Make no mistake – Leonard Cohen’s 2011 Prince of Asturias Awards Speech, “How I Got My Song,” was an intricately constructed, exquisitely executed, profoundly effective and affective performance.
It was, no less than his most eloquent renditions of his most precisely crafted songs and poems, evocative, revealing, and strengthening. The immediate and worldwide audience found its tone, content, and presentation deeply resonant. ...
So begins an essay on the effectiveness of Leonard Cohen's astounding Prince Of Asturias Awards Speech. For the remainder and the introduction to the extensively annotated version of the speech, see
Leonard Cohen was Protocol Breaker #1 at the 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards, habitually responding graciously to requests to sign a CD, book, brochure, etc., thus wreaking havoc on the carefully constructed organizational timetables.
These evidentiary photos were taken and contributed by the Spanish Cohen Brigade.
Stage view of and sign for the Oct 19, 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards tribute concert for Leonard Cohen. Cohen is seen standing, facing the audience in the upper box to the left of the stage. Photos by Carmen Alonso Suarez
Leonard Cohen, like the other winners of the 2011 Prince of Asturias Awards, is the subject of a Marcos Tamargo portrait constructed such that the canvas appears blank in natural light, revealing its content only when it reflects black light.
More about this exhibit is included in the article and brief videos below:
On the occasion of the first edition of the sample B Art, organized by the Hotel Barceló Oviedo Cervantes, the painter Mark Tamargo has released a series of portraits of the personalities in the 2011 edition awarded the Prince of Asturias Awards, to promote a meeting with the art, reference is to become an annual or an illustrated page of deep draft international event. Plus a portrait of Prince Felipe de Borbon.
The initiative, backed by the City of Oviedo, has prefaced his presentation under the Prince Felipe Auditorium, the 17-20 Oviedo, moving then to be exposed at the Hotel Barceló Oviedo Cervantes. These paintings made with the technique of the black light, so natural light can be seen his canvases completely blank, or the details of color reflected by the artist, appearing portraits with special lighting.
The portrait of Prince Felipe de Borbon will be donated to the City of Oviedo, the future of the rest is not yet determined since Mark Tamargo are offered to the winners, individually or collectively, for the intended public institutions or private wish, or if the keep as a souvenir of the Prize ceremony which has a date, October 21 at the Teatro Campoamor, Oviedo.
The exhibition of the portraits, "Beyond the Light", Mark Tamargo, first in the Prince Felipe Auditorium and later at the Hotel Barcelo Cervantes, Oviedo, will close on November 24.
Bonus - The fourth of these photos from Leonard Cohen's visit to the exhibition of his art during the 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards also features a member of the Spanish Cohen Brigade.
Entries #252 - #256 in the Signs Of Leonard Cohen catgory promoted, of course, the Leonard Cohen events at the just completed 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards.
And, it does appear from this photo of Leonard Cohen, shown sitting with members of the Youth Choir who performed at the concert at Teatro Jovellanos held in his honor, that he is happy.
Now that Leonard Cohen's Excellent Adventure In Oviedo is complete, DrHGuy is planning to take a day or two off - unless Leonard can't wait that long to win another prize, release another album, go on another tour, or perform some other bit of wonderfulness.
During this interlude, DrHGuy recommends readers check out the new entry at the amazing Speaking Cohen site (where the equally amazing Marie Mazur serves as webmaster) that provides access to all the significant articles, photos, and and videos from the accredited press featuring Leonard Cohen at the Prince Of Asturias Awards.
This information-dense, photo-rich page can be found at
Credit Due Department: The photos were taken by Ángel González. DrHGuy extends a special thank you to Arlene Dick, webmaster at Arlene's Leonard Cohen Scrapbook, who provided the correct information about the occasion on which these shots were taken.
Although the world press has inexplicably opted not to cover this portion of the awards, the efforts that earned these trophies are nonetheless sincerely appreciated.
The inscription on the plaques at the bottom of the award is difficult to read from the graphic so I have printed it below:
I, DrHGuy, herewith declare my gratitude and issue thanks to all those who contributed so magnificently to coverage of Leonard Cohen at the events of the 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards with no compensation of any sort other than the appreciation of readers who, because of these efforts, were able to be a part of the festivities honoring Leonard Cohen.
Worthy of special note are
Coco Éclair, one of Heck Of A Guy’s Chocolodka Goddesses, who spontaneously prepared and offered a complete, direct transcription of Leonard Cohen’s Oct 21, 2011 "How I Got My Song" speech.
Hermitage Prisoner, who from his post in St. Petersburg, repeatedly found and alerted me to important photos and videos about Leonard Cohen's activities in Oviedo that had escaped my notice.
And, especially, the three members of the Spanish Cohen Brigade, Beatriz Salles, Meritxell, and asdeguia, who were on the scene in Oviedo, taking and sharing an incredible array of photos as well as recording two key audio tapes of Leonard Cohen's presentations and providing a heads-up anytime videos, photos, and information was available from another source.
To paraphrase The Man,
Thank you for allowing me to affix my signature to the bottom of the page.
Hattie and Charley Webb Play at Leonard Cohen Tribute Concert
The Non-Leonard Cohen Style Issue: Princess Letizia Wears Sheer Dress To Prince of Asturias Awards (Huffington Post Headline)
Leonard Cohen Arrives at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo
Identified: Laura Garcia Lorca
Laura Garcia Lorca, the poet's niece and president of the Federico Garcia Lorca Foundation, spoke at the Leonard Cohen Tribute Concert that was one of the Prince Of Asturias Awards events.
Coverage Of Leonard Cohen At The 2011 Prince Of Asturias Awards
All posts about Leonard Cohen at the Prince of Asturias Awards can be found at:
Note: Almost all HeckOfAGuy and DrHGuy posts contain different content.
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Credit Due Department:
Photo #1: asdeguia of The Spanish Cohen Brigade, who also suggested the caption.
Photo #2: Carlos Alvarez. In the photo, Queen Sofia is shown attending the Prince Of Asturias Awards 2011 Laureates audience at the Reconquista Hotel on October 21, 2011 in Oviedo, Spain.
Photo #3: Screen capture from highlights video
Photo: #4: Princess Letizia Wears Sheer Dress To Prince of Asturias Awards by Ellie Krupnick (Huffington Post Oct 22, 2011). Getty photo. Found by Rike.
Now, Leonard Cohen’s entire Oct 21, 2011 Prince of Asturias Awards Speech, "How I Got My Song," can be viewed on a video featuring professionally recorded, high quality audio without any overdubbing whatsoever.
