by 
Saturday November 7, 2020 Smile for the Day: Leonard Cohen
On This Day:
Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ passed away (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016). Leonard was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death and romantic relationships.
Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour. In 2011, Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize. (Wikipedia).
His most famous song “Hallelujah” has been covered over 300 times and has been used in films (Shrek for example) and TV soundtracks.
First, a Story:
A man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way, (being the donkey of a preacher). The only way to make the donkey go, was to say, “Hallelujah!” The only way to make the donkey stop, was to say, “Amen!”
The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher’s instructions. “Hallelujah!” shouted the man. The donkey began to trot. “Amen!” shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately. “This is great!” said the man. With a “Hallelujah,” he rode off very proud of his new purchase.
The man traveled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading toward a cliff. He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop. “Stop,” said the man. “Halt!” he cried. The donkey just kept going. “Oh, no… Bible!…. Church!… Please Stop!!” shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge. Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer. “Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain, In Jesus name, AMEN.”
The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.
“HALLELUJAH!”, shouted the man.
Second, a Song:
This is a song combined with a performance. This is Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue’s gorgeous free dance from Skate USA 2020, set to “Hallelujah” medley by Jeff Buckley and K.D. Lang. The graceful performance is filled with difficult elements, five of which received Level 4 classifications, the highest level possible. This routine was also choreographed by Scott Moir, the retired Canadian ice dancer who won two Olympic golds with partner Tessa Virtue (popsugar.com).
Here is Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue’s gorgeous free dance from Skate USA 2020, set to “Hallelujah” medley by Jeff Buckley and K.D. Lang. I hope you enjoy this!
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PpfyR96t4g)
Thought for the Day:
“This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah.’ “ – Leonard Cohen
Have a great day!
© 2020 David J. Bilinsky and Colleen E. Bilinsky
Leave a Reply