…2016 has seen the loss of a number of great musicians who have contributed immensely to the music industry. David Bowie was an important part of the Glam Rock era and beyond. Jean Genie, released in 1972 is a favourite of mine and a song I would sing along to every time it was on the radio. It stayed in the UK charts for 13 weeks. Later this year we lost the multi – instrumentalist Prince which was a real shock for everyone.
Last month Pete Burns died, the lead singer with Dead or Alive, their hit single and number one in the UK charts in 1985, You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) was another favourite song of mine. I have to admit this, even though it was produced by the trio of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, a production team I grew to hate as the decade wore on.
Then yesterday, the 11 November I woke up to the saddest news so far, that Leonard Cohen had died. I could not believe it, my favourite singer song writer has died. I feel I grew up with Leonard Cohen. I remember sitting in my friends sitting room as a youngster in the early 70’s listening to his older brother’s Leonard Cohen vinyl LP’s. Singing along to songs like Lover Lover Lover, Chelsea Hotel#2 and Bird On The Wire. The former two were from the 1974 album New Skin For The Old Ceremony. I had no idea, then, that the song Lover Lover Lover was written in the Sanai desert an area of the world I have visited often and would end up falling in love with.
His huge catalogue of songs have been covered many times by hundreds of different singers and bands and his influence has been immense.
For me personally his words in Anthem, a song Leonard Cohen describes as one of his best, are a real inspiration;
“There is a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in.”
He is telling us that nothing in this world is perfect, so stop looking for perfection everywhere. Also you should accept people as they are and accept that not everyone likes and thinks the way you do. A philosophy we desperately need in these present times.
Leonard Cohen wrote a number of Haiku’s over the years, so here is my Haiku tribute to him;
TO THE MAN IN THE BLUE RAINCOAT
Sailing south Suzanne.
Hallelujah! Hosanna!
Marianne; my muse
©Tom Kerr 2016
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