The world reacts to Leonard Cohen's death

Visionary musician Leonard Cohen dies at 82: the world reacts

Feature by The Skinny | 11 Nov 2016

Leonard Cohen, the Canadian novelist, poet and singer-songwriter of emotion-filled ballads like Hallelujah, Suzanne and Bird on a Wire, has died at age 82.

Cohen passed away on Monday, with the news revealed last night on Cohen's Facebook page: “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away,” reads the statement. “We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.”

Cohen emerged as a singer-songwriter in the mid-60s when he moved to New York during the boom of the city’s art-rock scene, and has been an influential pop culture figure through the subsequent decades. He was much-loved, and the tributes have been flooding in since the news of his death broke.

Cohen's son Adam leads the tributes with a statement to Rolling Stone magazine: "My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records," he said. "He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humor."

Robert Kory, Cohen’s manager, had this to say: "Unmatched in his creativity, insight and crippling candor, Leonard Cohen was a true visionary whose voice will be sorely missed. I was blessed to call him a friend, and for me to serve that bold artistic spirit firsthand, was a privilege and great gift. He leaves behind a legacy of work that will bring insight, inspiration and healing for generations to come."

Respects were also paid by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his eulogy to his fellow countryman is particularly heartfelt. “It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of the legendary Leonard Cohen,” his statement reads. “A most remarkable Montrealer, Leonard Cohen managed to reach the highest of artistic achievement, both as an acclaimed poet and a world-renowned singer-songwriter.

"He will be fondly remembered for his gruff vocals, his self-deprecating humour and the haunting lyrics that made his songs the perennial favourite of so many generations.

"Leonard Cohen is as relevant today as he was in the 1960s. His ability to conjure the vast array of human emotion made him one of the most influential and enduring musicians ever. His style transcended the vagaries of fashion.”

Trudeau also sent this tweet:

Jeff Buckley, who famously recorded a beautiful version of Cohen’s most celebrated song, Hallelujah, joined in the celebration of Cohen's life with this simple tweet:

Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle added to the accolades: “Leonard Cohen standing before the Lord of Song making good on his promise no doubt. Every songwriter I know in awe of him. His songs endure.”

Other singers of all genres and periods lined up to pay their respects. Boy George wrote on his Twitter feed, “We have lost a great artist, poet and poignant force of energy”; Blur guitarist Graham Coxon said, “Bye, Leonard and thanks!”; Bette Midler, meanwhile, wrote, "Another magical voice stilled"; and Justin Timberlake called Cohen “A spirit and soul beyond compare.”

There were also tributes from contemporaries of Cohen’s from the 60s folk-rock scene. Cat Stevens wrote on his Twitter feed that “the fragileness of life has been once again exposed with the passing on of Leonard Cohen. May God grant him peace...forever,” while Carole King went for the simple “R.I.P. Leonard Cohen”

Such was Cohen’s popularity, however, that artists and performers of all stripes have had tributes to give. Actor Russell Crowe wrote, “Dear Leonard Cohen, thanks for the quiet nights, the reflection, the perspective, the wry smiles and the truth,” while comedian Sarah Silverman said, “Ugh. It feels pointed, this death. It's making us remember songs like Come Healing which is a good one for these days.”

Silverman wasn't the only one to bring up the timing of Cohen's death. Many, such as fellow comedians Patton Oswald and Marc Maron, made reference to the world losing Cohen on the heels of a Donal Trump election victory.

More tributes are sure to come in. Feel free to leave any thoughts you have about Cohen’s sad passing in the comments below.

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