Hi Folks,
Leonard Cohen is a man in his primeLeonard performed 3 concerts in Dublin over the weekend at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.
Friday
13th
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2008
The original plan was for just one concert on the Saturday night , But the tickets went in a flash, they added the Sunday and sold out again,
Then the Friday was added as well and it also sold out completely.
I booked early and had a ticket for Saturday night ,
All the reports about Fridays gig were of high praise for this man in his early seventies,
A man whose voice is warmer and better than it has ever been.
Leonard Cohen
Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.
Saturday 14th June 2008
Song list as played: in brackets are the albums the original songs are on.
Leonard speaks:
" What a glorious welcome, Thank you so much, Please sit down. "
1 Dance me to the end of love ( Various Positions 1984 )
2 The Future ( The Future 1992 )
3 Ain't no cure for love ( I'm your man 1988 )
4 Bird on the wire (Songs from a room 1969 )
5 Everybody knows ( I'm your man 1988 )
6 In my Secret Life ( Ten New Songs 2001 )
Leonard speaks :
It's a great Honor to be in this great city of poets and writers,
It's been fifteen years since I was last on stage, I was 60 years old then,
Just a kid with a crazy dream......
7 Who by fire ( New skin for the old ceremony 1974 )
8 Anthem... Ring the Bells ( The Future 1992 )
Part One was about . 53 minutes long
Interval for 15 minutes or so...
9 Tower of song ( I'm your man 1988 )
10 Suzanne ( Songs of Leonard Cohen 1968 )
11 The Gypsy's Wife (Recent Songs 1979 )
12 Boogie Street with Sharon Robinson ( Ten new songs 2001 )
13 Hallelujah (Various Positions 1984 )
14 Democracy ( The Future 1992 )
15 I'm your Man (I'm your man 1988 )
16 A thousand kisses deep. Recited. ( Ten new songs 2001 )
17 Take this waltz (I'm your man 1988 )
18 Waiting for the miracle ( The Future 1992 )
19 First we take Manhattan (I'm your Man 1988 )
20 That don't make it Junk ( Ten new songs 2001 )
21 If it be your will. Recited / Webb sisters.( Various Positions 1984 )
22 Closing Time ( The Future 1992 )
23 I Tried to Leave you ( New skin for the old ceremony 1974 )
24 Finale
Part Two was about an hour and forty minutes long, finishing just before 11 pm.
The concert was so good on Saturday Night that I found the venue on Google Earth
and located a place where we could hear the concert on the Sunday night,
We located a lane in the built up area on a hill opposite the venue
which had line of sight to the columns of 30 or so speakers that were hoisted
up on two cranes, We could hear the whole concert clearly but at a reduced sound level.
On the Sunday night the Song " So long Marianne " was added to the play list.
Song 21 IF IT BE YOUR WILL deserves a special mention for its amazing beauty and delivery,
Leonard recites the first verse and the Webb sisters Patti and Charlie take over with
just a harp to accompany them as the sky darkened over Dublin
you would swear you were listening to Angels descending from the clouds.
Contrary to the unjustified reputation of being depressing
Leonard has a wicked sense of humor and there was much laughter in the audience
of people ranging from their early teens to people in their nineties.
Sharon Robinson was his main backing singer on this concert along with the Webb sisters.
He referred to our voting on the Lisbon treaty laughingly and said
"Ireland continues to bewilder the world "
and his last words before he left the stage
"At the risk of offending any atheists, God bless ye ! "
I have loved Leonard's music since the sixties,
since the first time I heard Judy Collins sing Suzanne in 1966
This concert tour continues for some time..........
about the Dublin Concert
