Sometimes a song burrows its way into your mind and makes a connection between so much in music that is happening around us. Thus is the case with Gnarls Barkley’s new tune “Crazy." Like a time machine back to soul and greatness that once dominated in the 1970s there is a whisper of great music on the horizon. There is also a bright future for bands that live in the downloaded world of the internet.
Produced by DJ Danger Mouse (Brian Burton), this is the first hit for everyone involved. Some may remember DJ Danger Mouse from the infamously downloaded Grey Album that mixed Jay-Z’s Black Album with The Beatles White Album. Eventually there was a cease-and-desist order from EMI (The Beatles label) placed on the bootleg, but Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz was already impressed. He quickly hired DJ Danger Mouse to make new beats for the second successful Gorillaz’s album titled, Demon Days. Now a little more than a year later, DJ Danger Mouse is moving up the charts with Gnarls Barkley on the song, “Crazy."
Gnarls Barkley is fronted by singer Cee-Lo Green, formally of Atlanta’s Goodie Mob. Together with DJ Danger Mouse they recorded some songs back in 2003 for an album called, Ghetto Pop Life. Not much became of the CD, but the track “Crazy" began a journey on the internet. It rose to the top of British charts by digital distribution and resulted in a new number one album titled, St. Elsewhere. The song is now moving up American charts just as quickly. (To see the video go to my web site: www.thefountainheads.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page)
“Crazy" begins with a look back at when Cee-Lo went out of control mentally. He explains the journey so deeply that what comes forward is the belief that he is on a higher plane. He sings, “I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind. There was something so pleasant about that place. Even your emotions had an echo - In so much space. And when you're out there - Without care, Yeah, I was out of touch - But it wasn't because I didn't know enough - I just knew too much. Does that make me crazy - Does that make me crazy - Does that make me crazy - Possibly [video version] - Probably [CD version]." In the video the images all flow out of a Rorschach Test giving an extra push to the vivid psychological vision. Throughout the video Cee-Lo appears singing and then fades into the ink splotches.
When the chorus plays, the ink turns from black to red as it flows down the white background. At this point the music careens down a more spiritual path as Cee-Lo gives advice. He sings, “And I hope that you are having the time of your life - But think twice, that's my only advice - Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are, Ha ha ha bless your soul [At this point in the video the imagery changes so that Cee-Lo has devil horns and the ink drips down to form flames below] -You really think you're in control - Well, I think you're crazy - I think you're crazy - think you're crazy - Just like me."
Thinking back to figures like Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and many other heroes of the past Cee-Lo expresses hope. In the next verse he sings, “My heroes had the heart to Lose their lives out on a limb - And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them - Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun - And it's no coincidence I've come - And I can die when I'm done - Maybe I'm crazy - Maybe you're –Crazy - Maybe we're crazy – Possibly."
The levels to the music going along with the video make it something new. The depth of the lyrics matching the music and the pictures is beyond where most artists are at today. The performance is reminiscent of the late great Otis Redding at Monterey in 1967, but new. There does exist in the world of music today displays of substance. When Danger Mouse mixed the White Album into rap it was what needed to be done for so long. Rock can be recycled and made into so much more with modern technology. Not to say that bands standing up there playing authentic equipment from whatever era are the way of the past, but we need something new. How long has it been since there was an artistic connection that we had in this country? Are we only going to be remembered by what our parents did? Is there a future after Britney, Justin, Jessica Simpson, and the media conglomerate?
I say yes.
Imagine the Beatles music catalog like this great endangered bird living in a cage. We all get to walk up and look at it, but never get to touch it. The bird also sits in a cage and never is free to explore what is out there. The best music ever made needs to be freed from its cage and mixed into new forms.
About a year ago Nas made an awesome tune with his father, jazz musician Olu Dara. They mixed Muddy Waters styled blues with rap very successfully. Nas sings a Minnesota connection in the song with the lyrics, “Born in the game, discovered my father's music - Like Prince searchin' through boxes of Purple Rain - But my Minneapolis was The Bridge, home of the Superkids - Some are well-known, some doin' bids - I mighta ended up on the wrong side of the tracks - If Pops wouldn't've pulled me back an said yo [Olu Dara sings] Greatest man alive (Nas: Yeah, turn it up!) Gre-Gre-Gre-Gre-Greatest man alive!" Olu also finishes the song with an ode to Ray Charles saying, “Rest in Peace Ray Charles." Which leads us right into the song that was big a few short months ago, Kanye West’s “Golddigger". This higher mix is the future of music today. Sure the White Stripes keep winning Grammies for being the last alternative band that is truly alternative, but rock is being recycled. Gnarls Barkley is another sign of the times, but interjecting even more depth into popular music. When you go to that pinnacle of hitting the perfect combination in a piece of art you live up with the greats, “does that make me crazy? Does that make me crazy? Possibly."
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