1969 had Woodstock. A decade later, punk music started a revolution. 1991 brought us Nirvana. And, 2011 exposed us all to the great musical prodigy that is…Rebecca Black?
Okay, so 2011 didn’t bring us the next Jimi Hendrix, but it was still a memorable year in music. We witnessed the death of Amy Winehouse, Pearl Jam turned a whopping 20, and David Lynch released an album. (Who would of thought Gordon Cole from Twin Peaks goes electro!)
There isn’t a single defining moment of 2011, because the landscape of music has changed. We don’t all listen to the same thing on the radio anymore. There’s so many new genres popping up now that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Here are my favorite videos this year from Music:Backstage that shows us those undiscovered music scenes and genres, bands that don’t get attention from the mainstream, and intimate interviews that slash our superficial myth-like image of the famous rockstar.
This is a beautifully shot 20 minute documentary that takes us to a picturesque Spanish town in search of the last surviving member of an infamous 1980s punk band who met in a rehab clinic. Cicatriz riled up an entire generation before fading into oblivion, and, ultimately, we witness their poetic story of self-destruction. “If I were you, I’d dig Cicatriz,” directed by Jorge Tur Molto,
Berlin IS the place to be right now. And this amazing short documentary puts us right in the middle of its thriving techno scene as we journey deep inside the underground world of Berlin’s top DJs. This piece really dives into Berlin’s music culture, and we’re left with an understanding of its history as well as a yearning to move to the city.
John Lennon & The Beatles: I met the Walrus
In 1969, a fourteen-year-old boy snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room and convinced him to an interview. Several years later, illustrators James Braithwaite and Alex Kurina created animations using the actual recorded interview as a soundtrack. This animated short was the first ever internet video to be nominated for an Oscar. The images are entertaining, but Lennon’s words provide a powerful and eerie soundtrack- His speech about society still rings true today.
The Doors Keyboardist: Ray Manzarek
This is probably one of the best interviews I have ever seen. Usually, you have some boring and nervous presenter asking mundane questions to some famous musician about a new album coming out. But, Ray Manzarek is a brilliant and natural storyteller. He captivates us with his words. Even if you’re not a fan of the Doors, you’ll be compelled to listen to his stories. He’s also a facinating narrator in the amazing video “Morrison Hotel.”
This mesmerizing piece shows us a Brazilian sound installation that generates mp3 mixes through the movements of fish. The haunting music of Erik Satie provide the perfect backdrop for the fluid fish movements in a brilliant sea of blue. It’s artistic, hypnotic and beautiful.
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