Jonathan Demme died a couple of days ago. When I was seventeen I watched Stop Making Sense for the first time, the Talking Heads concert film he made. It is fair to say that it made quite an impression on me. I wore my VHS copy out. This performance of Life During Wartime is something else with so many memorable moments- the keyboards are out there, David Byrne is full on and the bit where the front line all jog on the spot at the front of the stage is visually stunning.
Not only that, but this as well. New Order's best video for one of their many 80s peaks.
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Those are the two clips I went straight to when I heard Demme had died.
I wouldn't bet against Stop Making Sense getting a viewing this weekend chez Dubrobots, definitely the best concert film of all time, probably the best film full stop.
A sad loss. Demme was a consistant champion for music of all kinds.
There is something really special about the Demme directed The Perfect Kiss. New Order was known to be a shambles when being filmed in studio and basically live at this point in their career. But Demme took the pretensions of being New Order on Factory Records and chose to get inside the minds of each member. There is a certain vunerability on the faces, in the eyes of each member as they attempt to ignore the camera but recognize the camera as well. Hooky is the only one with enough balls to look into the camera and give a glimpse of whats going through his mind. At the same time, this normally "rough on camera" quartet make every effort to really PERFORM The Perfect Kiss and get everything out of it. It's 9+ captivating minutes of music caught by directing genius. Demme's direction feels so subtle, almost distanced, while still being present.
There's a very intense forced naturalism about the Perfect Kiss video. Bernard had that look/style nailed down in it too.
And it sounds fucking amazing too!!!!
You all speak the truth. He will be missed.
All of what was said in the post and comments.
I tried so hard to get that Barney look from the video for going out at weekends...back when I had some hair. But i couldn't face going blonde...so I made do with trying to dress the same
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