You Want It Darker
{{Distinguish|You Like It Darker}}
{{Infobox album
| name = You Want It Darker
| type = studio
| artist = Leonard Cohen
| cover = Leonard Cohen You Want It Darker.jpg
| alt = A black-and-white photo of Cohen in a suit with a large black border around it
| released = {{start date|2016|10|21}}
| recorded = April 2015 – July 2016
| studio = Leonard Cohen's house in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles
| genre = Folk rock
| length = 36:07
| label = Columbia
| producer = {{hlist|Adam Cohen|Patrick Leonard}}
| prev_title = Can't Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Thanks for the Dance
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = You Want It Darker
| type = studio
| single1 = You Want It Darker
| single1date = September 21, 2016
| single2 = Traveling Light
| single2date = February 23, 2017
}}
}}
You Want It Darker is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released on October 21, 2016, by Columbia Records, 17 days before Cohen's death.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/67496-leonard-cohen-announces-new-album-you-want-it-darker/ |title=Leonard Cohen Announces New Album You Want It Darker |work=Pitchfork |date=August 12, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2016 |author=Monroe, Jazz}}{{cite web|title=LEONARD COHEN'S YOU WANT IT DARKER IN STORES OCTOBER 21|url=http://www.columbiarecords.com/news/1035|publisher=Columbia Records|access-date=October 21, 2016|date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022025433/http://www.columbiarecords.com/news/1035|archive-date=October 22, 2016|url-status=dead}} The album was created at the end of his life and focuses on death, God, and humor. It was released to critical acclaim. The title track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in January 2018. It was Cohen's last album released during his lifetime and was followed by the posthumous album Thanks for the Dance in November 2019.
Background
After touring extensively between 2008 and 2013, Leonard Cohen began to suffer "multiple fractures of the spine" among other physical problems, according to his son Adam Cohen.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/inside-leonard-cohens-late-career-triumph-w447921|title=Inside Leonard Cohen's Late-Career Triumph 'You Want It Darker'|work=rollingstone.com|access-date=January 14, 2017}} Due to Leonard Cohen's mobility issues, You Want It Darker was recorded in the living room of his home in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles and then sent by e-mail to his musical collaborators.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/leonard-cohen-makes-it-darker|title=Leonard Cohen Makes It Darker|work=newyorker.com|access-date=January 14, 2017}}
Cohen has said his condition helped him eliminate any distractions during the recording of the album: "In a certain sense, this particular predicament is filled with many fewer distractions than other times in my life and actually enables me to work with a little more concentration and continuity than when I had duties of making a living, being a husband, being a father". Despite his medical condition, Adam Cohen said that "occasionally, in bouts of joy, he would even, through his pain, stand up in front of the speakers, and we'd repeat a song over and over like teenagers".
Music
Musically, the album is "a little bit more sparse and acoustic" compared to his recent albums, according to Adam Cohen. Blues dominates the album.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-w446058|title=Review: Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker' Possibly His Darkest LP Yet|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-12-01}} Due to the fact that Cohen's Jewish faith was important to him, he invited Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and Shaar Hashomayim Choir, from his childhood synagogue in Quebec to join him on the album.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 August 2020 |title=CANADA: You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen |url=https://www.200worldalbums.com/post/canada-you-want-it-darker-leonard-cohen |access-date=25 October 2023 |website=200worldalbums.com |language=en}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|MC = 92/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/you-want-it-darker/leonard-cohen|title=Reviews for You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=October 20, 2016}}
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/you-want-it-darker-mw0002982992|title=You Want It Darker – Leonard Cohen|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=Jurek|first=Thom}}
|rev2 = The A.V. Club
|rev2score = B+{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/leonard-cohen-examines-his-life-and-details-his-la-244053|title=Leonard Cohen examines his life and details his laments on You Want It Darker|work=The A.V. Club|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=Zaleski|first=Annie}}
|rev3 = Chicago Tribune
|rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/sc-leonard-cohen-review-ent-1028-20161028-column.html|title=Leonard Cohen finds path through darkness on latest album|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 28, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot}}
|rev4 = The Daily Telegraph
|rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-review/|title=Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker is a bleak masterpiece – review|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=October 18, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=McCormick|first=Neil|author-link=Neil McCormick}}
|rev5 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev5score = A−{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/14/leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-ew-review|title=Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker': EW Review|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 14, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021202917/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/14/leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-ew-review|archive-date=October 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}
|rev6 = The Guardian
|rev6score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/20/leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-album-review|title=Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker review – still changing, still full of life|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=October 20, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis}}
|rev7 = The Independent
|rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-lady-gaga-joanne-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-pretenders-alone-a7369836.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-lady-gaga-joanne-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-pretenders-alone-a7369836.html |archive-date=2022-05-07 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Album reviews: Lady Gaga, Leonard Cohen, Pretenders and more|work=The Independent|location=London|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2016|last=Gill|first=Andy}}{{cbignore}}
|rev8 = Pitchfork
|rev8Score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22514-you-want-it-darker/|title=Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker|work=Pitchfork|date=October 24, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016|last=Anderson|first=Stacey}}
|rev9 = Rolling Stone
|rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-w446058|title=Review: Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker' Possibly His Darkest LP Yet|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016|last=Hermes|first=Will|author-link=Will Hermes}}
|rev10 = Vice (Expert Witness)
|rev10Score = A−{{cite journal|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-incorrigibly-courteous-liars-last-act-expert-witness-with-robert-christgau/|title=An Incorrigibly Courteous Liar's Last Act: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|journal=Vice|date=February 18, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2017|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau}}
}}
You Want It Darker received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 92, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 28 reviews.
