natsthename wrote:

Cohen is an astonishing composer, so his songs can be covered with far more success than many pop jingles. I really do like the covers of his tunes, but he has a great voice, too, and I love listening to him sing songs like "Take This Waltz" and his new "Alexandra Leaving".

On the other hand, his voice singing his music is like Gregorian Chants... Small doses are all most people can take.

And speaking of West Wing, I just remembered that this amazing song was playing in the background when C.J. Craig found out that her former Secret Service agent and potential love interest had been shot and killed. In that context it was very powerful.

Ok, so maybe I watch too much West Wing *g* but hey, shoot me for loving quality TV!

i think i like this better than buckley's version, though that's pretty darn good, too....what beautiful lyrics...cohen is a damn genious

What an amazing song. And I love Cohen, but this is my favorite version. Buckley's just didn't grab me.

Max wrote:

The best versions of his songs ARE covers. At the Borders I work in, the boss put a best of Cohen in rotation and sales were very, very slow when he was playing. Customers walked around the store like zombies with no people to eat. #-o Coworkers begged her to get that cd out of there, and that does not happen often (we have a really eclectic group of music lovers). Granted, Cohen's songs are not cute little pop songs and they do have their place, but, at least for me, they must be interspersed with music that's a little more "up." I can only take Cohen in small doses, and I prefer to hear others sing his songs. (I feel the same way about Waits, for the most part, but Waits does not make me want to put my stick my head in the oven.)

ick. shrek was good, despite this song being in it.

Yay! I think that this is the *best* version, hands down (though Lenny can sing it anytime he wants and I'd listen). Wainwright's voice is just so yummy here, it breaks my heart.

Wow, it's just so good. Thanks for playing it.

This song was on Shrek? It is total and complete DRECK! This version and Buckley's version. They are both trash. & why they are played incessantly on this station and liked so much is completely beyond me. :verymad:

lily34 wrote:

It's edited for Shrek. Watch Shrek and you'll understand the song's inclusion.

This version is nice but I just go a hold of Buckley's version and it's no contest; Buckley's version is godlike.

bigpomp wrote:

Yup.

Max wrote:

Yes, "I'm Your Fan" is great. That's where the Cale version of this song is, right? That's my fave. In any case, thanks for the Cohen Day! (that's 3 Cohen songs I've heard so far today on RP - is someone feeling melancholy?)

Jackylhunter wrote:
That was Jeff Buckley's rendition (and was very well used on WW).

Pipes wrote:
Buckley's is already in the RP library and gets decent play. It's the version I prefer, too, though this is hardly as dismissable, to me, as it is to others. Hard to fuck up such a wonderfully written song.

Also done by John Cale, also better than this one... weird to see such a heavy song on 'Shrek'

lily34 wrote:


animated cartoons aren't just for children..

slidegroove wrote:

If you have the CD, upload it. I'd love to hear Buckley's version but don't want to buy the CD without having heard it first!

I would like to appologize in advance to people who like this version of this song, and I'm not questioning your opinion... but I must say this version is crap. If you haven't heard jeff buckleys version, please... do yourself a favor and go buy his album "Grace" right now.

I think it was idiotic of rufus to cover this song. He is talented, but he is not jeff buckley, no matter how much he wants to be (He is admittedly a ardent Buckley fan). He adds nothing to the song, and he simply can not sing as well as Jeff. Please, play the original or play jeff's version.

question: isn't shrek an animated cartoon movie? why was this included in it? i mean, isn't there some suggestive lyrics to this beautiful song? i'm just wondering...

Heard a version of this song on West Wing, I think last year, maybe year before. That one DID bring tears to my eyes. This version was only ok.

Jeff Buckley's version brings tears to my eyes..... everytime.

This isn't bad.. it just points out how great Jeff Buckley was.

his voice works so well on this song :) plus leonard cohen created some of the best lyrics with this song

I never heard this song before I heard it in Shrek, and I didn't care for it. This version made me change my mind. Beautiful.

Why, when Jeff Buckley recorded an almost god-like cover of this song, would anyone ever play this marble-mouthed joke-of-a-singer. It pissed me off in Shrek and it continues to do so today.

Love this song!

The best version of this I've ever heard.

to many drugs in the sixties! WOW! somebody else from La Quinta!!! i thougt i was the only one in this heat hole that listens to this paradise!!!

didn't tiny tim do a version also? holy cow it seems everyone else has! i do like the jeff cover the best... i haven't heard the tiny tim one yet, though. :p

Love the song (like most Cohen compositions) and think it's great that so many artists choose to interpret his work.

Personal ranking would have to be Cale - Cohen - Buckley - Wainright. (But Len and Jeff are pretty close!)

Bill - there's some great versions of Cohen songs on "I'm Your Fan", my particular favourites are James' "So long, Marianne" and Geoffrey Oreyama's "Suzanne".