In the room that was connected to his, and whose door was slightly ajar, he could hear and see two strangers making love, moving to the rhythm of his music.
Leonard Cohen was an unconventional artist in every way. He began his career as a poet and novelist, and very respected. When he was 33, Cohen, unconvinced by the power of his message, expressed in the written word, decided to leave literature behind and try his hand at music and writing lyrics, reports Telegraf.
Some artists have always known that they should follow the path of their unexplored talent. Others find it in a dream, others hear a song or attend a concert, a gig that “lights a lamp” for them. Not Cohen.
When he began living the bohemian life he always valued in 1965, Cohen was a respected writer. Money and scholarships have enabled him to travel the world, research it, and write about it. Yet, at the end of all his wanderings, his native Canada was the place where he realized that music was the future.
While staying in Toronto, at the King Edward Hotel, Cohen played the harmonica, trying to create new melodies. In the room that was connected to his, and whose door was slightly ajar, he could hear and see two strangers making love, moving to the rhythm of his music.
Cohen opened the book and began to read one of his poems in the rhythm created by this couple, encouraged by their reaction and the sighs coming from the other room.
- I think I will sing and record my songs – he said to a friend who was there with him. He dragged out a few words, as only he could.
“”Please don’t,” she said simply.
Fortunately, he did not listen to her, Maclean’s magazine wrote in 1978. Cohen turned his back on literature, devoted himself to melody and built one of the most prolific and richest careers in modern music.
