While Leonard Cohen has been a remarkably consistent performer throughout the World Tour, “Bird On The Wire” is one of his songs that does seem to vary in caliber from one concert to the next. Of course, that perception may be more telling about my receptive deficiencies than Cohen’s skills, and, in any case, I’m not talking about one rendition that was good and another that was lousy. I am, instead, referring to degrees of excellence.
My sense is that the difference in quality is a function of Cohen’s timing. I once listened to a recording of several takes of the same song during a Sinatra rehearsal and was struck by the impact that barely perceptible fluctuations in his timing had on his work. I think that principle may also hold true for Cohen’s “Bird On The Wire.” Hitting the phrases a fraction of a moment too late or too early would diminish the song.
Regardless, the performance of “Bird On The Wire” from the Oct 22, 2009 Philadelphia concert strikes me as precisely on the mark.
The video also features exemplary solos by Bob Metgar on guitar and Dino Soldo on saxophone, but it is clear that those efforts are an extra, a delectable bonus that is attendant upon rather than integrated into the essential core provided by Leonard Cohen.
Leonard Cohen – “Bird On The Wire” – Tower Theatre, Philadelphia – 10-22-09
Video from sturgess66
I have followed almost every aspect of LC’s world tour on line. I however was lucky enough to see him twice at the 02 in London. I wish I had the oppertunity to witness the unveiling of the plaque at the Chelsea Hotel. This was not possible as I live in the UK. I did however visit The CH in June and wondered when there would be a plaque for * The Master * I have now been fortunate to see it on your blog. Not as good as being there but better than nothing.
People have been mentioning that the arrangements of the songs seem different on this leg of the tour, but I think it is more than that. This time around, I think it is all about performance for Leonard Cohen. His performance at this show seemed to be filled with such a deep intensity and sincerity. Not just in this song – in others as well. I noticed this in his facial expressions, and body language. And particularly I noticed his hand movements and gestures that added yet another level of expression and emotion. (e.g., 1:12 – 1:30 “If I have been unkind, if I *have* been unkind, I hope that you can just let it go by” – that left hand.) And yes! Again and again – a beautiful timing. The show starts and moves with a smoothness from one song to the next – one amazing performance after another. Sitting up close, I was surprised with subtle little embellishments, ad libs in the moment, that frequently do not get picked up in video. These are the same songs Leonard has been singing over and over again throughout this long tour – for close to two years now – but there is not slightest hint of languor. Not from Leonard, and not from his musicians or singers.
And with these fine musicians and singers, even when Leonard shines the spotlight on them and they give performances that leave you shaking your head in wonder, there is nothing they do that is ever out of context. These are musician’s musicians (singers included) and I think they all feel very privileged to be working with Leonard Cohen. With him, they fly high – above that wire. He takes them above and beyond.
At the show in Philadelphia in May, I had a pretty good seat, but afterward I said that, had I only known, I would gladly have paid more for an even better seat. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to do exactly that. Thanks for putting my video here. I took lots of video – almost every song. A regret is that I missed a few!
Yes: timing, and then body movement and facial expressions. I knew about the timing from CD bootlegs, the facials shocked me when I saw my first Cohen bootleg-DVD, and the body movements shocked me completely when I saw him first time ever performing in Italy in July 2008. The timing is so important that 10 versions of the same song in a row, night by night, are completely different to me. That’s why I think Live in London is one of the weakest Cohen’s show on the current tout. Great, yes, but the timing and public rapport was not on the highest levels like in Italy and later in Beacon, Berlin, Venice…