Leonard Cohen’s deep connection to his fans: “These people created my life”
It always feels a little strange when legends address their fans. When an artist hits a god-like status in the way that Leonard Cohen did, their talent feels almost too sublime to be tethered to the worldly existence of fans, followers, and audience members. But when some artists take that to heart and cast off the role music lovers play in their careers, Cohen remained eternally grateful.
Bob Dylan once famously said, “Just because you like my stuff doesn’t mean I owe you anything,” brushing off fans who wanted to know more about the musician than what he offered in his work. Radiohead are much the same, with Thom Yorke telling audience members to “fuck off” for requesting to hear their most well-known track, ‘Creep’. Liam Gallagher, meanwhile, once called a fraction of his fans “fucking idiots”. There are plenty more stories of artists who seem to hate their fans or hate having to interact with people on the other side of their music.
But Leonard Cohen didn’t subscribe to that train of thought at all. Instead, he told Rolling Stone, “I feel the exact opposite,” claiming, “These people created my life”. He offered endless gratitude to his followers as he said of the life his music has built, “It’s a modest one, but I’ve been able to live and send my kids to school and lead this charmed and lucky existence.”
Cohen acknowledged that without people listening to his work and buying his albums or concert tickets, he wouldn’t have been able to lead the life he did. He was an artist who was always more than aware of the fact that a musician can really only be a musician if they have fans and that being able to do that job full-time and survive is an incredible privilege only awarded by a volume of supporters. As someone who took his time coming up and strived for years before breaking through as a musician and a writer, Cohen had lived for a long time as a struggling artist who could barely make ends meet. So when favour shifted in his direction, and he gained notoriety, fans and, in turn, money, the miraculous nature of that wasn’t lost on him.
For him, the people who don’t share their thanks for their fans represent a side of music he couldn’t get on board with. “I was never a punk, you know?” he said, “It isn’t my style to be ungrateful to people who buy my records and come to my concerts.” To Cohen, the gruff punk attitude of hating everything and everyone, including the people who paid their wages by paying for tickets, is a crude one.
In all aspects, Cohen made it clear again and again just how thankful and happy he was that he had fans and that people loved the work he was creating. That was also shown through his support for the many, many covers of his songs. “I’m always knocked out when I hear my songs covered or used in some situation,” he said. “I’ve never gotten over the fact that people out there like my music. I go into a state of critical suspension.”
Overall, Cohen was simply overjoyed that after years of working away, his artistry was not only being appreciated but was able to exist in the world with value and a purpose. He said, “I’m grateful and honoured that my work has some utilitarian value”.
