sólo Cohen lo sabe... El resultado es una canción eterna.