Leonard Cohen. If you dont know who this man is, I am appalled by you. If your second thought is ‘oh yeah Alexandra Burke covered his song’ I hate you. She destroyed it. Well more the whole sell out no soul of Xfactor did that but dont get me started.

Tonight I was a VIP guest of Leonard Cohen at his Wembley Arena show, thanks to mates in high places. Admittedly I am not the most avid of fans but I am a fan none the less.

VIP for Leonard Cohen. WOW

Seeing this man perform at the ripe age 77 on the same night Lady Gaga is blasting away her monsters in a nearby arena, you realise what music really is. For the first time ever I can honestly say I heard a soul sing, recite poetry and resonate into the hearts of those about me.

Nothing short of awe inspiring; biblical if you will, is the image of Mr Cohen on his knees singing Hallelujah. All 11,000 people in that arena stared back at this somewhat frail but sharply dressed man as he bore his soul through dark vocals and yet, be uplifted. It was as though we were attending a sermon from the Origin of Music herself. Yes this may seem heavy,  but to hear such an iconic and emotive song in it’s most natural forms, you cant help but be drawn into Cohen’s world.

(c) Khandie Khisses 2012

Tonight, I felt music for the first time. I saw raw emotion for the first time. I heard Leonard Cohen.

There are unseen hands in the marketplace, and rarely do I get a chance to shake or inspect them. But if I did, I doubt they would have calluses or lines – Leonard Cohen. 9th Sep 2012