Leonard Cohen Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

“Born in the U.S.A.,” “Purple Rain” and “Like a Virgin,” respectively — there was another classic that never saw the light of day.Leonard Cohen’s towering tune “Hallelujah” was rejected — along with the rest of his “Various Positions” album — by then-CBS Records head Walter Yetnikoff. “He said, ‘Leonard, we know you’re great, but we don’t know if you’re any good,’ ” recalls the late singer-songwriter in the new documentary “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song,” which opens in theaters Friday.But that would turn out to be only a “minor fall” in the song’s long ascent to the pantheon of iconic tunes.

First Aid Kit have returned with their first new music in three years in the form of new single, ‘Angel’ – listen to it below.The last original track the Swedish duo – comprising Johanna and Klara Söderberg – put out was 2019’s ‘Strange Beauty’, a tribute to the late David Berman. Their last studio album was ‘Ruins’ in 2018.‘Angel’, which showcases the Söderberg sisters’s signature harmonies, was written in the wake of major global events the past couple years.“It feels special to release a song after such a long hiatus,” the duo said in a statement.

June 9:12 Strong, 2018June 30:2 Guns, 201320 Feet From Stardom, 2013 (HBO)All Dogs Go To Heaven, 1996 (HBO)Dogs Go To Heaven 2, 1996 (HBO)All I See Is You, 2016 (HBO)Amityville 3-D, 1983Amityville II: The Possession, 1982Barry Munday, 2010 (HBO)Black Hawk Down, 2001 (HBO)Blades Of Glory, 2007 (HBO)Brother Nature, 2016 (HBO)Chaplin, 1992 (HBO)Dark Water, 2005 (HBO)Disturbia, 2007Duplex, 2003 (HBO)Early Man, 2018 (HBO)Endless Love, 2014 (HBO)Godsend, 2004 (HBO)Good Neighbours, 2010 (HBO)High-Rise, 2015 (HBO)Hobo With A Shotgun, 2011 (HBO)Hostage, 2005 (HBO)I Used To Go Here, 2020 (HBO)Identity Thief, 2013 (HBO) (Extended Version)John Dies At The End, 2012 (HBO)Joyful Noise, 2012 (HBO)Killing Gunther, 2017 (HBO)La Gallina Turuleca (aka Turu, The Wacky Hen), 2019 (HBO)Le Divorce, 2003 (HBO)Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man, 2005 (HBO)Little Man, 2006 (HBO)Los Lobos, 2019 (HBO)Loser Leaves Town, 2018 (HBO)Love and A.45., 1994 (HBO)Lucky Numbers, 2000 (HBO)Matchstick Men, 2003Max Steel, 2016 (HBO)Mousehunt, 1997 (HBO)Presumed Innocent, 1990Princess Kaiukani, 2009 (HBO)Real Steel, 2011 (HBO)Rounders, 1998 (HBO)Saturday Night Fever, 1977 (HBO) (Director’s Cut)Shall We Dance?, 1996 (HBO)She’s All That, 1999 (HBO)Solaris, 2002Soul Food, 1997 (HBO)Spare Parts, 2015 (HBO)Speed 2 Cruise Control, 1997 (HBO)Staying Alive, 1983Still Waiting, 2009 (HBO)Sunset Song, 2015 (HBO)Super Capers, 2009 (HBO)Superstar, 1999 (HBO)The 15:17 To Paris, 2015 (HBO)The Gospel According To Andre, 2017 (HBO)The Last Five Years, 2014 (HBO)The Letter, 2012 (HBO)The Mummy, 1999 (HBO)The Mummy Returns, 2001 (HBO)The Next Three Days, 2010 (HBO)The Peacemaker, 1997 (HBO)The Scorpion King, 2002 (HBO)The Wild Life, 1984 (HBO)Wristcutters: A Love Story, 2006 (HBO)Trance,

Plans are in the works to launch a new documentary film festival in Washington, D.C. in June 2023, with a launch event to take place later this month.

Alan Light If Leonard Cohen built a tower of just one song, it was “Hallelujah” — the subject of a film that hits theaters in July,  “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song.” That documentary is inspired by music journalist Alan Light’s much-acclaimed book, “The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & the Unlikely Ascent of ‘Hallelujah’,” originally published in 2012 and being reissued June 7 with substantial additions that have Light bringing the history of one of the 20th century’s most remarkably enduring songs forward into its arguably most impactful years yet.In this excerpt from the afterward, exclusive to Variety, Light explores some of the unlikely lives that “Hallelujah” has taken on in recent years — starting with its adaptation into a country song, and especially focusing on how it’s become a favorite pick for singers to include on their Christmas albums, as a holiday hymn… quite a contrast to the more carnal connotations that many associate with the original lyrics. (Pre-order the new edition of Light’s book here.) Our excerpt has Light picking up the song’s story in the 2010s:“Hallelujah” continued making inroads into other genres of music.

Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue to Hipgnosis Song Management, in a deal that gives the company all the rights to the artist’s previously released music.Hipgnosis Song Management have bought 100 per cent of Timberlake’s rights, including to tracks like ‘SexyBack’, ‘Rock Your Body’, and ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. The deal pertains to Timberlake’s publishing rights but not his recording rights, which means songs that he either wrote or co-wrote.As he wasn’t a songwriter on some of NSYNC’s best-known hits such as ‘Bye Bye Bye’ and ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’, these are not included in the sale but the majority of his solo work will be included.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicVeteran music promoter, filmmaker and venue owner Peter Shapiro is lifting the curtain on a career that spans 10,000 concerts. “The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me About Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Magic,” will be released by Hachette Books on August 2.Described as “perhaps the most notable independent concert promoter since Bill Graham,” a sentiment shared by Steven Van Zandt and others in advanced praise for the book, Shapiro is known for his long-standing relationship with the Grateful Dead and its myriad offshoot projects.His roots in the scene go back to when he acquired and ran jam band destination the Wetlands in downtown Manhattan — while still in his 20s — to opening Brooklyn Bowl and expanding the franchise to Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Nashville, to staging the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary “Fare Thee Well” tour, featuring the co-founders Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann with Phish’s Trey Anastasio.

Not many songs have been covered by so many artists like Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah.” First recorded in 1984 on the underwhelmingly received Various Positions album, “Hallelujah” received little success upon its release but eventually found fame when Jeff Buckley and John Cale covered the song. However, many people know the song from the Dreamworks’ movie, “Shrek,” covered by Rufus Wainwright.

Florence Welch has revealed that Nick Cave and Iggy Pop influenced the vocals on her new album ‘Dance Fever’. Watch a clip from the interview below.During a conversation with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1, the Florence + The Machine frontwoman discussed embodying her favourite male vocalists like Leonard Cohen, Iggy Pop and Cave for album opener, ‘King‘.“I was like, ‘I’ll never write a song again, I can’t do anything,'” Welch said of writing the record’s lead single.

Former X factor winner and mother-to-be, Alexandra Burke, has gushed over her boyfriend, Darren Rudolph, in a sweet Instagram post, declaring: “You are my world”. The 33 year old beauty posted a number of loved-up snaps of the couple, who are expecting their first child later on this year. She penned a lengthy caption to her beau, who she called her ‘King’, to celebrate his 35th birthday.

Nicolina Bozzo kicked things up a notch with a high-energy performance on Monday’s “American Idol”.

EXCLUSIVE: The Eurovision brand continues its North American expansion. Leading Canadian producer Insight Productions, a Boat Rocker company, has teamed with Eurovision Canada rights owners and ASC, Inc., one of the companies behind NBC’s music reality competition series American Song Contest, to debut the first-ever Eurovision Canada in 2023.

Nicolina Bozzo was back with another stunning performance on Sunday’s “American Idol”.

Deadline has hired Jesse Whittock as International TV Co-Editor, based in London.

EXCLUSIVE: Leonard Cohen’s relationship with muse Marianne Ihlen is going under the microscope in a 1960s-set drama co-production for Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

A.D. Amorosi The power of Nick Cave had forever hinged on summoning the spirits of the dark.Be it his time as frantic frontman to the clamorous Birthday Party, or since the 1984 start of a menacing solo career with the floating membership of the Bad Seeds by his side, Cave’s catalog of violence-driven characters and furiously dire narratives cut like a knife, fresh with blood and amped-up with post-punk gospel fervor.That all of this changed in 2015, with the tragic accidental death of Cave’s 15-year-old son, Arthur, exemplified “the crack in everything” that Leonard Cohen, a noted inspiration to Cave, wrote of on “Anthem”: “That’s how the light gets in.”From Cave’s family tragedy, a second family emerged: that of a devoted fan base who showered the singer and author with warmth and comfort beyond fandom.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed award-winning filmmaker Erik Nelson (Terror and Glory: 1945) and his production company Creative Differences for worldwide representation in all areas.

Father John Misty has shared a brand new song from his forthcoming album ‘Chloë and The Next 20th Century’ – listen to ‘Goodbye Mr. Blue’ below.‘Chloë and The Next 20th Century’, Tillman’s fifth studio album under the Father John Misty moniker, is set to arrive on April 8 via Sub Pop and Bella Union.The album, which follows 2018’s ‘God’s Favorite Customer’, has so far been previewed with the tracks ‘Q4’ and ‘Funny Girl’.Check out ‘Goodbye Mr.

Hipgnosis Song Management has announced a big old deal via its Blackstone-backed venture Hipgnosis Songs Capital ICAV to acquire a stack of rights in the songs catalogue of Leonard Cohen for an undisclosed sum.In total, the deal covers 278 songs and derivatives, including the all-important ‘Hallelujah’ – which has been covered more than 300 times. For songs written from the start of Cohen’s career through to 2000, Hipgnosis has acquired the writer’s share of royalties.

Leonard Cohen is the latest artist whose song rights have been bought, after his estate reached a deal with the Hipgnosis Songs Fund for an undisclosed sum.According to Rolling Stone, the deal includes all 278 songs that Cohen wrote, including his most popular songs ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Suzanne’, ‘So Long, Marianne’, ‘First We Take Manhattan’ and more.The investment company obtained the “songwriter’s share” of 127 songs from Cohen’s Stranger Music catalogue, which covers the period of the inception of late musician’s career through to the year 2000; derivative works pushes the total to 211 songs.Hipgnosis also acquired the ownership of 100 per cent of the copyrights, “publisher’s share” and “songwriter’s share” of royalties of the latter part of his catalogue, spanning from 2001 to his death in 2016.“To now be the custodians and managers of Leonard Cohen’s incomparable songs is a wonderful yet very serious responsibility that we approach with excitement and fully understand the importance of,” Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis said in a statement.“Leonard wrote words and songs that have changed our lives, none more so obvious than ‘Hallelujah’ but there are so many more that we look forward to reminding the world of on a daily basis.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHipgnosis Song Management has acquired the song catalog of Leonard Cohen, poet, novelist, performer and one of the most influential songwriters of the past 50 years. The Canadian-born artist, who died in 2016 at the age of 82, is an inductee of both the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.Hipgnosis has acquired rights in all 278 songs and derivatives written by Leonard Cohen, including “Hallelujah,” which has been covered more than 300 times.

Saturday Night Live decided to skip their normal funny cold open for an emotional performance.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorCopenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX), which runs in-person March 21-April 3, has revealed the lineup for its music program, Sound & Vision.Highlights of the program, which contains 18 films, include a Nick Cave documentary, a look at the rise and fall of Sinéad O’Connor’s music career, the story behind Leonard Cohen’s hit “Hallelujah,” and an examinations of an album composed by artificial intelligence.

Sony Pictures Classics has taken global rights sans France and Germany, to Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine’s documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic“Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song” is a documentary about the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah,” and if that sounds like a lot of movie to devote to one song — well, “Hallelujah” is a lot of song. The way we think of it now, it’s epic and lovely and trancelike: a hymn cast in a pop idiom.

Queen of Soul’s biopic, “Respect” wasn’t originally Aretha Franklin’s own song.Another soul great — Otis Redding — wrote the tune and released it before Franklin had even made her breakthrough with 1967’s “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).”But who did it better? Here, we face off 10 classic covers against their originals — and share which song comes out on top.Otis Redding (1965) vs.

Daniel Gellar and Dayna Goldfine’s “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” begins at what is, by most definitions, the end: with Cohen’s final concert, in December of 2013. He roams the stage, growling out the title song in his trademark fedora and black suit, with all 79 of his years behind it, and it sounds like both a dirge and a celebration.

Manori Ravindran International EditorA new Venice-bound documentary on singer Leonard Cohen will be shopped internationally by doc specialists Dogwoof.Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine’s latest feature “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” is executive produced by Oscar winner Morgan Neville and Jonathan Dana, a long-time collaborator of directors Geller and Goldfine (“The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden”).

Emilio Mayorga Paris-based Mediawan Rights has taken international rights to the animated documentary  feature “Flavors of Iraq” from director Léonard Cohen.“Flavors of Iraq” is a co-production between France’s animation-focused Miyu Productions (Pierre Földes’ “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman”) and documentary-specialized Nova Production (Marie Linton’s “Prison life: Justice in Japan”).

Few great movies evade analysis as skillfully as Robert Altman’s “McCabe and Mrs. Miller.” Its narrative and technique are easy to explain, and even correlate; it’s not that an intellectual case for its effectiveness can’t be mounted.

Anthony Hopkins is celebrating his Academy Award win for Best Actor by dancing with Salma Hayek.

A pair of sisters from Fort Frances, Ontario have gone viral thanks to their breathtaking YouTube performance of “Hallelujah”. 

Sony Music Publishing be the custodian of my songs for the coming decades.

First Aid Kit will release a live Leonard Cohen tribute album, recorded shortly after the singer-songwriter’s passing.‘Who By Fire’ – named for Cohen’s 1974 song – will hit shelves and streaming services on March 26.

Pop Smoke and Nipsey Hussle, clearly left an impact on the Recording Academy and were nominated posthumously for the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Music legends, Leonard Cohen, Toots Hibbert and John Prine, were also recognized following their deaths this year.Born Bashar Barakah Jackson, Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a home invasion in February.

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that the trailer for “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” was pulled from social media after being up for months due to a music rights issue with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Well, it appears that instead of just re-uploading the original trailer after the rights issue was dealt with, Zack Snyder and Co. decided to release a brand-new trailer.