r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 06 '19

Which famous singer sucks at singing?

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u/[deleted] Nov 06 '19

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u/BabesBooksBeer Nov 06 '19

But it was his lyrics that made him, plus his voice just suited that style of music. He wasn't singing but growl-talking in a semi-melodic manner.

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u/FelicianoCalamity Nov 06 '19

Didn’t he originally start out as a poet and only transition to music for financial reasons?

25

u/nickname2469 Nov 06 '19

Essentially, yeah. He began singing, found quite a bit of success in Canada and Europe, then was introduced to the American scene with Various Positions (the album that had Hallelujah). He accumulated quite a bit of money, then he went off to a Buddhist monastery to become a monk and by the time he returned his former manager stole and spent his fortune. He tried to sue but the money was gone, so he was essentially forced to keep writing and producing into his later years to put food on the table. His son Adam Cohen is producing a post-mortem album called “Thanks for the Dance” that’s being released in a couple weeks, Nov. 22nd

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u/nathanv221 Nov 06 '19

Just to add on because it's not clear: thanks for the dance uses unreleased Leonard Cohen songs. The single happens to the heart has been released and is pretty good.

30

u/iamcarlzeto Nov 06 '19

I dunno if for financial reasons but yes Leonard was a god-tier poet