This is so beautiful - LEONARD COHEN - Dance me to the end of love - First time hearing

[@rochellesantos4618]

He sang with the same women for 34 years. This was also his son's favorite song.

[@jamesscanlan6240]

There are jokes made about his voice but I love it. Celine Dion has a four octave range but so what? Im not moved when I hear her sing the way I am with Leonard. Of course he also has the advantage of singing the most profound, beautiful, and disturbing lyrics ever written.

[@user-gu7kk5zk2b]

And HE WROTE THOSE LYRICS. Celine just sings

[@toddashton9696]

Would love to see some more Leonard on the channel. He is amazing.

[@raenellefisher8514]

IMO, his voice improved with age. I like old Leonard Cohen better than young. I recommend Leonard Cohen's First We Take Manhattan.

[@hancockmusic2024]

I'm envious of you hearing these songs for the first time. I've been a fan all my life, and for me, he's the greatest ever writer and one of the greatest ever singer. I was lucky enough to see him live a decade ago. But there's nothing like the first time. So glad you've discovered the genius.

[@pres96ton]

Leonard was a GREAT POET. he wrote all of his songs. He wrote Halleluja, Last years Man, The Stranger Song that was the opening song of Mccabe and Mrs. Miller with Julie Chistie and Warren Beatty...Suzanne....all of them are profound...the Stranger Song is about a gambler....

[@fiorellafenati5395]

beloved Leonard

[@skyblue9515]

According to an interview with Leonard, this beautiful song was inspired by the Holocaust.

[@dericksfotos]

Yes. It is about the orchestras that where formed in the camps. Playing as their friends and families were being killed.

[@lbd-po7cl]

A beautiful song with a very dark and tragic origin and undercurrent. It was inspired by the Holocaust and specifically events in the concentration camps. Cohen said the following about the song: “it's curious how songs begin because the origin of the song, every song, has a kind of grain or seed that somebody hands you or the world hands you and that's why the process is so mysterious about writing a song. But that came from just hearing or reading or knowing that in the death camps, beside the crematoria, in certain of the death camps, a string quartet[3] was pressed into performance while this horror was going on, those were the people whose fate was this horror also. And they would be playing classical music while their fellow prisoners were being killed and burnt. So, that music, "Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin," meaning the beauty thereof being the consummation of life, the end of this existence and of the passionate element in that consummation. But, it is the same language that we use for surrender to the beloved, so that the song - it’s not important that anybody knows the genesis of it, because if the language comes from that passionate resource, it will be able to embrace all passionate activity.”

[@judymeeker2925]

😢😭

[@AhJodie]

Wow, you said a lot right there, I never knew about the music being played during killing.... This song is very passionate, and brings a string of a loving life, and there is an end... even if the human spirit does not die, everything transforms and things do not remain.... but... love is intertwined in all that humans do.... this song says it so well.

[@dinullr1957]

Wow. I had no idea.

[@motherendurance]

I had to go back and relisten with this understanding, it's amazing...

[@fourroadsnorth2723]

Thank you for your interpretation. It is interesting that you say, " . . surrender to the beloved . . ." because I thought that Hallelujah had a similar sentiment.

[@cynthiasullivan8233]

I was lucky to see him in concert twice in the 1980,s Amazing!!!❤Other worldly!!!

[@elizabeths4272]

One of Canada's greatest poets. I am grateful to have attended a few of his concerts.

[@gilliangroundsell665]

Lucky you

[@Newfie-zc7ug]

Canadian treasure and a music ICON RIP ,you beautiful creature ! Peace and love

[@patrickfitzgerald9859]

When my wife passed I would play 3 songs over and over again. Such a help. Josh Groban and the Harlem Boys choir singing "Ave Maria" Sting singing "Fragile" and this one by Leonard Cohen. He will be missed for his poetry put to music. RIP Leonard my old friend even though we never met.

[@lexie9466]

He was the greatest of them all..❤ never wanted to be a singer.. but what a poet he was..🎉

[@stellarsjay1773]

He respected his backup singers and musicians greatly and could attract the very best.

[@stevetillcock7361]

A poet who started singing his words.

[@christinetarquin3773]

Harri, I can't even believe that I clicked on this rendition of ANY of Cohens songs, as listening to his songs on the radio, I find his voice unappealing. Yet, here I am enthralled by the music, lyrics and mostly the intertwined artistry and harmonies of the girls. I have seen the light!

