Thursday, June 19, 2008

THE 2008 NATIONAL ORDER OF QUEBEC


The 2008 Grand Officer Of The National Order Of Quebec

Leonard Cohen grew up in Westmount. Early on, he became passionate about literary and musical writing. Although his work has taken him all over the world, he has always maintained a pied-à-terre in Montreal's Portuguese neighborhood. His poetry and songs have influenced many singer-songwriters. There are currently more than 1,200 covers of his songs, many of which have been performed, and sometimes translated into other languages, by well-known artists. Leonard Cohen has always celebrated his Jewish and Montreal roots, displaying a direct respect for the cultural and linguistic specificity of Quebec. In 2007, he published Book of Longing, a collection of poems reprinted in French under the title Livre du désir constant.

Leonard Cohen has a long and prolific career in pop music. He distinguishes himself by the intensity of his words, which scrutinize the human soul, and the commitment he dedicates to his art. Leonard Cohen was born in 1934 in Westmount, where he grew up in a Jewish family of Russian-Polish origin. In 1951, he joined McGill University and, during his studies, was part of a country band, The Buckskin Boys. Leonard Cohen had an early passion not only for music, but also for literature and poetry. His first collection of poetry appeared in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963, while his first album of songs was released in 1967. His folk music, baritone voice and lyricism of his songs have since marked the world of music. music and make it one of the great contemporary artists. Although his work has taken him to every corner of the planet, he has always maintained a pied-à-terre in the Portuguese district of Montreal, not far from his birthplace.

His poetry and songs have influenced many singer-songwriters, and his songs have been taken up by countless artists. Many albums around the world pay tribute to his work in languages other than English. The work of Leonard Cohen is rich and varied: about fifteen albums, two novels and a dozen books of poetry, including a collection, Book of Longing, which was published in 2007 and resumed immediately in French under the title Book of Constant Desire. Leonard Cohen joined the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. A documentary, entitled Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, was released in 2006; many artists pay tribute to the man of talent and passion.

Leonard Cohen had a long and prolific career in the song. Deeply versed in his art, he distinguished himself by the poetic, even mystical intensity of his words. The mix of styles that marked his career (folk, country western, popular, cabaret music, world music, electro …) defines the various decades that crossed the songwriter.

Leonard Cohen was born in 1934 in Westmount, where he grew up in a Jewish family of Russian-Polish origin. In 1951, he enrolled in history at McGill, the first English-language university in Montreal. During his studies, he was part of a country-folk trio, The Buckskin Boys.

Very early, this atypical artist was passionate not only for music, but also for prose and poetry. His first book of poems was published in 1956, thanks to a subscription launched in the journal of his alma mater, which he had just left after spending a quadrimester at his law school. His first novel was released in 1963, followed by a second and last, three years later. His first album of songs, meanwhile, was launched in early 1968, before projecting on the road to success in the United States and Europe, with classics in power (Suzanne, Sisters of Mercy and So Long, Marianne).

From then on, his faint baritone voice and the poignant lyricism of his songs marked the international musical universe. In his titles, Leonard Cohen often repeated the same themes: religion, love-passion, loneliness, sexuality and the complexity of interpersonal relationships. His intimate, witty and blackened words of sadness have influenced many singer-songwriters, and his songs have been taken up by countless artists. Many albums around the world pay tribute to his work in languages other than English.

Leonard Cohen's legacy is rich and varied: about fifteen albums (four studio albums for the only decade of 2010), two novels and a dozen books of poems, including a poetic book, Book of Longing, which was published in 2007 and resumed immediately in French under the title Book of
Constant Desire.