Bird on the Wire

Friday night and BBC 4 are showing three hours of Leonard Cohen, now I've come to accept that Leonard is not everyones idea of a fun Friday night. Perhaps because I've gone down with a "Man Cold" I've been looking forward to seeing the programmes. The Bird on the Wire film showcases Leonard's 1972 European tour. As well as concert footage there were short interviews and some behind the scenes stuff including Leonard being propositioned by a young woman.

I first heard Leonard Cohen when I purchased a sampler album called " The rock machine turns you on". Strange really because to describe Cohen as rock stretches a point beyond reaking pint. Anyway from hearing Sisters of mercy, I was a convert.

His first two albums were compulsory at university, like many I was attracted to the imagery of his songs, his biblical themes and uninhibited sexual references. Yet Leonard was already 37 when he toured in 1972, nearly a generation older than many other of the singer songwriters that acquired popularity.

His songs from those two albums have stood the test of time, and come 2008 at the age of 74 he returned to the O2 Arena in London in a concert that will live long in the memory. On Friday night I reflected that I've been listening to him for over 40 years, and for the past 20 yeas Sisters of Mercy has often been on my lips as I arrive at work in the morning.

Leonard is proof that talent transends age. The music industry seems to make a virtue out of youth, now 76 Leonard goes marching on towards closing time.