Video Reviews 651
Leonard Cohen Live in London. DVD. Recorded Live in Concert at the
O2 Arena, London, England (July 17, 2008). [S.l.]: Sony BMG Music
Entertainment, 2009, 2008. 88697405039. $18.98.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve stood on fortunes, there is never self pity or mawkish
a stage in London . . . was about, uh, 14 or sentimentality exhibited in the twenty-six
15 years ago, I was 60 years old . . . just a kid song set on this DVD. Quite the contrary:
with a crazy dream (laughs) . . . since then, he champions positive messages through-
I’ve taken a lot of Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, out this program, and he seems to nurture
Effexor, Ritalan . . . I’ve also, uh, studied an amicable reconciliation with the sad, de-
deeply in the philosophies and the reli- pressing songs he composed during the
gions, but cheerfulness kept breaking 1970s. While the songs are no less sad or
through (more laughs).” depressing, Cohen seems to have assimi-
With these words, Leonard Cohen sets lated the severity of his lyrics with genuine
the tone for his London concert with hu- reverence for his audience, his band, and
morous acknowledgment of the low points his life. Cohen’s vocal limitations are many,
in his life, and uplifting hope for those is- but it is the charisma with which he delivers
sues he has worked through over many his songs that is the attractor. “Hallelujah”
years. Perhaps this is most clear in his lyric is the only song where Cohen’s voice ven-
“Anthem” where he clearly juxtaposes posi- tures out of its very limited range. But this
tive energy with negative: isn’t a DVD about singing: it’s a DVD about
stories, people, places, things, experiences.
“Ring the bells that still can ring, And, while his vocal limitations for singing
forget your perfect offering, are evident, they all seem to fade when he
there is a crack in everything; recites his poetry, as when he speaks “A
that’s how the light gets in.” Thousand Kisses Deep.”
It is difficult to approach Leonard Cohen remains a gentleman through
Cohen’s art without understanding at least and through, and has since given up unpre-
some aspects of his personal life. His recent dictable behaviors, formerly fueled by the
tour schedule, at the age of seventy-five, has consumption of three bottles of wine be-
largely been for financial reasons. As fore a performance. His genuine acknowl-
Cohen retreated to a Zen monastery for edgement of the audience has kept his
five years, his business manager absconded songs alive for many years, and continues
with nearly all of his money. Although the to handle his emergence back on “Boogie
courts sided with Cohen in a 9.5 million Street” as he would say, with dignity, grace,
dollar lawsuit, it is not known if or when he and deep appreciation of his audience.
will see any of that money. So Cohen re-
sorted to “turning tricks” as he refers to it: Robert D. Terrio
perform for money. Regardless of his mis- Westminster Choir College of Rider University
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in the ’60s. DVD. New
Malden, Surrey UK: Sexy Intellectual, 2008. SIDVD545. $19.95.
In 1965, bass playe