At this blessed age I should be more cynical than Nero, but actually I am still an outspoken romantic. It irritates me that people think that I recruit my background singers on their erotic power, although I have to admit that there is an element of truth in it. In my early years in Montreal there was a little tram riding from the city center to the Jewish neighborhood, where I lived. At some point on the last tram departing late Saturday night, the driver used to turn off the light. When at the end of the journey the light went on again, you could see the girls hasten to adjust their bra straps and suspenders. Don’t take it too literally, but it resembles a bit the atmosphere in the studio when all night long I have let cherubic voices twine around my bronze baritone. I have a strong preference for ‘southern belles,’ those Scarlet O’Hara’s: frail and indestructible at the same time. I will never cease to be amazed about the typical logic of that type of woman: singing topless, so to speak, but at the same time afraid that they are going to the devil because I make them sing the word ‘damn’ …

 

Leonard Cohen

 

From Ladykiller Leonard Cohen (58) blijft ‘meedogenloos’ romantisch [Ladykiller Leonard Cohen (58) stays ‘ruthlessly‘ romantic] by Jip Golsteijn. De Telegraaf: Dec 24, 1992

Credit Due Department: Contributed & translated by Anja Deelen

I am republishing selected posts from my former Leonard Cohen site, Cohencentric, here on AllanShowalter.com (these posts can be found at Leonard Cohen). This entry was originally posted Dec 28, 2015.