“Everybody Knows” by Concrete Blonde

This song, which I originally heard on the Pump Up the Volume Soundtrack, helped me go Blonde. It also helped serve as a bridge from my interest in hair metal to alternative in the early 90s. Oh, and of course it helped inspire a life-long love of Leonard Cohen (and, apparently, alliteration). 

Cool, thanks.

nprfreshair:

Ken Tucker reviews Old Ideas, the latest album from Leonard Cohen: Leonard Cohen is making music vital to his spirit, confident that a song transmits its essential nature directly to any listener receptive to his message.

(via thevinylcornerblog)

“The Future” by Leonard Cohen (live)

Leonard at his scathingly social conscious best.

You’ll see a woman
hanging upside down
her features covered by her fallen gown
and all the lousy little poets
coming round
tryin’ to sound like Charlie Manson
yeah the white man dancin’.

“Chelsea Hotel No. 2” by Leonard Cohen (live)

Fun Fact #1 - this song is apparently about Janis Joplin

Fun Fact #2 - this song is where the Bill and Hillary got the name for their daughter

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Those were the reasons and that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
And that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.

Ah but you got away, didn’t you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don’t need you,
I need you, I don’t need you
and all of that jiving around.

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, “Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music.”

And then you got away, didn’t you babe…

I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
I can’t keep track of each fallen robin.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
that’s all, I don’t even think of you that often.

“Famous Blue Raincoat” by Leonard Cohen (live)

Leonard Cohen is one slick and classy motherfucker.

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You’d been to the station to meet every train
And you came home without Lili Marlene

And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And when she came back she was nobody’s wife.

“Sisters of Mercy” by Leonard Cohen (live)

Yes you who must leave everything that you cannot control.
It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul.

The song from which the band got its name and a damn fine live version.