A Class on Their Own: Ginger Baker and Amy Winehouse
I’m discussing two different musician’s who rocked the music world with their unique talent and personalities. Some people may argue these artist’s are on a different tier from each other but an analysis of their documentary featuring work, personalities and demons, leaves an impression of similarity. Ginger Baker was someone I was not familiar with but once you read or listen to anything related to him, it’s a sure way of wanting to know more. Amy Winehouse is a well-known artist who’s still played on the radio around the world to this day. The documentaries each convey a unique story of the musician’s, with a few similarities and I’ll be discussing them below.
The first documentary is about a musical legend from the 60’s whom influenced numerous rockstars such as Johnny Rotten and Chad Smith, to name a few. He hails from a band called Cream and is famous for his drumming skills and violent personality. The beginning of the film sets up the tone for the documentary with a candid video of Ginger Baker assaulting the interviewer due to a disagreement. This scene is followed by testimonials about Baker and his influence in the music industry. Baker’s story is conveyed in a manner that is action-packed and filled with animation that is depicted in a glaring way. From his early life, to drug use in his career, the mix of tribal and percussion music is played with either Baker’s pictures or strong animations of his face. Immediately the viewer can sense the subject is respected and troubled at the same time. The use of mixed media in this documentary was strategically done in a way that the viewer is immersed in the story, almost feeling as if you’re in the film yourself.
The following story I’ll be discussing is about a young female artist who graced the world with her jazz vocals and raw personality. When most of the world was listening to pop music, Amy Winehouse delivered a refreshing take on music and was compared with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. Her story starts with a short clip of her singing as a teen with her childhood friends. The documentary focused on the singer’s personality, path to success, drug use and her sudden death. Throughout the film, jazz music was playing at key moments in the background which combined well with the singers personality of being raw and unfiltered. Winehouse is depicted as a troubled singer who’s rise to fame resulted in eating disorders and heavy drug use. To convey each tone of her story, multiple clips of her performing is played; each with lyrics incorporated for a deeper understanding of the situation. The film takes the viewer on rollercoaster ride of emotions, much like the subject herself. Strategic pauses are used at pivotal moments in the singers life and conveyed an impact to the viewer which gave lasting thoughts.
Both documentaries were told in a unique way. Each portraying similar characteristics of musical talent and struggle with substance abuse. Their narratives showcased both musicians at the height of their fame, by strategically placing their music and using a mix of media displaying their facial expressions. Creating impact through the use of animation or changing the pace of a video is the creative difference with Baker and Winehouse’s stories. Baker’s narrative was conveyed in an erratic manner using animation, due to the film creator’s intention to emulate the musician’s way of thinking. Winehouse was displayed in a youthful sense using vibrant colors and somber tone of music leading to her tragic death.
The documentaries discussed here were creative and true to each of the musician’s personalities. Thinking back on both narratives, any viewer would feel a sense of regret due to the sheer talent each possessed, but ultimately never reaching their full potential. This leaves the thought that sometimes, fame isn’t the best ending for anyone with so much talent.
Clarissa Nazarea 