I just spoked a cigar listening to 10 New Songs. And yes, I graduated studying English lit. Dont smoke cigarettes though.

Well, there goes my theory....

But I still think I like Cohen more than Tom Waits.

Tomorrow is Cohen Day!

(not that I would think anybody would care, I just had to say it)

Ahhh, love Leonard. What a babe!

I'll try to get some pictures, but it won't be easy since I'll be sitting in the front... We'll see...

Oh do try!! That would be so cool. And get a couple of Javier Mas too, he's awesome.

Yes, he is - I've got a funny one with him. Have you seen it on ER?

I cut myself off this time

Here's a picture I took the last time, but it's not any good, because my camera isn't the best anymore, flashes aren't allowed and I'm only taking pictures, when it's rather dark - otherwise it would be too embarrassing

awesome

A translation of a translation.
Years ago Herman van Veen, a Dutch cabaretier and probably the only true verbal genius alive in the Dutch language made a translation of the Cohen-song 'Suzanne' that captures Leonard's atmosphere but is not a litteral translation.

A year or 8 ago this translation was a big hit for Dutch singer Frank Boeijen and Belgian singer Yasmine. Later on in her carreer, Yasmine - who became popular as a singer of rather stupid pop-trash in the early 90s - even recorded an entire album worth of Cohen-translations.

Here's the Herman van Veen translation translated back into English by my humble self.
I've tried to make a litteral translation rather than one that would work as a text on its own.

Suzanne takes you with her
To a bench near the water
A thousand boats pass by
And yet it isn’t getting later
And you know that she’s crazy
‘cause that’s why you’re sitting next to her
And she gives you pieces of peppermint
Because she wants to give you a tangible thing
And just as you mean to tell her
‘I can’t give you any love’
The entire city comes to live and you hear
Seagulls screaming
You’ve always loved her

And yes you want to travel with her
Together to the other side
And yes you have to trust her
Cause she’s holding all your thoughts in her hand

And Jesus was a fisherman
Who trusted the waters so much
He could just walk out on the sea
Because He had learned to love
The waves and the breakers
In which no-one can drown,
He said: ‘If one keeps believing
The heaviest rock cannot sink’
But the heaven only opened
After His body was broken
And how He has suffered
Only that fisherman on the cross knows

And yes you want to travel with Him
Together to the other side
And yes you have to trust Him
Cause He’s holding all your thoughts in His hand

Suzanne takes you with her
To a bench near the water
You remember the things she’s watching
As a memory for later
And the sunlight almost seems like honey
On which children are feasting
And the lawn is doted with the sort of things
People get rid of
In the gutter lie heroes
With a smile on their lips
And the seagulls in the air
Almost look like dots lost
As Suzanne looks at you with a smile

And yes you want to travel with her
Together to the other side
And yes you have to trust her
Cause she’s holding all your thoughts in her hand

That's interesting, Andy. Thanks for posting it.

And I'm very sorry, I couldn't take any pictures this time... I could have done so, but it was too weird, because I was sitting directly in front of him and well... Impossible...

But I know of some people, who took really great pictures, so I'll share them with you as soon as they're online somewhere.

By the way, we're all free to copy all the albums until Ten New Songs, because Mr. Cohen doesn't get anything, if we're buying them.
That was shocking news to me. I really didn't know that his fucking manager also sold all the rights.

He doesn't even get anything, when his biggest songs are covered all over the world... That must be pretty hard...

Oh and I got 2 beautiful posters for free
One from the community/fans and one from the guy, who's selling posters after Dylan concerts.