[@solitarybee3714]

I have been an avid fan of Leonard Cohen since more than 25 years ago. I had most of his music on LPs, now have a number on cds but do not listen with the consistency that I used to have. Now, in my 70s, I just get sad and weepy too easily. Love seeing newer generations react to him, and hope his music will never die. Certainly his voice, writing genius and pure talent will live forever. Thank you for your reaction!

[@kirpalite]

Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and early Joni Mitchell, are many boomers' favorite singer-songwriter-poets. Leonard Cohen is my favorite poet.

[@loucilehall9281]

Leonard Cohen is 100 times better than Dylan.

[@AP-gb3eh]

Born with the gift of a golden voice RIP Leonard Cohen . Closing Time is wonderful. They worked together for decades

[@matt75hooper]

What a surprise & what a joy. How I loved this song..............wow. I thought I was well beyond being this impressed.

[@alpetrocelli4465]

One of the great song writers! So many great songs, “Suzanne”, “Hallelujah”, but my favorite is “Everybody Knows”. ✌️❤️🎶

[@constanzaed]

Wow, “Everybody knows”, great song, so true and so sad…

[@HarryGuit]

Yeah, he is one of he greatest and - I tell everyone - he is the next one who should get the Nobel prize for literature … even posthumously.

[@karlpatterson8437]

have you heard Neville Brothers do "Bird on a Wire" ?

[@grimwar1696]

i love this song

[@marybaillie8907]

Leonard started out as a poet and novelist in the 50's and didn't get into music until the 60's. He has been known to cover any topics even if it was controversial. I love "Suzanne". The lyrics are so beautiful in this song. The musicality makes me feel like I'm sitting in a cafe in Paris. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Cynthia.👍✌️🇨🇦😊 Another great Canadian.Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

[@bobbyhulll8737]

THE FUTURE IT IS MURDER … love his stuff .. !! Great Canadian poet !

[@brentdallyn8459]

Wow, what can you say about the man? A quote from a Winston Churchill speech may have described him best, "A riddle, Wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma that which is so dense and secretive as to be totally indecipherable and impossible to foretell", to me that was Leonard Cohen and his music. Truth be told it has melted the brains of countless millennials raised on top 40 pop, I know because I have watched their Leonard Cohen reaction videos

[@PURDY_POISON]

I discoverêd this gentlemen thru the movie "Natural Born Killers" The Future is a fantastic tune!!!😊😊

[@alecspeer]

Canada has given the world some great musical artists .... Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Oscar Peterson, Leonard Cohen, Sarah McLaughlin, Norah Jones, not to mention so many more...

[@robdan4528]

You can add Robbie Robertson and Gordon Lightfoot.

[@stj971]

KD Lang

[@mulatacatachufla]

Another great Canadian!!

[@p.m.2583]

It's just so obvious Mr. Cohen was a published poet before he started writing music. He is such an icon. His songs are timeless. "Ballad of the Absent Mare" is absolutely brilliant.

[@1ANRS]

A Thousand Kisses Deep is one of my favourite Leonard Cohen song, very deep and sentimental in a very similar way as this one.

[@davidbentley145]

I love brother Leonard...this is a great example of his work...I agree that his voice became even more interesting in every way as he aged,much like a fine wine...Ty brother Harri for this🤣

[@jonthebeloved6094]

Cohen was true gem. I had the privilege of seeing him in the final years. Others to react to: Tower of Song, Hallelujah and First We Take Manhattan. Also, maybe Tom Waits? Tom Traubert's Blues or Goin Out West!

[@Cynthia...]

So many great ones. I almost forgot about First We Take Manhattan, I love That one.

[@cheryla7480]

To hear how Leonard’s voice changed over the years ( primarily due to smoking). Listen to his 60’s hit “ Suzanne “

[@Cynthia...]

Yes and Nat King Cole smoked to make his voice sound rich and better, or so he thought.

[@cheryla7480]

@@Cynthia... Absolutely loved Nat King Cole!

[@Cynthia...]

@@cheryla7480 Me too what a voice!

[@fourroadsnorth2723]

It is certainly sad and nostalgic . . . looking back and looking forward.

