Leonard Cohen - BBC interview 1988

Short feature on Leonard Cohen by John Archer. Shown on BBC in 1988.

[@photent]

lol "we didn't know it was the 60's then, we just thought it was ordinary time" Fantastic

[@conniebreines1725]

Probably right about 60's..I say that but many of us did think we were having a special time at during a different time and place. It was a feeling I had at least that it was my duty to be FREE!

[@fhiosat0]

I disagree. I love his voice, it has so much character and soul.

[@weedelfur1]

The interviewer doesn't deserve to even interview this great man.He is so insulting at the end. Leonard Cohen is not just lyrics, his voice is like velvet. The most important singer and songwriter of our time and for many more generations to come. He is a role model for what mankind should stand for with his truth, humility and kindness.

[@Esther_is_my_name]

yes, Leonard points out that life is not "sunshine and lollipops"...hello world, wake up...embrace everything...including your "feewings". They are seasons of LIFE..I hate that people automatically assume Leonard's music is "depressing"... IT ISN'T, it's called life. It's called "not everything goes MY WAY"...and we share in this. if you cannot harness your emotions, thats your problem, not LEONARDS. I LOVE Leonards music, it's fantastic and it gives me a great deal of JOY listening to it. He's REAL and isn't afraid to say it! That's fantastic...yet rare these days, unfortunately.

[@sameoldthing4037]

Every one of his albums is a totally different mood. I have an album of his for my every mood! ❤

[@blakeaaron5698]

Thanks a lot for sharing this, I love hearing his stories and anecdotes.

[@caramcdo]

It's funny how both Cohen and Bob Dylan's voices are often criticised. It is not about the voice. This is shown as they not only write amazing music, but are in my opinion the greatest songwriters of all time. If they had beautiful voices, that may have taken away the magic in their music.

[@nickk8650]

Leonard cohen (particularly young cohen) has maybe the best singing voice I’ve ever heard, a silky nasal tone balance by deep bass. Maybe not a great singer technically but I don’t think there’s many I’d rather hear sing.

[@Esther_is_my_name]

He was who he was, and that's alright by me. Who cares that a true poet, here and there, sung off key. Like Daniel, in a den, with a buncha roaring wannabe's, He was who he was, and thats alright by me. (in other words, I agree) Cheers!

[@onlylexus]

Before I shuttle off this mortal coil I wish that I could get to meet my old mate Leonard Cohen, I would like that and I can drink his red wine while we talk, I have no better wish than this, brother to brother.

[@asanga73]

same here mate . love this guy

[@robertpettit3475]

The one and only great Leonard Cohen....we will never forgot him.

[@martinsmith500]

we didn't know it was the sixties then we was just thought it was ordinary time

[@AFord1981]

Just an amazing line to casually toss out there. What a man.

[@maxwellfan55]

I too, noted the mild, yet gracious irritation from LC when the subject of suicide/depression in relation to his music was introduced. Personally I have NEVER related this myth to what I hear from Cohen, and also become tired when this mocking tone is mentioned, especially among musician friends. What I hear from his sensitive, cleverly constructed songs is this. Beauty. And his are some of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. So we are blessed to have them. Leonard, if you ever get to read this, I played So Long Marianne to an audience the night she died. Only hearing the news weeks afterwards. I understand she heard your words. Some in a little corner of England heard your music.

[@AFord1981]

Leonard Cohen's music makes life seem full of meaning and beauty. Quite the opposite of encouraging suicide.

[@thedolphin5428]

In the late 60s, when I was 15 and learning folk music on guitar, we used to call LC's work as "music to commit suicide to". At that age, who wanted such sad ballads.

[@maxwellfan55]

@@thedolphin5428 Well that's the futile "mock something to get a laugh" mentality I don't adhere to regards Cohen. Plus, it's all so boring, superficial, and easy. Most do it so I just turn a cheek, preferring to enjoy the intimate and wonderful melodies. If you took notice, Cohen's repertoire covers everything from happiness to melancholy, brutal to kind, love to hate, war to peace, romance to disaffection. All things relevant to mankind, and the public loved him for it In the late 60's when I was the same age as you, learning guitar, the culture I recognised was one where we listened, became interested and tolerant of all kinds of music. My friends and I immersed ourselves in all the new and wonderful sounds being created, from Indian to Caribbean, classical to pop, blues to traditional folk, jazz to country. I guess you and I are different.

[@thedolphin5428]

@@maxwellfan55 Go fuck yourself you preachy idiot. I've actually loved Leonard Cohen for decades since. I was not mocking him. I was simply relating my impressions of *50 years ago* (when I was a pop and rock adherent) as per THE ACTUAL TOPIC OF THIS THREAD and not insinuating any critique of his subsequent work. Go on, be a man and apologise for jumping to a stupid false presumption. Think before you type.

