KW-03-2024: unanswered question (3/24): By which artist Leonard Cohen was influenced? It was Federico Garcia Lorca……Leonard Cohen honoured him with the Song „Take This Waltz“. First published in 1986 on „Poets In New York“. Then published again in 1987 on the „I`m Your Man“-Album.

Promotional video clip for tribute LP „Poets In New York“ (1986). Leonard Cohen performs Take This Waltz, his song based on his own translation of Garcia Lorca’s Pequeño vals vienés. The The video was filmed in Spain, in the city of Granada, famous for the Alhambra Castle. Leonard Cohen is shown in the house of Federico Garcia Lorca. 6 min, color.“ Note: This is 1986 version of the song, produced for the Spanish tribute album „Poets In New York“. Later, Cohen released the same track on his 1988 album I’m Your Man, adding Raffi Hakopian’s violin and Jennifer Warnes‘ vocals in overlayers. So don’t be disappointed, if you don’t hear Warnes‘ duetting on some verses and no violin at all. According to some sources, this wasn’t real video clip, but promotional clip which originally was the part of TV programme accompanying „Poets in New York“ LP. Strangely enough, there’s another version at YouTube, recorded from TV Espana, two minutes longer, re-edited and re-cut – some extra shots show Cohen playing the piano, walking through Garcia Lorca’s house museum etc.  This version is 4 minutes, while some internet sources says it should be six minutes. Nevertheless, this version is obviously also complete clip, which is from a press kit, sent by the record company to journalists, those days.

SOURCES: YOUTUBE, LEONARD COHEN FILES and COHENPEDIA.DE