=Accolades=
Commercial performance
In Canada, You Want It Darker debuted atop the album charts, with 19,400 in traditional sales and a total of 20,000 units.{{cite web |url=http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/10/31/charts |title=On The Charts | FYIMusicNews |website=Fyimusicnews.ca |date=2016-10-31 |access-date=2016-11-13 |archive-date=2017-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112081735/http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/10/31/charts |url-status=dead }} The album occupied the top position for three consecutive weeks and sold 106,000 units by the end of the year in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/sites/default/files/Nielsen%20Music%202016%20Year%20End%20Canada1.5.16_Final1230PM.pdf|title=Nielsen Music Releases 2016 Canada Year-end Report|date=5 January 2016|access-date=5 January 2016|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222104510/https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/sites/default/files/Nielsen%20Music%202016%20Year%20End%20Canada1.5.16_Final1230PM.pdf|url-status=dead}}
In the United States, You Want It Darker debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 with 25,000 units, 24,000 of which were pure album sales.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7557841/top-10-billboard-200-lady-gaga-michael-buble-pentatonix|title=Seven Albums Debut in Top 10 of Billboard 200 Chart, Led by Lady Gaga, Michael Buble & Pentatonix|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=30 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016}} It is Cohen's second American top 10 album. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, selling 20,330 copies in its first week and becoming Leonard Cohen's fifth top 10 album in the UK.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Alan|title=Official Charts Analysis: Elvis tops the albums chart again|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-elvis-tops-the-albums-chart-again/066380|work=Music Week|publisher=NewBay Media|access-date=30 October 2016|date=28 October 2016|url-access=subscription }}
The album reached No. 1 on the Flemish Albums Chart and stayed there for 7 weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/4cd54/Leonard-Cohen-You-Want-It-Darker|title=Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker|work=ultratop.be|access-date=14 January 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| all_lyrics = Leonard Cohen
| title1 = You Want It Darker
| music1 = Patrick Leonard
| extra1 = Adam Cohen
| length1 = 4:44
| title2 = Treaty
| music2 = L. Cohen
| extra2 = Leonard
| length2 = 4:02
| title3 = On the Level
| music3 = Sharon Robinson
| extra3 = A. Cohen
| length3 = 3:27
| title4 = Leaving the Table
| music4 = L. Cohen
| extra4 = A. Cohen
| length4 = 3:47
| title5 = If I Didn't Have Your Love
| music5 = Leonard
| extra5 = Leonard
| length5 = 3:35
| title6 = Traveling Light
| music6 = {{hlist|Leonard|A. Cohen}}
| extra6 = A. Cohen
| length6 = 4:22
| title7 = It Seemed the Better Way
| music7 = Leonard
| extra7 = A. Cohen
| length7 = 4:21
| title8 = Steer Your Way
| music8 = L. Cohen
| extra8 = A. Cohen
| length8 = 4:23
| title9 = String Reprise / Treaty
| music9 = L. Cohen
| extra9 = Leonard
| length9 = 3:26
| total_length = 36:09
}}
Personnel
- Leonard Cohen – vocals
- Athena Andreadis – background vocals on "Traveling Light"
- Bill Bottrell – electric guitar, pedal steel guitar
- Michael Chaves – keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming
- Adam Cohen – classical guitar
- Dana Glover – background vocals on "On the Level" and "Steer Your Way"
- Alison Krauss – background vocals on "Steer Your Way"
- Patrick Leonard – keyboards, organ, piano, bass synthesizer, bass guitar, percussion, drum programming
- Howard Bilerman – engineer on "You Want It Darker" and "It Seemed the Better Way"
- Rob Humphreys – drums
- Brian MacLeod – drums
- Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir (Roï Azoulay, Director; Cantor Gideon Zelermyer, vocal soloist)
- Zac Rae – guitar, classical guitar, mandolin, keyboards, Mellotron, celesta, piano, Wurlitzer, floor tom, octophone
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=19 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=3 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=19 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|rowheader=true|access-date=31 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|1|date=201643|rowheader=true|access-date=31 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=2 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|7|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|France|3|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=27 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|2|id=314708|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=18 November 2016}} |
| scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI Greece){{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020195851/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html |archive-date=20 October 2016 |title=Top-75 Albums Sales Chart Week: 02/2017 |publisher=IFPI Greece |access-date=25 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}
| 12 |
