Did You Ever Go Clear?

I found this interesting quote from an interview he did with the Jewish Book News, regarding the song in question...

"It was a Scientology reference. I looked into a lot of things. Scientology was one of them. It did not last very long. But it is very interesting, as I continue my studies in these matters, to see how really good Scientology was from the point of view of their data, their information, their actual knowledge, their wisdom writings, so to speak. It wasn't bad at all. It is scorned, and I don't know what the organization is like today, but it seems to have all the political residue of any large and growing organization."

A pretty political answer, but Cohen was a Scientologist for a short time before converting to Buddhism.

Posted by: Heather at 06/29/05 2:33 AM | Reply
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heather that was an interesting post, i appreciated it. ive listened to the song about 5 times since downloading; id never heard it. the lyric would be a lot cooler if it wasn't about scientology. im not against the religion exactly, although it does seem a bit odd, it would just be a cool lyric: 'did you ever go clear'? you know like did you disapear? my dad said dianetics is actually an interesting book. it bugs me more that beck is a scientologist than tom cruise being one. i mean cruise is obviously a bit off, but beck is like one of my heroes...

Posted by: zac at 06/29/05 2:50 AM | Reply
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I have a problem taking any person seriously who would ever take Scientology seriously. Scientology is scary shit. Google "Lisa McPherson." Cringe.

Posted by: sebrown000 at 06/29/05 3:33 AM | Reply
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Scientology is an evil cult, and should be banned.
Celebrity Scientologists prove even fools can become rich and famous.

Posted by: Nabster at 06/29/05 6:42 AM | Reply
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I've already posted this with the Tom Cruise post. But I guess it's more appropriate here.

Anyway it's clear he's no longer a member of scientology, but a buddhist. I say we forgive Cohen his youthful sin, cause let's face it he's one cool dude. Anyone who's close with people like Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin is good in my book.

And if you read between the lines it becomes clear he did it for the women. :

"Cohen’s dislocated situation in New York led him to exploring different sexual, spiritual and
pharmaceutical pathways, and one was scientology. In 1968, as he was driving down sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, with Joni Mitchell, she spotted a building with a number of women wearing saris and handing out material. Above the door a large sign which read ”Scientology”. ”What is Scientology?” she asked Cohen. ”Oh, some crackpot religion,” he replied. A few weeks later, he called from New York to say that he’d joined them and that they were going to rule the world. But a few months later, Cohen told Mitchell he was disenchanted and that he’d had some difficulty extricating himself from it. Initially, Scientology offered the goal of a ”clear path”, (”Did you ever go clear?” he asks in ”Famous Blue Raincoat”). Cohen had also heard that it was a good place to meet women. On June 17th, 1968, Cohen received a Scientology certificate awarding him ”Grade IV - release.” (Nadel 160).

Posted by: benoit at 06/29/05 8:35 AM | Reply
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Famous Blue Raincoat is like one of my fav songs!

Another great Cohen song is Chelsea Hotel #2, it's about a thing he had with Janis Joplin, here's some of the lyrics:

"I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."

it reminds me of that Moldy Peaches song (anybody else but you):

"... We sure look cute for two ugly people..."

Posted by: benoit at 06/29/05 8:41 AM | Reply
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If you let me know how to email an mp3 I could send you a copy of an amazing cover of Famous Blue Raincoat by the Philadelphia band Ruin.

Posted by: E at 06/29/05 9:38 AM | Reply
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If you havent noticed, 95% of celebrities out there are complete idiots, who got where they are simply based on looks alone, or the fact that they blew the right producer. Combine this with their piles of cash and typically low self esteem & desire to be recognized, and it makes them perfect targets for something like scientology. My problem is when a boner like Tom Cruise tries to push his beliefs upon people, going as far as saying that unlike others, he knows the truth about psychiatry, overlooking the fact that: a)there are people that devote their lives to it's study, called Doctors, and it seems to be working, and b) He probably didn't even finish high school, so if he weren't so darn pretty, he'd probably be bagging my groceries at Ralphs. By all means, practice whatever religion you want, just don't overstep your boundaries or try and force it upon people. Fucking Cole Trickle (Days of Thunder people) is the last person that should be telling anyone whats right and wrong.

Posted by: robb at 06/29/05 11:36 AM | Reply
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robb youre right about a lot, but you know tom cruise is a good actor. maybe you gotta be insane to be really good at something.

Posted by: facts at 06/29/05 12:12 PM | Reply
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if you want to mail that cover: benoit_deux@yahoo.com

i'm always curious about covers...

p.s. to stereogum: how come you can't see yr e-mail/only urls when you type it for a post?

Posted by: benoit at 06/29/05 12:50 PM | Reply
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and about Cruise being a great actor? maybe he's not bad, but he's certainly not great. just average.

but he had the fortune to be able to work with some great directors like: ff coppola, martin scorsese, pt anderson, michael mann, stanley kubrick & oliver stone and those are the films you remember him for (cause of the great directors). not because of Mission Impossible XI...

Posted by: benoit at 06/29/05 12:56 PM | Reply
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see tori amos' cover---amazing, of course

Posted by: darlingdarling at 06/29/05 2:13 PM | Reply
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> p.s. to stereogum: how come you can't see yr
> e-mail/only urls when you type it for a post?

