Bird on a Wire - encore

Alighting in time for July 1 Canada Day and July 4 Independence Day celebrations is the newest recording from Allison Crowe - a cover of "Bird on the Wire".

This Leonard Cohen classic has been covered by Jennifer Warnes (on 1987’s “Famous Blue Raincoat” collection AKA “Jenny Sings Lenny”), as well as by Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Joe Cocker, Bob Benvenuti, Katey Sagal (for the US tv program “Sons of Anarchy”), Tim Hardin, The Neville Brothers… in total, more than 140 recording artists since its release on Cohen’s 1969 album “Songs from a Room”.

Nearly a decade ago, Crowe's singular cover of another Leonard Cohen masterwork, "Hallelujah", had the rare distinction of twice being featured by UK trade Journal "Record of the Day" - before becoming a world-wide favourite. Now, her version of "Bird on a Wire" receives encore coverage from DrHGuy, AKA Allan Showalter, the erudite and entertaining blogger behind the web's go-to sites for "a pastiche of posts with song, dance, snappy chatter, and notes on prose, poesy, love, lust, life, & Leonard Cohen".

Allison Crowe pre-concert at Evangelische Osterkirche, Berlin, Germany - Billie Woods foto


Says the good Doctor:

"Allison Crowe's cover of Leonard Cohen's classic 'Bird On The Wire' is mournful and, true to the lyrics of the song, conscientiously abjures cheap conventional sentiment or ginning up the type of pseudo-consolation that relies on false promises of living happily ever after, e.g., that irreparable conflicts will somehow be resolved, emotional damages repaired, or the pain of personal loss alleviated. Yet, Crowe's voice and phrasing convey such empathy and intimacy that solace and succor are nonetheless granted through grace."

It's a great cover of a great song."

This holiday week Allison Crowe is busy rehearsing the cast of "Newfoundland Vinyl". She's Music Director of this play - a rollicking ride through popular music's coming of age in Canada's most eastern province, the island of Newfoundland. Written and directed by Jeff Pitcher, the show debuts at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival this July 13.

Bird on a Wire

Allison Crowe sings to be free. Herewith, Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire".

"Doorway" Opening Soon: Ballet to Leonard Cohen Words & Music

The World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen" nears, and there's now fuller word from Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet on the spoken word and musical components to this contemporary dance.

The ballet will include selections of Leonard Cohen interviews as spoken word recordings, along with: "The Letters" sung by Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Warnes from the CD "Dear Heather"; "Bird on a Wire" performed live by the Winnipeg-based duo of Keith and Renee; "Hallelujah" performed live by bi-coastal Canadian Allison Crowe; "Since You Asked", poem recited by Leonard Cohen from the CD "Born to the Breed" A Tribute to Judy Collins; and "Sisters of Mercy" recorded live by US singer-songwriter Cris Williamson on the CD "Circle of Friends".

And, from the RWB, here's some details on the dance and its inspiration :

The Doorway: Scenes from Leonard Cohen

Beautifully set to the music of Canadian songwriting legend Leonard Cohen, Jorden Morris’s new ballet The Doorway: Scenes from Leonard Cohen explores the complexities of relationships across the threshold to love and longing. Initially started as a sketch, Morris expanded the piece into five separate dance vignettes that each tell their own story.

Morris previously choreographed to Cohen’s music in a piece he created for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, titled Dance Me to the End of Love, which was performed by RWB Corps de Ballet member Sophia Lee and former Principal Dancer Jaime Vargas. Morris explains he titled his latest piece The Doorway after a quote of Cohen’s with which he personally identified.

“Cohen says that in his own curious, magical universe (his creative process) is a kind of a doorway. He explains that he can’t really speak too much about it because he can’t quite put his finger on it, except to say that it is a doorway. He has to open it carefully otherwise what is beyond that isn’t accessible to him and it’s something he takes very seriously,” said Morris. “It’s the same for me as when I choreograph.”

Canadian songstress Allison Crowe will perform Cohen’s Hallelujah live during the show, while local Winnipeg duo Keith & Renée will sing Bird on a Wire.

Joni Mitchell: for the poses

I love Joni Mitchell ~ for her music, her integrity, her candour.

This entire transcribed chat - Joni interviewed by Cameron Crowe for Rolling Stone in 1979 - is a wonderful read. (Just watch for the occasional typo.) It's a candid reflection of the artist and person and a meditation on art and life.

Insightful, funny, sad, wise, there's lots to appreciate. Right now, after listening to the radio and catching some Canadian act doing a Dylan pastiche, well, this passage fits:

"There's only a certain amount of fine work in any idiom. The rest of it is just copyists. Regurgitation. Obvious rip-offs. Mingus has a song, 'If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There's Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats.' Sometimes I find myself sharing this point of view. He figured you don't settle for anything else but uniqueness. The name of the game to him - and to me - is to become a full individual. I remember a time when I was very flattered if somebody told me that I was a good as Peter, Paul and Mary. Or that I sounded like Judy Collins. Then one day I discovered I didn't want to be a second-rate anything. I have to remember to be compassionate. Otherwise it really pisses me off to hear somebody getting a whole lot of public roar and, 'Oh this is the newest and greatest,' when it's really just the greatest and newest copy. There are bands coming now that are really good. They're interesting; they've got some vitality and some fire, but - say they're Englishmen who sound like Bob Dylan. I listen to it and it's pleasant on the radio, but as an artist I say to myself, 'If you're that good, how come you can't be yourself?' "

BBC Radio, MOJO sing "Hallelujah" this November 1

This Saturday, November 1, All Saint's Day, bicoastal Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe figures in a pair of major Leonard Cohen tributes - both originating in the UK.

