On every episode we choose a celebrity who died between 1 and 10 years ago. We then go through a series of structured categories. We start by rating the first line of their NYT obituary on a scale of 1–10. We then look at their life stats, we speculate on their inner lives, and we ultimately answer the question "Would I want that life?" Each category helps weigh the desirability of a given life. Our approach is that of an empathetic biography. Our dead celebrities cross many categories of fame, including film, TV, sports, music, politics, literature, and more. Our goal is to make serious topics fun.
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episode 54: Secret Chord (Leonard Cohen)
He was an unlikely and reluctant pop star, if in fact he ever was one. In the 1960s, he lived in a house on the Greek island of Hydra, where he wrote a pair of novels. He was 33 when his first record was released in 1967. In the early 1970s, his record company concocted an advertising campaign where they called him “the master of erotic despair.” Around 1994, he abandoned his music career and moved to Mt. Baldy monastery, where he was ordained a Buddhist monk. His best-known song, a majestic and meditative ballad which has been endlessly covered, is called “Hallelujah”.
Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Sign up for our newsletter at famousandgravy.com for news and updates on the show. Also, enjoy our mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.com
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 45 "Rebel Rebel" (David Bowie) and Episode 29 “Zen Comedian” (Garry Shandling).
Transcript of this episode
New York Times Obituary for Leonard Cohen
Famous & Gravy official website
Famous & Gravy on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
Sound Judgment podcast episode “How to Make Serious Topics Fun”
Leonard Cohen’s 75th birthday concert in Barcelona
Kate McKinnon sings “Hallelujah” on SNL after Leonard Cohen’s death
Susan Cain article on Leonard Cohen’s music
Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast on Hallelujah
Rock and Roll Archaeology podcast hosted by Christian Swain
Dead or Alive Quiz Game
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