Wednesday Wisdom

WHO?

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist who became widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in the world of music and literature. He was born on September 21, 1934, in Montreal, Canada, and he passed away on November 7, 2016. He grew up in the Jewish faith but also became a practicing Zen Buddhist in the 70s. When asked about this seeming conflict, Cohen responded “Allen Ginsburg asked me the same question many years ago. Well, for one thing, in the tradition of Zen that I’ve practiced, there is no prayerful worship and there is no affirmation of a deity. So theologically there is no challenge to any Jewish belief.” Judaism, Buddhist spirituality and even some Christian themes have influenced many of his songs, in their themes and lyrics.

What he produced

He gained prominence in the 1960s as a singer-songwriter in the folk music scene. His early music was characterized by acoustic guitar-driven melodies and introspective, poetic lyrics. Songs like Suzanne and Bird on the Wire from his first few albums showcase his folk music roots.

Cohen's debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was released in 1967 and established him as a notable folk musician. His music often dealt with themes of love, spirituality, and the human experience, delivered in a style that was deeply influenced by folk traditions. In the tradition of many artists from the folk scene, Cohen evolved into to more electronic and rock style in the late 70’s. In 1984, Cohen released the album Various Positions on an independent label after having his usual partner Columbia passing on the album. A haunting song named Hallelujah was included on the album. Hallelujah means praise the lord in Hebrew, similar to Alleluia which is the Latin translation of Greek transliteration of the Old Testament. It took Cohen five years to write the song with 65 different iterations as he struggled with the lyrics. The album gained little notoriety aside from his loyal fans.

After a concert at the Beacon in NY, John Cale formerly of the Velvet Underground, approached Cohen with intrigue about the song Hallelujah. Cohen gave Cale 15 pages of various lyrical versions of the song, signaling a song while already recorded was clearly unfinished. Cale’s version kept the catchy and biblical parts to the song, which was recorded as a Leonard Cohen tribute album named, I’m your Fan with artists like REM, Nick Cave and the Pixies. The collaboration in making of the album demonstrates Cohen’s influence on musicians; however, sales and popularity of the album were benign.

While apartment sitting for a friend in Brooklyn NY, artist Jeff Buckley happened to discover the recording and was mesmerized by Hallelujah. Buckley put the song into his performance and was seen performing live by recording agent. He was offered a record contract which became his first album titled Grace in 1994. The record received critical acclaim and put Buckley on the charts, however Hallelujah was not included on the original release. While home in Memphis in 1997 Buckley was swimming with a bandmate in an estuary of the Mississippi River while happily singing a Led Zepplin tune. Heavy boat traffic coming down the Mississippi tragically washed Buckley away into the murky river never to be found. An outpouring of sympathy and tribute to Jeff Buckley prompted an exploration of his music. His live version of Hallelujah became a popular song, was recorded by Rufus Wainwright for the movie Shrek and was included in a rerelease of Grace in 2004. The song has become iconic and one of the most covered tunes of all time from Bob Dylan, Bono and Willie Nelson to street buskers and contestants on American idol.

2023 why do we care?

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Hallelujah’s originality, expressiveness and subtlety are evident in Cohen and Cale’s version, yet popularity at large for the song remained elusive. Perhaps it took a tragedy of Buckley to achieve the engagement and complete the journey of the song.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

The virtues of aesthetics refer to qualities or attributes that are considered desirable or valuable in the realm of artistic and visual appreciation. These virtues help define and evaluate the aesthetic appeal and quality of artworks, designs, and other visual creations. Some common virtues of aesthetics include:

1. Beauty: The quality of being visually pleasing, harmonious, and attractive. Beauty often plays a central role in aesthetic appreciation.

2. Harmony: The pleasing arrangement of elements, colors, shapes, and textures in a way that creates a sense of balance and unity.

3. Proportion: The appropriate relationship and size of different elements within a composition, contributing to a sense of visual balance and coherence.

4. Symmetry: A balanced arrangement of elements on either side of an axis, creating a sense of order and stability.

5. Contrast: The juxtaposition of different elements (such as light and dark, large and small) to create visual interest and highlight certain aspects.

6. Originality: The quality of being unique, inventive, or innovative, contributing to the creation of new and fresh visual experiences.

7. Expressiveness: The ability of an artwork to evoke emotions, thoughts, or ideas in the viewer through its visual elements.

8. Depth and Perspective: The illusion of three-dimensional space and distance on a two-dimensional surface, creating a sense of depth and realism.

9. Texture: The visual and tactile quality of different surfaces and materials, contributing to the overall sensory experience.

10. Integrity: The coherence and consistency of the artistic vision and execution, ensuring that the elements work together to convey a unified concept.

11. Subtlety: Delicate or nuanced qualities that may require closer inspection to fully appreciate.

12. Engagement: The ability of the artwork to captivate the viewer's attention and hold their interest.

These virtues can vary based on cultural and personal preferences, and different artworks may emphasize different virtues depending on their intended purpose and style.

And now you know...

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, art and science.

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