Stop Making Sense (1984) Jonathan Demme assembled the best footage from over three nights of The Talking Heads in live performances at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater during a tour to promote their new album “Speaking in Tongues.” Hits include “Psycho Killer,” “Heaven,” “Burning Down the House.” “Life During Wartime,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “Crosseyed … More Stop Making Sense (1984)
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) Liz Garbus made this stunning documentary about Nina Simone. It exposes the effect of American racial violence on this uniquely talented artist. Contains revelatory interviews with husband Andrew Stroud and daughter Lisa Simone Kelly, but it’s the accompanying footage of live performances that allows Miss Simone to leap off the … More What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015 DOCUMENTARY)
The Threepenny Opera (1931) A master of German Expressionism, G. W. Pabst directed this Verfremdungseffekt musical, written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weil during the Weimar Republic, emphasizing the dialectic more than the tunes. With Rudolf Forster as Mackie and Lotte Lenya as Pirate Jenny. “I find it hard to believe that … More The Threepenny Opera (1931)
HOMAGE TO STAN FREBERG (1961) A documentary about the American advertiser whose satirical take on American culture led to the famous Capitol Record Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, still presciently relevant today. And if there weren’t a documentary like this, there ought to be. I would sell anything If I could … More HOMAGE TO STAN FREBERG (1961)
Spike Chinese Firecrackers for a suit, Hayseed gumshoes, straw hat Raw and flat as cymbals Ready for attack. Whack! From which art-deco cube Did you crack all the woodwork up — Xylophone to garbage cans, with Persuasive percussion! Wipe that grin off your face. It broke My heart when I tripped and … More Spike
Proteus–Song Proteus by the sea Dissembles prophesy By changing to words The reckless goatherds Carousing joyously, Shouting, “Proteus by the sea! Proteus by the sea!” Protean diversity Allows a nation to see In its multiple kinds Of peoples those binds That strengthen its unity, Shouting, “Proteus by the sea! Proteus by … More Two Songs–Proteus and Ariel
Modern Slavery The conquered were not citizens, Livia Drusilla knew, so her Roman etiquette was attended by invisible hands whose bodies sometimes came into view when their assistance became indispensable. The more familiar the help, the more likely servitude could acquire a personal name, especially as being of service became a … More Modern Slavery
Assumptions Before the Feast Discourse. Cursive strikes Negative syllogisms From parallel worlds. Continuous rain Stains the dark with salty light. Beaded curtains chill. Power bristles quills Like a porcupine snubbed for Resembling a skunk. Empire comes, then goes. People cease to believe in The State and join tribes. The Black Sea trades subs … More Assumptions Before the Feast
The Black Garbo Nina Mae Back light turn you white And white’s way too tight. Nina Mae Whites don’t like color. Or sharing their power. Nina Mae Slay that “Dinah “ And steal Hallelujah! Call Harlem Seven-Seven-Eleven. See who still playin’ the dozens. Stereotype, all cotton is craps. Break to … More The Black Garbo
The Last Time I Saw Paris/Sous le Ciel de Paris Source of the Enlightenment that inspired The American Revolution, it took a long time And many beheadings by the guillotine, before Anyone embraced Voltaire’s Traité sur la tolerance. It was why our founding fathers feared having a state religion. This is not … More The Last Time I Saw Paris/Sous le Ciel de Paris
