Norway has always had a special place for Leonard Cohen, for many reasons. One is that Marianne in So Long Marianne is Norwegian. Also because many of his albums and songs were huge hits in Norway, but often not recognized in the rest of the world. In 1993 the album Cohen på norsk was made with Norwegian artists singing his songs in Norwegian, and last night the artists from the album plus more than twenty others played a tribute concert at Oslo Spektrum. (Photo above: Odd Nordheim and Safari perform Hallelujah)

The concert  was initiated by Christer Falck, together with Håvard Rem, a Norwegian poet who translated the lyrics on Cohen på Norsk. Christer Falck is a record producer, publisher and enthusiast who has staged tribute concerts for Prince and the Norwegian band Raga Rockers and Bendik Hofseth before, and also published books about his favorite artists. The music director for the concert was Freddy Holm, and his excellent band, The Salmon Smokers, supported by Bebe Risenfors and three singers accompanied the artists.

Freddy Holm, the chorists and Bebe Risenfors

The concert was filmed for TV, and will be broadcast in Norway at NRK TV early June. The first song, Suzanne, was sung by one of the grand old singer songwriters in Norway, Alf Cranner, together with Knut Reiersrud on guitar. Suzanne was Leonard Cohen’s first hit, in 1967, The last song at the concert, So Long Marianne, was performed by Lars-Lillo Stenberg. Marianne and Leonard Cohen were lovers during the 60’s, and many of his songs are inspired by her. They met at Hydra in Greece after she was left by her husband, author Axel Jensen.

Between these songs we got 23 of Cohen’s songs spanning his whole career. Here are the artists who performed at the concert:

Alf Cranner and Knut Reiersrud: Suzanne

Rem & Rem: Going Home

Erlend Ropstad: The Future

Jan Eggum: Chelsea Hotel #2

Anneli Drecker: Came So Far For Beauty

Pedro Carmona-Alvarez/Frode Grytten: A Thousand Kisses Deep

Christel Alsos: If Will Be Your Will

John Brungot: I’m Your Man

Kristin Solli: Hvem i flammer

Claudia Scott: Jeanne D’Arc

Kirsten Bråten Berg: Spurv på en snor

Somebody’s Darling: Dans meg gjennom kropp og ånd

Kari Bremnes: Alle vet jo det

Rita Eriksen: Alexandra reise

Daniel Kvammen: Du vet hvem jeg er

Kristian Kristensen: Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye

Trond Andreassen:  The Law

Wholy Martin and Safari: You Want It Darker

Solveig Slettahjell and Safari: Come Healing

Odd Nordheim and Safari : Hallelujah

Dennis Storhøi/Bendik Hofseth/Bebe Risenfors: The Tower Of Song

Aurora Aksnes: Famous Blue Raincoat

Lena Kristin Ellingsen: Ain’t No Cure For Love

Åse Kleveland: First We Take Manhattan  

Lars Lillo-Stenberg: So Long, Marianne

All photos are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.