Movable Type started doing it one day. Maybe when I upgraded. But I think it's in everyone's best interest (robot spammers, etc...)

Posted by: stereogum at 06/29/05 5:07 PM | Reply
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i'm pretty sure my contempt for scientology stems completely from its following of idiot celebrities. i cringe knowing that beck is a follower, but leonard cohen? it's like finding out that the easter bunny is not only real but he's having sex with your mother too. and that tori cover absolutely kills me. i love her. that bitch better not be one of them scientology crazies too.

Posted by: effie at 06/29/05 10:18 PM | Reply
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where can i get a link to download tori amos' version of this song?

Posted by: me at 06/29/05 11:20 PM | Reply
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effie, there's been no evidence that tori is or has been into scientology.

at least cohen got out. it seems doubtful that beck ever will, since he grew up in it and married in it, too. :(

Posted by: beth at 06/30/05 12:10 AM | Reply
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that tori amos comment made me think of something i read recently, about Tori Amos and Morrissey, and made me laugh out loud:

Cue calls from the crowd to belt out a Smiths' number. But Tori came back with the response: "I don't like Morrissey, and I'll tell you why." She went on to recount the story of how many years ago they had both been appearing on a TV show.

"Afterwards I walked past him in the corridor, and said, `Hey, great songs man'. And he turned to me and said: `What the fuck do you know?'"

lol, Morrissey sure has a way with words...

Posted by: benoit at 06/30/05 1:21 AM | Reply
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Interesting...

I always read it ("clear") as "straight" in a junkie sense, or at least - did you ever sort yourself out...

This song contains perhaps my favourite lyric ever:
"Thanks for the trouble you took
From her eyes
I thought it was there for good,
So I never tried"

I only recently realised that Scientology was invented by Ron Hubbard - I'd only heard of him before as someone who co-wrote some sci-fi songs with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds...

Tom Cruise - he's good in Rain Man - playing an arrogant, self-centred prick...

Morrisey - shit since the Smiths

Tori Amos - shit

Beck - Over-rated.

The Moldy Peaches - fantastic. Whilst were on a AFNY guy tip - Jeff Lewis's song about the Chelsea Hotel where he meets the girl but screws it up is genius. I met Jeff recently in Lancaster, England, but I was drunk and I made a prick out of myself - I vaguely remember saluting him...

Posted by: Richard at 07/14/05 12:48 PM | Reply
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lots of cool people have been sucked in by Scientology-even William Burroughs,but he quickly realised what a scam it is.Just goes to show how easy it is for people to get sucked in.Seems like most of the ones who stay(Beck,John Travolta,Tom Cruise)are stuck because they have family members or partners who are in,and if they were to leave they would be forced to 'disconnect' from them.And also the "church' probably has a lot of their secrets on file.Some religion!!Glad Leonard got out!

Posted by: jimmy at 09/21/05 6:26 AM | Reply
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I predict that Katie Holmes will die during childbirth because some dumb-shit scientologist won't bring her to a medical professional.

She'll then be a modern day martyr.

Posted by: Donica at 11/17/05 2:07 PM | Reply
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Well...Travolta has been a Scientologist before he married... and he seem to be quite happy about it!
Never observed that he acted in any way crazy...

Posted by: ouch! at 09/23/06 1:57 PM | Reply
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I always thought LC's stuff was about heroin.
I ve enjoyed Cohen for decades (really!) and introduced him to new generations

Posted by: Toni at 07/24/08 6:53 AM | Reply
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Tori Amos is secretly involved in Scientology. She admits to studying Scientology, has a house outside of Clearwater Florida and had her kid in Clearwater, probably a weird "silent" birth. Amos attended major Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley's baby shower and her first producer/boyfriend Eric Rosse also produced Lisa Marie Presley’s album and seems to produce lots of Scientologists. Scientologists like to work with each other, there is an organization called WISE which is a directory of Scientology businesses.

Amos also associates with Scientologist Neil Gaiman, whose family are some of the biggest Scientologists in the world. One of his sisters, Claire Edwards is head of International recruiting. Gaiman was awarded “Founding Patron” and “Patron” of Scientology in 2004 & 2006 meaning he gave in excess of $100,000.00 and has pledged lifelong alligence to the cult. According to ex-scientologist Jon Attack, “Patrons (are) the highest ranking membership – of the International Association of Scientologists.”

Amos is also represented by CAA, the agency which represents all major Scientologists, including Gaiman. Contrary to popular belief, Scientologists usually hide their status as cult members until they are outed by the press. The reporter from The Star who confessed to outing Cruise was attacked by Scientology in retaliation in accordance with Scientology’s “Fair Game Policy.” If association with Scientology cuts into profit, the Scientologists will keep it quiet. Just check Tom Cruise’s “completions.” He is an OT8 and an Auditor, but no completions are listed, they are hidden.

Neil Gaiman’s association with Tori Amos seems to be a Scientology collaboration, where they boost each others sales.

Posted by: Green Fairy at 06/01/09 2:09 AM | Reply
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