Lush

Lush is the final Video I made for Intro To Video.  At the time, it was the height of the recession.  I also had some amazing footage of Macy’s Herald Square (shot while sick with the flu) during Thanksgiving Weekend.  The color and tones of walking through Macy’s, with it’s sparkling new Christmas Decorations, at the height of the shopping season, I thought would make a nice contrast to some sort of song about the Great Depression.  I wanted an non-obvious song, hence the choice of Bessie Smith singing “Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out” a 1923 recording (the song became more popular later).

Lush from Shana C on Vimeo.

Here are the lyrics:

Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
spending my money, I didn’t care
I carried my friends out for a good time,
buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine

Then I began to fall so low,
I didn’t have a friend, and no place to go
So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again,
I’m gonna hold on to it till them eagle’s grin

Nobody knows you when you down and out
In my pocket not one penny,
and my friends I haven’t any
But If I ever get on my feet again,
then I’ll meet my long lost friend
It’s mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you down and out
I mean when you down and out

Mmmmm, when you’re down and out,
mmmmm, not one penny
And my friends I haven’t any,
mmmmm, well I felt so low
Nobody wants me round their door,
mmmmm, without a doubt,
No man can use you wen you down and out
I mean when you down and out.

 

Yup, it is meant to be purposely fully of melencholy and iromny through the dream like collage.  Shopping, ads from Vogue, and a song from the Depression era. This is a light culture jam, nothing too serious.  Shows early interest in that sort of work.

The only Regret: David is a great guy, but I think I should have stuck the thank you here…Always another time.  I was a bit sick, and that film took a lot of editing actually… (Final Cut Pro in case you are curious).