[@maxwellfan55]

@@thedolphin5428 As I suspected and now proved right. Your words, hostility and bullying tone do not match my generation, nor that of Leonard Cohen who you are unlikely ever to appreciate. Others will judge you on this, but as far as further dialogue, forget it. Take your anger elsewhere, learn some self control, and find your God.

[@shermanvermin76]

Happy 79th birthday Leonard!

[@sameoldthing4037]

I've heard that before about less anxiety as you age, I'm 56 and STILL WAITING.

[@treintjefop]

This is just a part of the whole interview! is there more?

[@kidcharlemagne7238]

"Polynesian restaurant in Miami Beach", P R E C I O U S !!

[@arthursid1129]

Thank you so much for your vatic utterances.

[@Zhawq]

I always thought women found Cohen attractive, so it surprises me to hear this unless it was a one-time incident with Joplin who was known to be tough speaking. "Poetry is women's natural language". That's an interesting notion. It's true it obviously connects with something in them that is different from how men think. I also think we naturally change how we talk when we talk to women. It's not possible to fully distinguish what you say from who you say it to, that's just a fact of life.

[@UnknownDnB]

Bless his heart. No he hasn't been married..Close

[@mariellegrass-singing5881]

The quintessential elegent man.....

[@frankrault3190]

The prick and the gentleman. No need to explain myself.

[@bigpole100]

"Yes about a hundred thousand cigarettes depper" Classic !

[@arricammarques1955]

Leonard honesty and erudite intelligence are dearly missed.

[@victoria_atmosphere9290]

I don't see morose or morbidity, I feel eroticism and deep sensuality.

[@halhal206]

I hate this interview except the Leonard Cohen parts, he was splendid. i feel like the interviewer is mocking him.

[@conniebreines1725]

Yes

[@stefansoos4519]

1:25 thats like an octave under the elvis version, crazy.

[@patriciofernandez2711]

Stefan Soos People who say he couldn't sing don't know shit. One of my favorite singers of all time.

[@fiorellarosa178]

caro leonard r.i.p

[@TEAMORICKY1]

Has Leonard ever been married ?

[@helenahelena7438]

A hundred thousands cigarets deeper

[@robin_violin]

A thousand cigarettes deep

[@chrisyeomans5547]

Try singing a leonard cohen song in the right key.

[@123sonner]

his thoughts are what make him interesting, certainly not his voice.

[@Muldarfbi]

He didn't seem to care to much did he?

[@xanbex8324]

Very interesting.....interviewer a question.

[@kidcharlemagne7238]

silly Archer making cheap joke as film finishes

[@johnnypastrana6727]

Looks like he lived a charmed life to me...wonder if he ever did any heavy lifting? Love some of his songs...

[@wandaloskot]

He was in depression most of his life.

[@thedolphin5428]

Some call his work great singing, some call it shit singing. I've always thought of him just talking through his poetry with a bit of a simple tune underneath it.

[@fredrickroll06]

I knew that 1967 and 1968 were not an ordinary time. I think the breaking point was the murder of JFK - 57 years ago yesterday. We sensed right away (I was 18, and living in Germany for the first time) that nothing would ever be the same again. - There are different definitions of singing, as there are of love, of sex, of wisdom, of philosophy, of everything - otherwise life would be prone to succumbing to tedium, which it often does anyway.

[@TheUltimateGC]

The lifeless dullness of Britishness. Cohen was brilliant, however. As always.

[@gedan_play5584]

Because he was Canadian not british!!

[@bobski9595]

No, he hasn't.

[@newking70]

Test

[@pamelawherey4583]

Ego

[@victoria_atmosphere9290]

Most morose? Sir you are too kind.

[@sanniepstein1007]

LC is better with the addition of Jennifer Warnes.

[@williamwebster5217]

lol and i don't do lols

[@MsTommyknocker]

Why was he depressed. Couldn't he afford a car??

[@boseandfriends9284]

BBC? junk food network

[@butchgehrig5604]

I HOPE JANIS IS AT THE GATE TO WAVE GOODBY WHEN ST. PETER SENDS YOU AWAY !

[@harrybombardi7289]

I only learned of Leonard Cohen a week ago when I saw a video of Jackson Browne performing "A Thousand Kisses Deep". So I'm curious as to why you would say he is rejected at the Gates of Heaven.

[@butchgehrig5604]

Harry Bombardi G'day Harry ... Find Cohen's Elegy for Janis Joplin on Utube ! Total disrespect for her and HER TALENT !! Seems to think he was hot stuff then & big deal now ... he is an arrogant old man .. Check It Out !!!

[@powernattoh]

Get a grip, it was at worst a slip and he greatly regretted it-read (or watch videos) his bio by Sylvie Simmons that covers the issue.

[@nonosanchezdelamadrid7289]

Carazone