| {{album chart|Hungary|5|year=2016|week=45|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland|1|year=2016|week=43|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|8|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=29 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Oricon|242|M|title=レナード・コーエン [Leonard Cohen album sales ranking]|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/184314/products/1199384/1/ |work=Oricon|location=Japan|access-date=25 November 2016|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Korea|87|date=2016.10.16~2016.10.22|access-date=31 October 2016|rowheader=true|refname="kor"}} |
| {{album chart|KoreaInt|12|date=2016.10.16~2016.10.22|access-date=31 October 2016|rowheader=true|refname="korint"}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=29 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Poland|1|id=1054|rowheader=true|access-date=24 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Portugal|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=30 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|4|date=2016-10-28|rowheader=true|access-date=29 October 2016}} |
| scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/3268-%C3%81lbumes-semana-43-2016|title=TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 43: del 21.10.2016 al 27.10.2016|publisher=Productores de Música de España|language=es|access-date=4 November 2016}}
| 3 |
| {{album chart|Sweden|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=29 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Leonard Cohen|album=You Want It Darker|rowheader=true|access-date=2 November 2016}} |
| scope="row"| Taiwanese Albums (Five Music){{cite web|url=http://www.5music.com.tw/CDTop.asp |title=第46 週 統計時間：2016/11/11 - 2016/11/17 |language=zh |publisher=Five-Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925131747/http://www.5music.com.tw/cdtop.asp |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
| 14 |
| {{album chart|UK2|4|date=2016-10-28|rowheader=true|access-date=29 October 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|7|artist=Leonard Cohen|rowheader=true|access-date=22 November 2016}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=Leonard Cohen|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for You Want It Darker}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Gold|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2017|access-date=28 January 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=Leonard Cohen|title=You Want It Darker|award=Platinum|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|access-date=December 20, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|award=Platinum|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|access-date=20 December 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Leonard Cohen|title=You Want It Darker |type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2016|certyear=2017|access-date=10 March 2017|refname=CanadaCert}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|award=Platinum|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2020|id=9161|access-date=26 December 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|award=Platinum|certyear=2016|access-date=August 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|award=Platinum|relyear=2016|certyear=2022|access-date=December 22, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|type=album|award=Gold|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Leonard Cohen|title=You Want It Darker|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2016|id=2016-12-16|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relmonth=10}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2018|access-date=19 September 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|award=Gold|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|certweek=52|access-date=31 August 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|award=Gold|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2016|certweek=48|access-date=16 December 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|award=Platinum|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|relyear=2016|certyear=2017|access-date=16 December 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=You Want It Darker|artist=Leonard Cohen|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2016|relyear=2016|id=13989-3338-2|salesamount=153,460|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/sony-to-release-posthumous-leonard-cohen-album-in-q4/077493|title=Sony to release posthumous Leonard Cohen album in Q4|publisher= Music Week|first=Andre|last=Paine|date=20 September 2019|access-date=22 September 2019}}}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=1,100,000|salesref={{Cite web |url=http://www.anuariossgae.com/anuario2017/frames.HTML |title=Anuarios SGAE 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112003335/http://www.anuariossgae.com/anuario2017/frames.html |archive-date=2018-01-12|url-status=dead }}|access-date=22 September 2019}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Leonard Cohen}}
{{Juno Award for Album of the Year (2000-present)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Patrick Leonard