[@Kat-gx3se]

I am so happy to see you featured this. One of my very favorites of his. Alexandra Leaving is my ultimate favorite. You're right has a very Russian or Hungarian sound........like a crying gypsy violin. Tears at your heart. I remember hearing he had died and the tears stinging my eyes. RIP Leonard. Not certain but the stringed instrument you hear may be a Balalaika......a Russian stringed instrument. His voice changed over the years from what I understand due to smoking and I seem to recall he had a bout with throat cancer which ultimately changed it but I'm not 100 % sure of where I read it.

[@stevensprunger3422]

Harri So glad you listen to this “Everybody knows” is also great one

[@sherryheim5504]

I don't know how I missed this when you dropped it. I love this song and I love Leonard Cohen so if I had seen it, I certainly would have come to view your reaction. Well here I am today, 11 months late but ready to swing and sway to this incredible song. I watched a couple dance a beautiful Tango to this song in a competition once, I was awe struck. I would have never thought of this for Tango, but it was perfect and the lyrics just pulled it through even stronger, so much passion. Thank you.

[@2porangi]

I was lucky to catch him live in his one of his last performance in Australia.

[@Dee-JayW]

You must follow his story! an incredible man…. The years he and his love Marianne lived on the Greek Island of Hydra (the song is inspired by Greek music)… what a love story. My request would be “Like a Bird on a Wire” sung by k.d. Lang! Hugs from 🇨🇦

[@d.s.6268]

Thanks for a great reaction. Love Lenny. Please do "You want it darker" and live version of "Everybody Knows".

[@jkronen1000]

Love him and his last song - You want it Darker - he was amazing - used to see him at St-Viateur Bagel in Montreal.

[@LauraDelcea]

His voice is so hunting… ❤️‍🩹

[@partypete007]

His last few albums were amazing… Worth exploring! Some very moving!

[@larryweise5388]

Sincerely, L Cohen‼️👏💯

[@debbiechang5781]

Cynthia, thank you for requesting another Canadian treasure. Leonard Cohen is the real deal. I love Harri’s analysis as it is spot on. 🌺✌️

[@Diecastclassicist]

The music’s over, but we’re still dancing.

[@jbs454]

Check out his song [ who by fire] great song!!!!

[@littlebear6119]

The musical harmony has a yiddish theme with the instrumentals.

[@stj971]

👍

[@geraldinesleijpen5504]

Or just Eastern European, Balkan etc

[@jeffharry9675]

Don't forget his reading titled A Thousand Kisses Deep.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

One of the greatest lyricists of all time. You can't go wrong with Cohen. I recommend "Everybody Knows" and his version of "The Partisan".

[@skyblue9515]

Takes on a whole different meaning in the context of the Holocaust, so heartbreaking.

[@stj971]

No wonder it makes me cry

[@janist6626]

I understand. It touches me deeply thinking of the poor Palestinians being crushed under Israeli bulldozers, and all the heartache of watching all the death and sorrow in the images…especially a little girl (about2-3 years old) in a now dirty little princess dress all by herself, looking for her mommy and daddy. And the world just watches. The Holocaust was more “civilized”, if I can use that word. And the world didn’t know….or we would have come to their rescue. Frightening heartless times.

[@timewizardphil]

Leonard was incredible. One of the best. Glad to see another reaction to him. I reccomemd Famous Blue Raincoat, Chelsea Hotel #2, and The Future to see yet more sides of his poetry.

[@chrissynovful]

In I’m My Secret Life, A Thousand Kisses Deep, Nevermind, and I’m Your Man to name a few🙂 Leonard rocked a suit and Fedora like no one else!

[@leemorgan4799]

Fantastic

[@NathanVeenstra]

I have never really dug in to Leonard Cohen’s music, but this is just brilliant. If you don’t feel this or at least acknowledge that this is some great songwriting, you don’t really feel music.

[@bluebird1239]

I really appreciate Cohen singing his original songs and glad that you do too. He had a humbleness and sense of humour when accepting a Canadian Juno music award for his singing (Male Vocalist Of The Year, I think it was); He got to the microphone and said, "Only in Canada" with a smile on his face. People in the audience laughed at his humour. You might want to consider listening to the album "Famous Blue Raincoat: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen", with the beautiful vocals of Jennifer Warnes.

