triggerhappymedia

My earliest music memories are from the stack of albums my mom kept piled near the record player. My favorite by far was Upside Down by Diana Ross. I was in awe of her photo on the sleeve- she was so sexy before I knew what sexy was. Second was Teddy Pendergrass’ Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose. I would dance to the point of exhaustion to that one. And I still could.

A long time after we moved I found the good stash: Supremes a Go-Go, a J.J. Jackson 45, and some amazing Motown compilations. The prize find though was Mavin Gaye’s Anthology, the red fold out album with photos of the man looking just cool as ever. I listened to it all his records far too much, from the achy-heart duets to Inner City Blues.

Inner City Blues. I began to paint. I painted New York City as an eerie translucent skyline rising above a filthy abandoned couch and a pile of garbage. To the side was Marvin with his hands covering his face, unable to bear witness any longer. Years later I had the chance to visit the studio in Detroit where his sound was recorded resonating from an echo chamber built into the ceiling. I stopped there for a moment and I could hear it. His voice was like a haunting, not of a person but an idea: remember when you felt inspired?

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Trigger: R.I.P. Teddy

October 8, 2009–October 18, 2009

Continuing its Filmmaker in Focus series, MoMA’s Department of Film presents the first-ever retrospective of Spike Jonze (b. 1969, Rockville, Maryland), celebrating his work as a director, producer, cinematographer, writer, actor, choreographer, and sometime stuntman.

Jonze’s reputation as one of the most imaginative, intelligent, and daring filmmakers working today was established early on with his legendary skateboard videos, music videos, and commercials, and has since been cemented by three features: Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002), and Where the Wild Things Are (2009).

On October 8, Jonze, who came up with the exhibition’s wry title himself, participates in an opening-night discussion with Maurice Sendak and exhibition curator Joshua Siegel.
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The Spike Jonze that sticks out in my mind is the Pharcyde’s Drop (1995). The video was shot entirely in reverse- the rappers even learned how to say their lyrics backwards- and then played in reverse to appear to move forward. Such a simple effect that, 15 years later, still looks pretty sick.

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Trigger: Spike Jonze: The First 80 Years @ the MoMA

This clip has such a natural tone. The slate at the beginning says they’re on take seven, but it looks spontaneous. Must be that Swedish cool.

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Trigger: Lykke Li and friends

It used to be that musicians wanting to spread philanthropic vibes in the name of Africa would gathering together to record timeless classics like 1984’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” That song has stuck around since then (like it or not), as has Bono’s commitment to the cause.

Over 20 years later, “Brooklyn Go Hard” by Jay-Z featuring Santogold is available via the (Red) Wire campaign to eliminate AIDS in Africa. The song is also part soundtrack for Notorious, the upcoming film about B.I.G.

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Trigger: Typographical illustration by Evan Roth

I’m really digging the nice hook on singer/songwriter Santogold’s “L.E.S. Artistes”. The video is interesting…it kind of looks like a commercial for the Whitney Biennial.

By the way, Res fans should know that Santogold co-wrote and produced her 2001 album How I Do. Those Philly women sure know how to rock.

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Trigger: Santogold

Then-

Now-

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Trigger: Breakin’, 1984 ; Buraka Som Sistema’s Sound of Kuduro, 2007

After working like mad editing an audio slideshow, I was just thinking about how video effects used to be so simple.

The look of 80s technology can be recreated today. But nothing will compare to classics - like the running in front of a screen scene from Der Kommissar.

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Trigger: Falco

1990
“Pump Up the Jam”
Technotronic

2007
“Boyz”
M.I.A.

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Trigger: M.I.A.at Terminal 5, NYC, 10/19/07

This is what brings music videos to the here and now.

A community of musicians and filmmakers is gathering at Qoob, a project developed by MTV Italy. The clever feature on Qoob is the video contest.

Every couple of weeks a musician or band hands over a track to the site, and users are invited to create a video clip to match. Other visitors then vote and leave their tips and encouragements.

The best part: the winner will produce the official video for the track!

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Trigger: Qoob