MOJO magazine's feature issue (December cover date) on Cohen hits the stands in Europe (and will soon reach North America+), along with the special tribute CD "Cohen Covered" which contains Crowe's recording of "Joan of Arc" - a lesser-known exemplar of Leonard Cohen's poetic genius (from his 1971 album "Songs of Love and Hate").

MOJO's tribute to "The Incredible Resurrection of Rock's Greatest Poet" contains a career retrospective, by rock historian and journalist Sylvie Simmons, alongside a separate piece by Phil Alexander, and more, with plenty of photographs plus input from Leonard Cohen himself. The tribute CD, containing tracks from Allison Crowe, Judy Collins, Dion, Linda Thompson, Katie Melua, Nick Cave, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, and other bright talents spanning the decades, accompanies this MOJO issue.

Also, on Saturday, November 1, from 19:00 - 20:00 London time, BBC Radio 2 broadcasts a special documentary, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall", celebrating "Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen much-loved modern masterpiece in popular song.

BBC reports: "Guy Garvey, front man of Mercury Award winners Elbow, examines the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah by talking to the artists who have covered it. Marking 25 years since Hallelujah was first recorded, Guy explains why the track has been analysed by both academics and theologists and looks at how the song has graced anything from teen dramas to Hollywood blockbusters."

Allison Crowe was interviewed for this BBC documentary, and recorded performing "Hallelujah" in Liverpool on a recent concert visit to Northern England for Beatles Week 2008 festivities. Currently, Crowe is back in North America and readying for her annual 'Tidings' holiday concert series. Between now and Christmas Day, the young artist, acclaimed as an excitingly original songwriter and performer, as well as a supreme interpreter, will perform concerts reaching from her home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland to her home in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.

MOJO salutes Leonard Cohen

Allison Crowe joins Judy Collins, Katie Melua and more in MOJO Tribute to Leonard Cohen

Canada's bicoastal musical marvel Allison Crowe is among those invited by MOJO magazine to celebrate Leonard Cohen, master of song, on a soon-to-be-released tribute CD. Crowe contributes her cover of "Joan of Arc" - a favourite first heard on the 1971 Cohen album "Songs of Love and Hate".

It's been a wonderful year for appreciation of poet and songwriter+ Leonard Cohen - highlighted by all the live performances, and, the love that's flowed famously at the Glastonbury Festival and more concerts across North America and Europe.

MOJO magazine, one of the world's great music publications, has put together a delightful tribute - one well-designed and timed to raise the banner high over a year that's been very special for lovers of Cohen, just turned 74. As they explain it: "The November 1 issue of MOJO (cover dated December) is celebrating deep and moving music, the kind of stuff we need in the run up to the holiday period. The accompanying MOJO cover mounted CD will be made up of 15 tired and emotional masterpieces from the pen of veteran songwriter Leonard Cohen."

Here be the final running order of the tracks on the upcoming tribute album:

1 Suzanne 3:42 - Ian McCulloch
2 In My Secret Life 4:23 - Katie Melua
3 Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye 3:02 - Claudine Longet
4 Sisters Of Mercy 3:34 - Dion
5 Story Of Isaac 4:09 - Linda Thompson
6 Priests 4:01 - Eyeless In Gaza
7 Joan of Arc 4:55 - Allison Crowe
8 Hallelujah 5:46 - Susanna And The Magical Orchestra
9 Avalanche 5:13 - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
10 Chelsea Hotel No.2 4:19 - Josh Ritter
11 Take This Longing 6:16 - Phil Campbell
12 Tower Of Song 3:46 - Martha Wainwright
13 Song For Bernadette 4:21 - Judy Collins
14 Famous Blue Raincoat 5:08 - The Handsome Family
15 Tonight Will Be Fine 2:45 - Mr David Viner

Alongside the MOJO cover-mount CD, there's expected to be plenty of love for Leonard Cohen reigning o'er the magazine's print and online editions, in Q magazine, and on MOJO Radio next month.

Allison Crowe is currently at the mid-point in her third European tour of 2008. It's a visit that's seen her perform to passionate audiences in Frankfurt, Paris, Siegen, Vienna, and now Prague, Czech Republic - after which she flies to the Highlands of Scotland for a concert in Durness, a fundraiser for the John Lennon Memorial Garden. Following this weekend in the Highlands, she performs in Edinburgh, before returning to North America where she’ll ready her annual Tidings holiday concert series in support of a host of charities from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts.