The songwriter Courtney Barnett and Julia Jacklin both adore: “The person I go to when I’m struggling”
Julia Jacklin and Courtney Barnett both regard Leonard Cohen as a major influence, drawn to his ability to combine humour, vulnerability and vivid storytelling. Their admiration highlights how Cohen’s work continues to inform contemporary songwriters’ approaches to writing about complicated feelings and imperfect people.
Jacklin has described “Suzanne” as her favourite song and turns to Cohen when she struggles to express herself, especially on dark subjects. Barnett has praised his contradictions and covered “So Long, Marianne” on her 2019 MTV Unplugged album; Jacklin also performed “Memories” during a 2017 tour. The article links their detailed character portraits to Cohen’s use of memorable figures and images in songs such as “Famous Blue Raincoat” and “Bird on the Wire”.
- Jacklin and Barnett both cite Leonard Cohen as an influence.
- Jacklin calls “Suzanne” her favourite song.
- Barnett praises Cohen’s contradictions and storytelling.
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Leonard Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter and poet whose songs often tell stories through striking characters and images. His writing moved between humour, sadness and uncertainty, and frequently explored relationships and other difficult feelings.
Julia Jacklin and Courtney Barnett are Australian songwriters whose music often focuses on complicated emotions and flawed people. Cohen’s songs, including “Suzanne”, “Famous Blue Raincoat” and “Bird on the Wire”, offer a useful reference point for understanding the kind of storytelling they value.