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Sometimes I think we’ve gotten so accustomed to our tabloid-saturated entertainment that we forget how to react to performers that don’t behave outrageously or stare out from the covers of hundreds of glossy magazines. When one brings a genuine sense of class and grace to the stage, it can start to feel like an echo of earlier times, before a pop star’s breakfast preferences were as well known as the lyrics to a favorite song.
To be sure, no one’s going to confuse Leonard Cohen with Justin Timberlake, but today’s younger talent, no matter how ridiculously popular they are, should pay attention to the return of one of popular music’s elder statesmen. The man had his indelicate days as well, and he retains a hint of the mischievous among his charms, but it’s been tempered with age and the rarest of celebrity achievements: wisdom.
Live in London is taken from an early performance in his 2008 tour, his first after 15 years away from the stage. Fans of Cohen’s music have always benefitted from listening to a live performance. Many of his albums, especially those recorded in the ‘80s, have an overproduced feel that distracts from his distinctive voice and sophisticated lyrics. With a live band and minimal electronic tweaking, the focus returns where it should, on the dapper gentleman in the suit and hat running the show.
It’s worth noting how at ease Cohen seems on the stage, especially after such a long absence. He takes the time to introduce and acknowledge his band as he goes along, often leading into songs with a soft quip or wry observation. This is someone who appears to be so comfortable in his own skin that it’s easy to forget that he’s standing in front of thousands of people.
The song selection covers most of his career, mostly sticking to familiar hits. It’s a sign of how consistent the quality of his music has been that even with a two-disc set, it feels like everyone will have at least one personal favorite that isn’t included (for me it’s “Joan of Arc,” for a friend “Chelsea Hotel No. 2”). Of the songs that did make it onto the set list, some of my favorites include beautiful renditions of “Bird on the Wire,” “Suzanne,” and Cohen’s magnum opus, “Hallelujah.”
By any indication, Cohen’s tour was a resounding success (a recent concert in Israel sold out in a day), a reminder that there’s more to the music business than flashy marketing and tawdry celebrity. Live in London is available both on CD and DVD, delivering the same set list on each format. Either way, you’ll be treated to two hours of excellent music and effortless class.
