COVER (video)

This is an excerpt from my new video entitled COVER. It is currently being shown at Eastern Bloc (7240 Clark) for the SIGHTandSOUND Exhibition - May 24-27.

COVER

v. To place something over or upon to conceal or protect.

n. (music) A rerecording of a previously recorded song; a cover song.

This video explores the play between two definitions for the word "cover". I perform a version of a rock song by singer PJ Harvey, by hugging a set of speakers against my body while the music plays. This gesture changes the sonic character of the music to produce a "cover" of the original song. It also serves to stifle some of Harvey's extreme vocals. By inhabiting this space between between repetition and protection, I hope to raise questions around the nature of performance, authenticity, and control within musical production.

Tik Tok ++

proto-Britney

Ahhh the 1960s!



This song is really catchy but also pretty problematic. It was written by Serge Gainsbourg for France Gall (seen singing the song at the Eurovision song contest in 1965) and it's basically about being a doll made of wax and sound to be molded by it's maker. In this case, Gall becomes the baby-faced, ingenue, doe-eyed, young, French, starlet, popstar doll to Gainsbourg's creepy producer/starmaker puppetmaster. For more on it check out the wikipedia entry.

There is another version of the song recorded on really early video technology. I love the way the sound has degraded, but it's pretty impressive that it has stood the test of time and can now be broadcast again via YouTube. You also get to see Gall actually singing, rather than lip-syncing like the clip above. And there's a live orchestra! Unfortch, the user has forbidden embedding, so you'll have to check it out by clicking on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kigGTacRxh8

Enjoy!