Dig Out Your Fedora – Leonard Cohen is Coming to Your Town

James Brown was famously labelled as the “hardest working man in show business”.  Seems, he might just get run for his legendary monicker as Canada’s favourite “octogenaripoet” Leonard Cohen has announced that his world tour in support of latest album Old Ideas will be extended. In addition to his recently announced European trek, he'll tour North America through November and December. Even better he’s coming to this city (London, ON) on December 11^th and tickets just went on sale today.

If you have never seen Mr. Cohen perform I highly recommend it.  If you have, you probably all ready have you tickets.

Full tour listing – Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour

08-12 Ghent, Belgium - St. Peter's Square
08-14 Ghent, Belgium - St. Peter's Square
08-15 Ghent, Belgium - St. Peter's Square
08-17 Ghent, Belgium - St. Peter's Square
08-18 Ghent, Belgium - St. Peter's Square
08-21 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Olympic Stadium
08-22 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Olympic Stadium
08-25 Copenhagen, Denmark - Rosenborg Castle
08-26 Aalborg, Denmark - Molleparken
08-28 Bergen, Norway - Bergenhus Festning-Koengen
08-29 Halden, Norway - Fredriksten Festning
08-31 Gothenberg, Sweden – Tradgardsforeningen
09-02 Helsinki, Finland - Sonera Stadium
09-05 Berlin, Germany – Wuhlheide
09-06 Monchengladbach, Germany - Hockey Field
09-08 Kent, England - Hop Farm
09-11-12 Dublin, Ireland - Imma
09-24 Verona, Italy - Verona Stadium
09-28-30 Paris, France - Olympia
10-03 Barcelona, Spain - St. Jordi
10-05 Madrid, Spain - Palais Desportes
10-07 Lisbon, Portugal - Pavilhao Atlantico
10-31 Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
11-03 Denver, CO - 1st Bank Center
11-05 Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
11-07 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
11-09 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
11-11 Portland, OR - Rose Garden
11-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
11-16 Calgary, Alberta - Scotiabank Saddledome
11-18 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place

11-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre
11-23 Chicago, IL - Akoo Theatre
11-26 Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
11-28 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
12-02 Quebec City, Quebec - Colisee Pepsi
12-04 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
12-07 Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
12-11 London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
12-13 Kingston, Ontario - K-Rock Centre          
12-15 Boston, MA - The Wang Theatre
12-18 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
12-20 Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center

Hallelujah! Would You Please Shut Up

It seemed inevitable to me but news today confirmed that poet-singer-songwriter-author-ladies man-monk Leonard Cohen has asked for a brief respite from new versions of his classic “Hallelujah,” arguing the large number of artists covering the song and its frequent appearance on soundtracks amounts to overkill.

“I was reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it, and the reviewer said, ‘Can we please have a moratorium on ‘Hallelujah’ in movies and television shows?’ and I kind of feel the same way,” Cohen told the Guardian . “I think it’s a good song, but too many people sing it.”

I had posted earlier this year about the ubiquity of "Hallelujah" Most recently the song provided the soundtrack for the sex scene in Watchmen and actually employed Cohen’s own version of the song, one of the few times Cohen’s original has been used in recent years. Since Jeff Buckley covered the song on his 1994 album Grace “Hallelujah” has taken on near mythical status. Helping out as well were renditions by the U.K.’s X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and American Idol Season Seven finalist Jason Castro. Kate Voegele, k.d. lang and Rufus Wainwright have also covered the song in the years since its original 1984 release.

Can you say over-saturation dear readers? Cohen could not be any more correct, it really is time to give this one a rest. Then again, Cohen can’t be complaining about the extra royalties that have been begotten from “Hallelujah”, especially considering he was forced to tour after a lengthy hiatus because his former manager made off with most of his assets.

What are your thoughts? Any other songs deserved of moratorium status?