Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Pens Tribute To Leonard Cohen

Canadian singer, songwriter and poet, Leonard Cohen died on Monday, Nov. 7 at the age of 82. Tributes have been pouring in from all across music, entertainment and politics by those who loved the man and his music. The prime minster of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has also offered his condolences and thoughts on the passing.

In a lengthy statement, Trudeau, wrote about the impact that Cohen had on himself, Canada and the music community as a whole. Trudeau outlined the many different awards Cohen received over his lifetime.

Read his full statement below.

“It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of the legendary Leonard Cohen.

“A most remarkable Montrealer, Leonard Cohen managed to reach the highest of artistic achievement, both as an acclaimed poet and a world-renowned singer-songwriter. He will be fondly remembered for his gruff vocals, his self-deprecating humor and the haunting lyrics that made his songs the perennial favorite of so many generations.

“Leonard Cohen is as relevant today as he was in the 1960s. His ability to conjure the vast array of human emotion made him one of the most influential and enduring musicians ever. His style transcended the vagaries of fashion.

“Leonard Cohen was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2003 and received many artistic honors during his lifetime, including being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“He received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2010 and was awarded the Glenn Gould Prize for lifetime achievement in the arts in 2011. In 2013, with a career already spanning more than fifty years, he won Junos as Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his 2012 album Old Ideas. His music had withstood the test of time.

“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I wish to express our deepest sympathies to Leonard Cohen’s family, friends, colleagues and many, many fans.

“Leonard, no other artist's poetry and music felt or sounded quite like yours. We'll miss you.”

Tags
Leonard cohen
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics