Leonard Cohen Lonesome Heroes Part 1 of 11

Although it can be difficult to detect the influences in the work of Leonard Cohen, as with all significant artists he was informed by a far-reaching list of performers, musicians, writers, poets and philosophies. And, when we look in the right places, his sources reveal themselves in the songs often considered to have emerged fully formed from their composer's pen.
In Leonard Cohen's Lonesome Heroes, the scope and detail of his artistic inspirations are put under the microscope to quite fascinating result. Cohen's first love was poetry and in both the works of his fellow Canadian Irving Layton, and the Spanish bard Federico Garcia Lorca, he found the words that moved him to create his own verse. The beat writers too hit a positive note with Cohen and their work has lived with him throughout his career. While it may come as no surprise to find Bob Dylan and Judy Collins included in this film, a less acknowledged genre of interest to Leonard is country music - but he was deeply affected by performers such as Hank Williams, Hank Snow and the country recordings of Ray Charles. And the fact his records have always achieved greater success in Europe than in North America may be due in part to his love of the Belgian chansonnier Jacques Brel. These and many others artists are here shown to have played a crucial role in the formation of Leonard Cohen's muse. But religion and spirituality too have contributed enormously to Leonard's life and music, particularly the faith into which he was born, Judaism, and his more recent study of Buddhism, which drove him to spend several years in a monastery meditating for hours every day.
With the aid of rare and classic performance footage of both Cohen and those he has been influenced by most, archive interview and film of Leonard, seldom seen photographs, plus exclusive contributions from those who have worked closely with him, this fascinating and wholly unique film is all at once informative, inspiring and eminently watchable, and is bound to delight everyone with even a hint of interest in the man.
The film features new interviews with Judy Collins; his biographer Ira Nadel; poet and Cohen academic Stephen Scobie; the man who guided Leonard through the rituals at the Mount Baldy Buddhist Monastery, Kigen; former Rolling Stone magazine editor, Anthony De Curtis and many other notable colleagues, friends and experts.

[@michellecnebrown6792]

I am 45 and I have been listening to him since I was 16. I discovered him from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. And I am going to the Jewish Museum in San Francisco to see his exhibit today, I am stoked!

[@gushutchinson8758]

I feel Leonard Cohen is my Leonard Cohen...don't we all. Talks and sings at me ,to me for me and with me! Like nobody else..

[@charltonsithole7830]

Don't we all!

[@hookywookywithmalarkyman704]

i met him 1 time uk donkeys yeas ago , he was such a humble mam. R.I.P.

[@DorianAronson]

I can not stop listening to him!

[@Uschi4370]

"It's Just Impossible To Ever Forget Leonard Cohen" ........

[@polavink2184]

if I won't know English I'd learn it just to understand him

[@JOHNLUNNSMILES]

I Was There For This ....Leonard looked Rough But i Enjoyed , What I See as a legend ! Cheers leonard !

[@ThreeAMWoman]

RIP, Master... Love

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Je t'aime Leonard Norman Cohen

[@fiorellafenati5395]

moi aussi

[@janicegeorge-allen1924]

Just touches my soul

[@yeicko]

un día triste sin más

[@carolynburr4982]

N.

[@sujitphatak]

Oh thanks so much for the reply pal. Greetings from India.

[@01cadeau]

♥

[@benbenaziza6453]

Yes , staggering, staggering!

[@manonlane5522]

BEN BENAZIZA has power

[@grayforester]

1:04 - "Whether it is the influence of the beats, Whether it is the influence of - - - -" "Chansons, Jacques Brel..."

[@fatal6849]

Which one ? (Laquelle ? ) Merci.

[@fiorellafenati5395]

ah, J,Brel...RIP mon ami

[@andersvilmoskoves8173]

WHAT SONG IN THE INTRO ?? ??

[@peterpunch8136]

LC...the daddy the master.

[@cheapfeet]

Chanson . . . medieval poetry

[@mejganzia5654]

Well, of course.

[@zizoubizou8267]

song in the beginning, anyone?? :))

[@VNRose3]

Brel was in Montreal in 1967 when Leonard was just starting out. He refers to him but does not seem well acquainted with his work. In general, he is not that cordial with the French , either language or literature.

[@webcom100]

I had and still have some kind of unconditional idolatry for Leonard Cohen.Following his work along the decades, a little cloud of doubt has always been there:why the total absence of French language for a person born and living in Montreal.There could be known rational and down to earth explanations but as you name it ,why this lack of cordiality?And I don`t remember anyone bothering him in that matter.

[@VNRose3]

He did interviews for French TV. Maybe you can still find them on DailyMotion. I translated some but got copyright complaints and had to take them down. He sang in French on the Partisan song and Un Canadien Errant. He spoke of liking Edith Piaf. That's an easy one for North Americans. His French has a Canadian accent but he can get along.

[@webcom100]

Thank you for your answer and info.I was about to mention The Partisan but I thought it was t h e exception,it is a Frech song after all! I`ll search for Un Canadien Errant.never heard of it.

[@benbenaziza6453]

VNRose3: Well spotted! Leonard’s broken French would not have permitted him to delve into the subtleties of Brel’s work!

[@sujitphatak]

1:04 - "Whether it is the influence of the beats, Whether it is the influence of - - - -" What is that second influence that the commentator mentions? I couldn't get that name. Please reply, appreciate the help.

[@faylenfalcone121]

Chansons. French songs.

[@shalombenhri6202]

Beat Generaton ..Allen Ginsberg

[@fiorellafenati5395]

@@shalombenhri6202 scream! A.G

[@BIGBADWOLF273]

thank jehova 4 leonard

[@lisafichtner6807]

Idea for Thurs Your songs have touched my heart and now your body chose to depart forever 5 will be a part of use spirit withinday

[@OneBadComic]

Anybody know the music that play in the beginning scene!?