Love this duet with Leonard Cohen and U2. Do you know Cohen? So many still do not. He’s a 78-year old poet, author, singer/songwriter and owner of one of the most unique and compelling voices ever. He’s probably most well known for his song, “Everybody Knows”, but his music catalog and place in history runs much deeper.
From his Wikipedia:
In a speech at Cohen’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the “highest and most influential echelon of songwriters.”
The critic Bruce Elder wrote an assessment of Cohen’s overall career in popular music, writing, “Cohen is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic. . .singer/songwriters of the late ’60s. . . [and] has retained an audience across four decades of music-making. . . Second only to Bob Dylan and perhaps, Paul Simon, in terms of influence, he commands the attention of critics and younger musicians more firmly than any other musical figure from the 1960’s who is still working at the outset of the 21st century.”
Enjoy this clip of Leonar’ds “Tower of Song”. The album version of this song sounds like it was played/recorded on one of those tiny little casio keyboards that you might have received as a throwaway Christmas gift back in the 80’s. But the simple melody, wry lyrics, golden voice and enigmatic style of Cohen have always made it one of my favorites. Nice work by Bono and team with back-up. It’s clear they recognized they were working with “rock” royalty.