Weekend Music - R.I.P Leonard Cohen

One of Canada's finest gifts to the world, poet/ novelist/ singer/ songwriter Leonard Cohen died on November 7 at the age of 82 (his death was announced yesterday).  Cohen has been a highly influential and honored artist for nearly half a century, with his lyrical depth and unique musical range mirroring his personal quest for spiritual meaning (after 5 years in a monastery, he was ordained a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk in 1984, although he remained an observant Jew until his death). He was also a mensch who fought for political and social justice, and peace. Cohen just released his last album, "You Want It Darker," less than a month ago.

One of our favorite Cohen songs is his first release, from 1967, "Suzanne," which we recall listening to in one seedy student apartment or another in Madison, Wisconsin, back in the day. It was of that time but has proven to be timeless.



Then, here's John Cale singing him off into glory with Cohen's 1984 composition, "Hallelujah." Rest in peace.