[@edytheharrison1202]

😮😢❤🎉

[@edytheharrison1202]

By❤🎉I

[@edytheharrison1202]

❤😂🎉😊😮😮😢🎉😊 😊😊😊😊😮 Hi hi guys

[@Cynthia...]

Great reaction Harri, thank you. He has such a distinctive gravely voice and I can hear the Russian influence. His poetry is just amazing. This was in the movie Scent of a Woman. Great movie!

[@Ellen-hs7zb]

This song should be a movie, or maybe all his songs ARE movies. I believe that is a 12-string guitar you heard, not a ukelele. Try listening to the Live in London version, even more beautiful - his voice sounds even better and the backup music is sublime.

[@g.e.5723]

So underrated, Leonard Cohen was brilliant. Check his "Take This Waltz".

[@poplap9241]

Sjoe, Harry, you really love the color red.

[@taragreenetarotastro]

One of the Beatle's friends in a biography called Leonard Cohen's songs "music to commit suicide to" they thought he was terribly dark and hated his gravely voice.I had read his novel Beautiful Losers before he became a singer and its a great book. Unfortunately his poetry didn't sell so he was forced to turn his poetry into songs.. There is definitely a Greek music influence as he bought a house on the Greek Island of Hydra where he lived with Marianne and her son in the early 1960's. Ive loved Leonard since i first saw him singing at a Love In at Queen's Park in Toronto in 1967 with an acoustic guitar. There is a lovely music video to the original release.

[@chrisvickers7928]

Jennifer Warnes cover of Joan of Arc with Leonard Cohen from her album Famous Blue Raincoat is amazing, sad, and beautiful. No one else could have turned burning at the stake into a love song.

[@polska1958]

YEESH !!!!!!!!!!!

[@rebeccas4899]

Oh, wow! This is amazing. Thanks for introducing me to this one!

[@jjknitter6247]

Cohen was a genius.His voice gets to us...

[@keymack2477]

Thank you Cynthia - you have excellent taste in music! Oh, and thank you too Harri for your reaction to this Canadian Legend!! Any time you want to react to more Leonard Cohen don't let us hold you back!

[@Cynthia...]

Thanks Key Mack. ☯

[@OMAR-o9p5c]

Leonard Cohen carefully masked the meanings in this song. It is about one of the greatest human tragedies of all time. He was of Jewish ancestry during the Holocaust. In the concentration camps the Nazis formed small orchestras of talented inmates to entertain them and to play while the trains were unloading to calm the prisoners. Their talents kept these musicians alive while they watched families separated and executed to the last person. Many of those that survived to the end of the war burned their instruments and never played again for the rest of their lives.

[@melissakhalar1842]

This is one of my favorite Lenoard Cohen songs. Rest in Peace Mr. Cohen. ❤

[@SheenaRea]

His music has such a nostalgic quality! Love it, Harri. Thank you.

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

Very well done, as usual. Thank you!

[@rasmskls]

Despite being structured as a love song, this was in fact inspired by the Holocaust. Cohen recalled: "That came from just hearing or reading or knowing that in the death camps, beside the crematoria, in certain of the death camps, a string quartet was pressed into performance while this horror was going on, those were the people whose fate was this horror also. And they would be playing classical music while their fellow prisoners were being killed and burnt." "So, that music, 'Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin,' meaning the beauty there of being the consummation of life, the end of this existence and of the passionate element in that consummation. But, it is the same language that we use for surrender to the beloved, so that the song - it's not important that anybody knows the genesis of it, because if the language comes from that passionate resource, it will be able to embrace all passionate activity." (Source: 1000 Songs That Rock Your World by Dave Thompson.)

[@inthedarkanonymous5625]

Cohen. It makes sad he’s not out there anymore, at least that I can hear. Check out his “Ballad of the Absent Mare”, about a cowboy whose horse has run away, and he is seeking her. Like all Cohen songs, it’s about a lot more. Loved your calm vibe and reaction.

[@jacquelinegros403]

I adore his voice.

[@allisondownes1599]

Oh my, how wonderful to hear this on your channel. One of my all-time favorite Leonard Cohen songs. Another great one is "If It Be Your Will", Live in London with the Webb Sisters.

[@judymeeker2925]

You choose a good one. Lenonard Cohen is my favorite. Thank you.

