In our previous articles, we looked at stamps honoring famous figures like Clint Eastwood, John F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Paul McCartney, Judy Garland, George Orwell, and Neil Armstrong. Today, we’ll take a look back at Leonard Cohen and listen to some of his most important songs.
"Reality is one of the possibilities I cannot afford to ignore." ― Leonard Cohen, Beautiful Losers
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) was a Canadian poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter whose thoughtful and often haunting music made him one of the most distinctive voices of the 1970s. He published his first book of poems in 1956, but his time in New York during the folk revival pushed him to set his words to music. In 1967 Judy Collins helped bring his songs to the public, and Cohen soon released his debut album The Songs of Leonard Cohen. This was followed by memorable works such as Bird on a Wire and Famous Blue Raincoat.
Leonard Cohen
"I have tried in my way to be free." ― Leonard Cohen
Over the years, Cohen created many songs that became classics. Among his best-known pieces are Hallelujah, Suzanne, So Long, Marianne, Everybody Knows, and Dance Me to the End of Love. His career spanned decades, from the late 1960s songs Suzanne and Bird on a Wire, to the widely covered Hallelujah in 1984, and later works like You Want It Darker, the title track of his final album.
Cohen’s private life was just as intriguing as his music. He had two children, Adam and Lorca, with artist Suzanne Elrod, and several of his relationships strongly influenced his songs. His love affair with Marianne Ihlen inspired So Long, Marianne, while his brief connection with Janis Joplin became part of rock history. In the 1990s, he was engaged to actress Rebecca De Mornay.
Leonard Cohen
Beyond love and music, Cohen was deeply spiritual. He studied Zen Buddhism and even became an ordained monk, while at the same time struggling with depression throughout his life. Financial setbacks also challenged him, especially after his former manager mishandled his savings. Yet through it all, Cohen managed to turn both pain and joy into poetry and music, leaving behind a body of work that continues to move audiences around the world.
Leonard Cohen
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen, Selected Poems
Today we took a look at beautiful Canadian stamps related to Leonard Cohen, and also had a chance to listen to some of his masterpieces. If you want to discover more interesting facts, feel free to check here. You can also browse some of the earlier articles from this series.
Celebrities on Stamps: Bob Dylan
Celebrities on Stamps: David Bowie
Celebrities on Stamps: Pink Floyd
Celebrities on Stamps: The Rolling Stones
Celebrities on Stamps: John F. Kennedy
Celebrities on Stamps: Clint Eastwood
Celebrities on Stamps: Marilyn Monroe
Celebrities on Stamps: Paul McCartney
Celebrities on Stamps: Judy Garland
