Adam Baran

That’s what the one person who reads this blog is dying to know. Well, I’ve just been working on a killer Winter depression for the past few weeks, while temping at the most evil corporation ever, whose name I’ll leave unsaid until I’m finished working there. I got sick last week with a virus and was a wreck, stayed inside for days and grew more and more stir crazy and depressed. Luckily I’ve got a bunch of books by and about David Wojnarowicz to cheer me up, along with the Film Comment selects series at Lincoln Center, where I saw Before I Forget, a thoroughly depressing film about a 60 year old hustler with HIV who’s troubled by his own mortality - what you thought I was going to describe the plot as an espionage thriller? Maybe that would have been more interesting. I’ve also got In Treatment, the Gabriel Byrne therapy show on HBO, which I’m thoroughly hooked on even though it too is like, majorly a bummer. Tomorrow at Film Comment Selects they’re showing Austria’s favorite bleak filmmaker Ulrich Seidl’s latest Import/Export which sounds like it could be even more depressing than his previous feature film Dog Days. Anyone want to join me? My real therapist, recommends I stay active in these bleak days.  Let me know.

I know I know, I’m a major drag.

Billy Beyond sent me this track - a cover of my favorite Madonna song by the premiere singing Diva of Italian pop music - Mina Mazzini. It’s the most woozy, strange, rendition of almost any song I’ve ever heard. I’ve played it for a number of people - and everyone of them says the same thing : “It sounds like you’re playing the original on the wrong speed.”

The strange vocal fluctuations and muddy accent (”I’m tired of dancing here…” becomes “Oym toired of dencin heeer”) makes the track a campy party track - the type that makes some people cringe and others run over to ask the DJ what it is and can they please please email you a copy!

I never heard of Mina, as she’s known by her first name primarily, just like Madonna, until Billy gave me a whole CD of her tracks. She’s pretty sensational, and kind of out there in her more recent years.

For more info on Mina, check out Wikipedia.

And for the track click below. PS. This is not going to become an mp3 blog. I just love this track too much not to share it.

CLICK HERE

This is my next must-find, and after watching the two clips below you’ll no doubt understand why once I locate it, I’m adding Nocturna to the screening list for Price Chompers Bushwick Discount Uniplex Pavilion.

Nocturna is a 1979 disco vampire movie starring the late, great Lily Munster - Yvonne DeCarlo in the titular role and featuring disco numbers by Gloria Gaynor, Vickie Sue Robinson, Anthony Hamilton, and Moment of Truth.

Here’s the opening sequence:

And a later sequence where Nocturna learns to dance. Keep watching till the end - it’s worth it.

His band must be pretty good - he can walk away from the guitar in the middle of a number and it keeps playing!