Leonard Cohen interviewed by Matt Zimbel 1988
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This is the raw footage of an interview I did with Leonard in 1988 in Toronto at the Four Seasons Hotel. for a BBC/ABC/CBC co-production documentary music show I co-hosted called “Wired”. The interview has never been seen in it's full length before. At times it will require your patience as the tape was quite degraded and we have done our best to restore, but felt the content should rule and therefore there are some spotty moments. Since this is a television interview one must quickly note that while the subject looks timeless, the interviewer is clearly the victim of vintage 1980's "hairdressing", which was shortly thereafter considered a fashion crime.
Leonard is a master interview subject; present, measured, funny, philosophical. His vocabulary is striking, but not in a pretentious way; for example he might call a tour, “an enterprise” or an abandoned idea would “overthrown”, to get out of something, one might “extract “ themselves…He speaks slowly, allowing himself time... to... consider... what... to... say. next. It is a journalistic seduction - one starts to wait for the considered words of the poet with great anticipation. But unlike so many of the famous, his willingness to connect appears so genuine. During our interview I truly believed there was no place he would rather be than talking to me.
I bragged to my journalist friends, ‘oh man, wait until you hear the interview I did with Leonard, it was incredible, he was so charming, so engaged…no question this is the best interview I have ever heard him do”.
“Really?” they would say, “he did a pretty great one on our show too”.
“ Yeah, right!”
And then I would hear the interview on their show and it would be the same interview, just as warm, just as revealing, just as exclusive feeling… but not exclusive at all, God damn it.
PS: I later performed with Leonard in 1993. I miss him greatly, particularly his world view on human kind. He passed away the night before Donald Trump was elected President of the United States.
That was a fine interview, well done, Matt, and of course, Leonard was just, Leonard -
honest, somewhat revealing, cooperating with the process.
I like Matt very much. A respectful and knowledgeable interviewer.
I agree. From Uruguay, South America
Brilliant Leonard.
He must have been amazing to be around. He is so calm and oh, that crooked smile!! He was a lovely man and left us with such beautiful music and poetry.
Thank you for this. Mr. Cohen is the finest interviewee I've seen. Each interview is a gem.
‘a lot of people appear to be in trouble’ ~ human suffering, the ancient dilemma. LC’s insights of living through life are valuable teachings, should we care to truly listen. Grateful for this recording 🙏🏻❤️
Yes that was a line that stuck out for me too. Remember this is 1988!
@@mattzimbel8240 .. thanks for posting the interview and for your feedback.
@@mattzimbel8240 ... listening to it again this evening (6th Nov). You interviewed him really well. Apart from asking great questions, I liked that you asked if he was enjoying himself, I liked that you shared a good laugh and that knock on the door was perfect timing!
So grateful for these interviews. Always get somethin' from em!
I think you are right about your interview, and your friends are right about theirs. He really is open and revealing in many of the interviews he does. After all, his poetry and lyrics are all about self-investigation and honesty without slogans and evasions so I think it has trained him to answer as it is. I've never heard of the forest ranger idea, or that he still entertained being a defence lawyer (he did try Colombia for that) but decided that those dreams where over, it really adds another page to his biography.
I actually just read Sylvia Simmons biography and she too feels like she got bamboozled in her interviews, and that he had avoided substance in favour of his warmth and charm. I don't understand that at all, to me he answers everything at length!
Great interview!
That you Matt for your wonderful interview. Especially the kudos to Jennifer Warnes. Famous Blue Raincoat is one of my favorites. Don't worry 80s hair don't care!
Mary White was
ua-cam.com/video/ntpIQiD9tHk/v-deo.html..it s a wonderful lie...the movie
Thanks Mary!
Thank you much for sharing.
With love to the maestro ....given me so much❤️
Such a nice, thoughtful interviewer. Thanks Matt. Hope your life is well and your hair has changed 😉
Thanks for sharing. You asked some great questions. Love the ending.
"The tomb of the unknown record" -- this is why he never sold as well in the USA. A shame -- for Americans.
Richard Marx, who I assume is the interviewer here (just kidding), is remarkably insightful for his young age. With a charming reverence for Leonard, he also demonstrates an artistic and emotional understanding of Leonard's deeper insights, which Leonard sometimes explains with such lightness and humor. Can't hold myself from laughing here, lovely!
L' homme dans toute sa splendeur.❤❤❤
His voice is so deep and smooth.
Thanks so much for this!! Incredible. Your questions are excellent! Exactly what I wanted to learn about him!
Your songs they come until later but when they came we loved them and still do we loved you and still do and still like your songs
Thanks a lot......We MISS the MAESTRO too........
The legend.
Shahyar Ghanbari -Wonderful wordsmith- always makes me ponder his clever and deep lyrics .Rest in peace Mr Cohen .
Ģreat interview, he's always so open ~ l can't believe they knocked on the door!
Great interview, man, respect.
Great interviewer! loved it
Thank you very much Anders!
RIP LEONARD ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I miss him.
RIP Leonard Cohen ..your spirit guides me..we are all proud of you back here in Montreal..but you probably read my posts up in Heaven...lol
What a lovely interview
Thank you Gary it was a pleasure to meet Leonard and 4 years later I got to play a couple of shows with him.
True gentle man
yes, L:C " he was so charming,
My angel,Leonard
Halleluah
Freedom of Jazz
I don't know him yet I miss him 💞
Antony Bourdain of music
Walking in Memphis
Doesn’t matter what is happening to you
The Jazz Place
Montreal
Walking in Memphas
I'm North American and I instantly fell in love with "I'm your Man"
Jennifer Warren
I find Leonard to be hilarious
Clinical Depression
💯💯💯💯💯💯
Neil Young Joni Mitcelll
What was the date of the interview? November 1988 by chance?
Famous Blue Raincoat
hmm... he looks sad
Bad interviewer, but good interviewee
What sick man
Books vs songs
Bit serious here
50,000 cigarettez
Chris Isaacs
it is sad that leonard cohen could never achieve what most of us have achieved
what’s that?
@@deadgames6251 Being beautiful losers
Anthony M nice!
Journals
Mon trek
Half eaten banana
Some pretty dumb questions..potentially awkward but the ever
polite Leonard resists saying anything hurtful.
Leonard has plenty of interesting things to say without needing any prompting .
Gus, That's why they call it the "idiot box"! all the best mz