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MUSICIAN LEONARD COHEN has died, aged 82.
The world-famous musician’s death was confirmed early this morning on his official Facebook page.
“It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away,” the post reads.
“We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries.”
The post goes on to say that a memorial service will be held in Cohen’s honour at a later date.
A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.
Cohen was a hugely successful recording artist whose career spanned decades, from the late-50s until just before his death,
A Canadian by birth, Cohen rose to fame in the late-60s with his first album Songs of Leonard Cohen.
This album contained such well-known songs such as Suzanne, So long, Marianne, and Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.
Cohen went on to pen many other highly influential and well-known songs such as Hallelujah, Bird On A Wire and Sisters of Mercy.
A published poet and novelist, Cohen created lyrically deep and complex songs and melodies which struck a chord with generations of fans across the globe.
In a recent profile in the New Yorker magazine, Cohen talked about the prospect of his death:
I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.
A prolific songwriter, Cohen released his 14th studio album You Want It Darker just three weeks ago on 21 October to wide critical praise.
The album dealt with themes of mortality, love and death and was Cohen’s final musical output to the world.
In a recent letter Marianne Ihlen – an ex-partner of Cohen’s and subject of So Long, Marianne and other songs – who was close to death, Cohen wrote:
Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.
And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.
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Screw it. Let’s just skip Christmas and get to 2017 before anything else happens.
Some great people pass this year. The sooner it’s over the better.
His recurring theme was human loneliness and human contact. He understood the stark existential truths and sang them without pity or shame, just a gentle forlorn sense of being cast into this strange world. His art was mournful but I don’t feel grief-stricken by his passing. I’m glad he led a full and expressive life. He has earned his eternal peace and left behind dozens of consolations.
@Things that go bump: beautifully put
He will get sick of requests for Hallelujah up above.
RIP
Another great talent lost to us , RIP.
RIP
Great musician, RIP
@Senan Hogan O’Brien:
Like a bird on a wire
Like a drunken midnight choir
I have found in my way
To be free.
Thank you Leonard
Goodbye you beautiful genius.
Devastated. That drawl. Him and Cave. Ah. I can’t speak. Traumatised.
Some of us appreciate a man that can articulate our feelings better than we.
Behold the gates of mercy In arbitrary space And none of us deserving The cruelty or the grace O solitude of longing Where love has been confined Come healing of the body Come healing of the mind
May he R.I.P. one of the greats!
Earned his rest in the tower of song …. a genius …. an artist …. a god
” and who by fire?, who by water?, who in the sunshine?, who in the night time?…and who shall I say is calling ”
It was Cohen who was deserving of that Nobel prize..
A true Legend, again taken, RIP.
May he rest in peace
Another very talented musical legend :-( Farewell Leonard, may your music live forever
Rip to a legend
I first listenen to Ĺeonard, on the sly, when I was only in me early teens. Thought his lyrics were depressing, but – spot on. On the old vynil, scratches & all, there’s no one who could have encapsulated LIFE in the way he did. Memories live on. RIP L.C.
I am so sad this morning to hear this news. This great man is gone from us but he has left us the consolation of his music and songs to get us through our most difficult days. Thank you Leonard , rest a while .
2016, what a year to remember, for all the wrong reasons
I’m done with 2016. Too many good people gone. David will open the door to you Leonard. May the music play loudly and please the Lord. Rest in peace. X
An auto alert? This was reported earlier. What a unique voice Cohen had. Bad women and management choices made him tour when he probably didn’t want to. Credit to the man when he never put on a bad gig.
Hands down the best live performance ever in Kilmainham. I’m off to buy the new album today to soak up what I can of this most poetic of men. Rip
The great elder statesman of song – Leonard Cohen the world has lost a musical Legend and poet
RIP
Take solace folks, as he said “There is a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”
Me mother will be devastated
Rip to a legend.
2016 takes another legend.
RIP Super artist only got to appreciate him in my later years despite being told about him when I was a teen best biography I ever seen was I’m your man. On DVD class act
Rip. Ironic , one of his most famous songs was ” democracy is coming to the Usa ” some timing!
Ahh balls, rip
I’m glad you stood in my way. RIP
“And the whole damn place goes crazy twice and it’s once for the devil and it’s once for Christ, but the boss don’t like these dizzy heights and were busted in the blinding lights….. of closing time.”
RIP legend
Im shellshocked. I thought this man was immortal. The man was other worldly. His gift was in the lyrics. They never leave you. God Rest Him.
Well now it is his afterworld r.I.p
…let the rivers fill, let the hills rejoice, let your mercy spill…
Sad news. What a genius. So long, Mr. Cohen.
What a master..may he rest peacefully. Bad sad day for music.
I blame Donald Trump.
Rip .
Everyone has a song they sing at party’s when their drunk.. mines “Suzanne “..I’ll be singing it in the car on the way to work and I couldn’t be more so or right now….gutted…
In general 2016 had been one of the worst years on record for alot of reasons. I hope war is avoided but there is a long shadow over the world at the minute.
Time to dig out ‘The Future’ an bury myself in the brilliance.
An absolute master of the pen ,a true gentleman,I’m so glad I got to see him play in Dublin ,he put on a show that defied his years ,,,so long Mr Cohen rip
I said to Hank Williams ‘ how lonely does it get?’ Hank Williams hasn’t answered yet..
What else is this horrible year going to squeeze in
RIP Leonard
The worst part of that article for me was “his death was announced on his Facebook page”. For a man who still wrote actual letters to people I think it’s an insult.
They don’t have everyone’s postal address, I’m guessing
RIP to a legend. Hopefully George Soros is next.
Jaysus who’s next
2016 just keeps getting better and better!
Unique. Beautiful. Irreplaceable.
Need TXFM now. RIP. Legend.
God Bless You Leonard!! R.I.P
So long field commander Cohen, you we’re are most important spy, Rip
Another gem gone from the treasure chest of music. RIP
Another great poet and singer has gone from us. RIP to another musical icon. Leonard Cohen
He’s joining Hank..in the tower of song
They are moving us tomorrow to a tower down the track.. But you will b hearing
from me baby, long after I’m gone …
I will be speaking to you sweetly from a window,
In the Tower of Song…
Top Floor LC
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