On Thursday, Nov. 10, the world lost one its greatest musicians when Leonard Cohen passed away. In the days following his death, Cohen's fellow artists have paid homage to the icon through words and songs, but Lana Del Rey's Cohen tribute may be the most poignant one so far. For Del Rey, Cohen was an inspiration on par with Bob Dylan. He informed her unique, '70s-tinged sound in a profound way. Indeed, all you have to do is listen to one of Del Rey's gritty, solemn anthems to America to hear the influence of Cohen reverberating back.
Sadly, Del Rey explained in her Instagram post that she never had the opportunity to tell Cohen how much his music meant to her. What she does have to offer is a cover of one of his greatest songs, "Chelsea Hotel, No. 2." Recorded in 2013, Del Rey's cover is an authentic ode to Cohen's original, gravel-voiced, heartbreaking version of the song. It is fitting she chose to share her cover along with her own appreciation of the man behind the song to honor his legacy.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn’t kind of break my heart that I never got to tell you how much you changed me," Del Rey wrote on Instagram. "Not that it would’ve mattered to ya, it’s just that other than Bob and Joan you were the only person I ever really felt spoke my language. I love you as a real fan and I always looked for a little bit of you in all of my future friends. God bless."
Cohen's legacy will live on as young artists continue to discover his music and find a connection to the poetic songs he penned. As gifted as he was a singer-songwriter, Cohen was also a poet and novelist. His impact is one that can be felt across all art forms.
While many hearts were broken by his passing, it is remarkable seeing all the lives he touched, both the ones he knew about and the ones he didn't. Del Rey will keep his spirit alive in her music, as will so many other artists. Her respect for Cohen is echoed across the music industry and beyond.
Check out Del Rey's full cover of "Chelsea Hotel, No. 2" above and prepare to be mesmerized by how she reinvented the classic, while staying true to the man who she respects so much.
