Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

Movies 365: Day 45 – Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man

Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man seems to suffer from the problem that most cover versions of songs suffer from, they’re just not as good as the original. Too often covers add nothing new, the musician doesn’t make you feel the need to re-examine your thoughts and feelings of the original, and usually it all just comes off as a little bit unnecessary. The best parts of Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man are the interview segments with Leonard Cohen himself, as he reminisces about his career as a poet and songwriter. These segments are really interesting, and it’s a shame we don’t get more of them. It’s especially problematic because save for a couple songs, none of the performances are all that interesting. Nick Cave’s version of the title track I’m Your Man is interesting, as he turns Cohen’s solemn promise of undying love into a sleazy horn backed lounge song, where Cohen’s declarations of love sound more like the desperate promises of a man willing to do anything for sex with the object of his affection. Similarly, Rufus Wainwright’s version of Hallelujah, while not as revelatory as Jeff Buckley’s famous cover, is still affecting, as his bare piano arrangement works well with the song. The rest is a mixed bag, though Antony’s version of If It Be Your Will is good, and affecting, and Cave succeeds again with his cover of Suzanne. Most do not fare nearly as well, such is the case withWainwright’s attempt at Everybody Knows as it certainly lacks the gravitas of Cohen’s original, due to it’s more playful arrangement, and Wainwright’s higher voice. The rest are mostly forgettable, and suffer from typical cover problems. While I can only recommend Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man to fans of his music, I unfortunately can’t recommend really listening to the concert segments, though the interview segments are rather interesting. For those who haven’t heard Cohen’s music, do yourself a favor and go get your hands on some of it immediately.

(Read Less...)

Last updated: 2010-03-05 02:26:38 by user05