[@pauldover1403]

Cynthia, I'm pleased to see that you chose this, "Various Positions" is one of my favourite Cohen albums although I think that it's only "Death of a Ladies' Man" that I would be happy never to hear again. Unless I'm sadly mistaken, Harri, there is no ukelele on this track nor any instrument that could be mistaken for it. If this is from the "Various Positions" tour then I certainly can't remember one being played although I was concentrating on Len at the time. Sadly, this album didn't even get in the top 50 in the UK, but his fans still turned out to watch him and to buy it,

[@Cynthia...]

Thanks Paul. I love Leonard, but as you say he has a few that aren’t as good as others.

[@eagleswing1]

I'm pretty sure it's a mandolin, not a ukulele.

[@bemused9522]

Wonderful song -so glad you reacted to it! One of my favorites ❤️

[@pdevoss]

Great song choice, Cynthia! I've never heard this one before -- thank you & thank you to Harri for his reaction..

[@Cynthia...]

Thanks Patrick.

[@colleengunn3934]

Leonard Cohen. A true Canadian icon who as proud of his Jewish heritage.

[@stj971]

🥀 RIP LEONARD 🥀

[@geraldinesleijpen5504]

Would he be proud now I connot help but wonder. Poor Gaza..

[@claudiacoracini9460]

Not very proud. If you hear Hallelujah, he felt very conflicted with it, but accepted it as inescapable. He said that he was from Aaron's lineage and you can read it in every one of his songs.

[@roywolfe8691]

I lived about 1o minutes away from Leonard Cohen here In Montreal he is definitely one of kind

[@mikmaqwoman]

Phenomenal. Closing Time by L C is also magnificent

[@afficionada1103]

This and Take this Waltz….my two all time LC favorites

[@AhJodie]

I never heard this song before Harri, thank you. I liked when he was smiling between the women too, and it seemed like they were all equal, in his mind too.... and the instruments were so beautiful! I could picture such a timeline of love, but, more like the way it really is, not a line, but in and out, up and down, round and round. I don't like when the ads cover your face!

[@pambennett3390]

This song always makes me tear up.

[@agapecorinthians113]

A masterpiece I heard in my early twenties and later the concentration camp story,yes a masterpiece indeed ,,,🌻

[@dandehoyos8379]

This man wrote, "Hallelujah ". Many a great songs...

[@jillk368]

This song has a distinctly klezmer sound about it.

[@JaffaRoad]

Yes - incredible songwriting. His lyrics are unmatched, though Paul Simon and Bob Dylan get close.

[@seansersmylie]

For me, the second greatest songwriter after Dylan, you should check out his song The Future. An absolute masterpiece and you could say very prophetic for the times we live in now.

[@markscutti9682]

My favorite song from this album is “The Future”

[@empsmith]

A great song, but The Future is from the album of the same name. This song is on Various Positions.

[@27thangel23]

LC the best that ever was... Robert Plant and Prince would go to him for charisma lessons. LC's Live in London DVD: superior. From Canada- Peace, love and bellbottoms. PS kudos to Perla Battala and Julie Christensen (here), Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Robinson (other times).

[@asyrotk7604]

Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" is well worth a listen.

[@heather3383]

PLEASE listen to “You Want It Darker.” Or anything he’s written, really.Especially “ A Thousand Kisses Deep.”

[@nrsvlda70]

He was an amazing artist/songwriter. His voice definitely changed over time; you can really hear his ‘smoking’ come to life (not a pun)! Thanks for a great reaction, and for your appreciation of this beautiful song.

[@jeancoughlin5490]

Cohen often has religious imagery in his work. This song does h ave a very (to me) Judaic influence even beyond the inspiration. His father was a cantor so not surprising. But I thumbnails a sensuality of as he described "passion". Interestingly he spent years in a Buddhist monastery.

[@surpriseitsus9622]

My ex is a musician and sounds like Cohen. It's bitter sweet to hear him. I try to avoid it, but....here I am. Lynn

[@joshuadavies9275]

Take a listen to his last truly great song from the year he passed: You Want It Darker

[@O_Towne_Bear]

"Closing Time" is a must

[@Dimcle]

Cohen was an author ane poet of some reknown in Canada long before he started writing songs, hence his songs are pure poetry