Leonard Cohen and U2’s unlikely collaboration praised as ‘powerful’ moment for both artists

An unlikely collaboration between veteran songwriter Leonard Cohen and pop sensations U2 has been hailed as a “powerful” moment.

The Hallelujah songwriter was joined by Bono and the band for a stirring rendition of Tower of Song, a track from Cohen’s album, I’m Your Man. Tower of Song has been hailed by Cohen biographers as a mighty statement of intent. Ira Nadel has suggested the song was a “definitive statement” from the veteran of the studio. A quote from the Cohen memoir, Various Positions, reads: “Cohen wanted to ‘make a definitive statement about the heroic enterprise of the craft’ of songwriting. In the early eighties, he called the work Raise My Voice in Song. His concern was with the aging songwriter, and the ‘necessity to transcend one’s own failure by manifesting as the singer, as the songwriter.’

“He had abandoned the song, but one night in Montreal he finished the lyrics and called an engineer and recorded it in one take with a toy synthesiser.” Speaking to Q Magazine in 1991, Cohen elaborated further. He said: “Tower of Song is that place where the writer is stuck. For better or worse, you’re in it. I’ve come this far down the line. I’m not going to turn around and become a forest ranger or a neurosurgeon. I’m a songwriter.”

Cohen’s masterpiece would be recited in full by the So Long, Marianne hitmaker when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s a song which still defines Cohen to this day, with covers of the I’m Your Man rip released by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and U2.

U2 would also back Cohen for a performance of the song, which has been praised by fans of both artists. An upload of the performance to YouTube saw fans share their love for this version, which features the iconic and recognisable guitar work of The Edge.

One fan wrote: “Oh, that guitar. So subtle, yet still has that signature. And now that Leonard is gone, how moving that Bono sings the ‘I see you standing on the other side’ verse.” Another shared: “What an honour for U2.”

A third added: “Cohen’s voice is brilliant, for me better than the original recording. Add to it Edge’s poignant guitar work and you have a masterpiece.” The “masterpiece” rendition paired Cohen with U2, who would go on to cover Tower of Song for the I’m Your Man documentary.

Others praised Cohen for accepting the change to his vocals as he made a triumphant return to the stage. Though this performance with U2 was not accessible to the public, it had people suggesting it was the moment he could lean into a “growl that incredibly still holds firm to most of the notes.”

The fan added: “U2’s virtuoso grace notes in the accompaniment just sparkle. And it is so much fun to hear Bono’s completely different but wonderfully rough and emotional take on the next to the last verse. Just a great addition to the Leonard Cohen live performances on video. I hope that U2 do their own recording of this sometime.” You can listen to Cohen and U2’s collaboration below.