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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sigismund on February 4, 2009, at 1:21:51
The Herald described his Sydney concerts as a communion, and that was how I felt it to be:
an extended shared meditation on the loveliness and horror of the present moment.As we all walked in I thought about how most of these people must have looked 35 years ago (young like me), and I felt comforted to know that these many thousands were testimony to the fact that we are not all, by any means, brain dead corporate controlled automatons.
He spoke from time to time.
Nothing like 'Are you having a good time?'
After interval he said 'You are very kind to stay.'
Later he said words to the effect of....
'I don't recommend bankruptcy as a spiritual discipline. I was here when I was quite young, 60 or so. Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac and Effexor and Focalin (and at least 10 more psychiatric drugs) and after that I spent a lot of time on meditation and spirituality, but no matter what, the cheerfulness kept breaking through.'
At which point he launched into
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg6HKkedhyI
(which is where I got the idea of the extended meditation on living in the present from).Toward the end of the encore he sang 'Democracy is coming to the USA' and everyone cheered.
I can't do it justice.
Everyone was very moved.
Never before have I seen a performer received with such love and respect.
At the end he blessed us, saying, amongst other things
'May you get home safely, and may we have leaders with understanding in their hearts
But if we have none of these things'
(and I forget what he said then)
But then he said
'Thank you for keeping my songs alive.'And I reflected that in this magnificently mendacious culture of ours, he never lied to us.
Posted by gabbette on February 4, 2009, at 16:50:40
In reply to Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on February 4, 2009, at 1:21:51
in this magnificently mendacious culture of ours, he never lied to us
That one sentence has stayed with me all day.
That's it, but that's everything.
Posted by fayeroe on February 4, 2009, at 17:12:59
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen » Sigismund, posted by gabbette on February 4, 2009, at 16:50:40
Being used to public figures lying to us..what Mr. Cohen said was perfect. How wonderful that you were there to partake of his grace and open heart....
Posted by gabbette on February 4, 2009, at 19:56:11
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen » gabbette, posted by fayeroe on February 4, 2009, at 17:12:59
I think that was a Sigismund original or was it a
a quote I've missed.
Or you were referring to other things quoted in in his post.
Or..
Oh I've run out of ors'
theres a really bad joke in there but I'm going to skip it.
Posted by Kath on February 4, 2009, at 20:17:18
In reply to Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on February 4, 2009, at 1:21:51
What a very wonderful thing for you to be part of Sigi.
xoxo Kath
Posted by JadeKelly on February 4, 2009, at 22:57:28
In reply to Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on February 4, 2009, at 1:21:51
Sigismund,
I imagine it was very moving.
His songs are haunting and/or mezmerizing to me.
Did he sing 1000 kisses? That puts me in a trance.
Fondly~Jade
Posted by Sigismund on February 5, 2009, at 14:59:30
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen » Sigismund, posted by JadeKelly on February 4, 2009, at 22:57:28
You know, I can't remember if he did that.
Some people I was with wished that he had played 'Leaving Alexander' (I think it was).......not sure I know that one.
Posted by JadeKelly on February 5, 2009, at 23:59:35
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen » JadeKelly, posted by Sigismund on February 5, 2009, at 14:59:30
> You know, I can't remember if he did that.
>
> Some people I was with wished that he had played 'Leaving Alexander' (I think it was).......not sure I know that one.I'll have to find that.
I have a confession to make Sigismund (I'm so ashamed) I had never listened to Leonard Cohen that I recall until I ran across his music here. I'm so glad I did. Now I can't get enough. I'm hooked!
Thanks you guys for passing on the passion. Its a must in any collection IMHO ;-)
~Jade
Posted by Sigismund on February 6, 2009, at 15:20:19
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen » Sigismund, posted by JadeKelly on February 5, 2009, at 23:59:35
>(I'm so ashamed) I had never listened to Leonard Cohen that I recall until I ran across his music here.
When was that?I stopped listening to popular music in the early 80s for 20 years or so (worked my way through the classics starting with Mozart), and it is only in the last 10 years I heard any of his later stuff.
I have a fondness for the 1968 'Songs of Leonard Cohen' because of the way my feelings of the time comes back when I hear it.
Posted by JadeKelly on February 8, 2009, at 22:18:35
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on February 6, 2009, at 15:20:19
> >(I'm so ashamed) I had never listened to Leonard Cohen that I recall until I ran across his music here.
> When was that?
>
> I stopped listening to popular music in the early 80s for 20 years or so (worked my way through the classics starting with Mozart), and it is only in the last 10 years I heard any of his later stuff.
> I have a fondness for the 1968 'Songs of Leonard Cohen' because of the way my feelings of the time comes back when I hear it.Well, I would have been 6 at the time but I asked my parents about him last night and my mother in particular was familiar with his music.
Thanks for passin it on (you or Fay, don't recall)
~Jade
Posted by Sigismund on February 9, 2009, at 1:23:40
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen, posted by JadeKelly on February 8, 2009, at 22:18:35
Actually, I was speaking with someone today and as we spoke I was reminded that he did do 1000 kisses deep, but as a spoken poem.
Posted by JadeKelly on February 9, 2009, at 2:47:44
In reply to Re: Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on February 9, 2009, at 1:23:40
> Actually, I was speaking with someone today and as we spoke I was reminded that he did do 1000 kisses deep, but as a spoken poem.
I'm so jealous! I need to read the poem, I have not yet gotten to the full meaning of the song. Have you? I posted a link to you a week or so ago with the song and video, he's either in it or is at the end. How bout we both look at it again and compare notes on its meaning?
~Jade
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