The devil & Daniel Johnston

ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
edited October 2006 in Other Music
Has anyone seen this film/documentary?

I saw it today, and I thought it was amazing. It's a film about genius/madness/creativity.

Remember Kurt Cobain wore a Daniel Johnston T-shirt on many an occasion?

Anyone seen it??
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • lgtlgt Posts: 720
    I have read about it and wanted to see it, but then missed it when it came out... :(

    What did you like about it?
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    lgt wrote:
    I have read about it and wanted to see it, but then missed it when it came out... :(

    What did you like about it?

    I was quite taken aback at his lyrics. They are amazing. He's an interesting example of the fine line between madness and genius, although he tragically crossed over that line and didn't appear to ever really recover. He was kind of obsessed with creating art at all costs despite the pressure from friends and family to lead a 'normal' life. It's just a really interesting film.

    Edit: I asked the mods to move this over to the 'Other music' page but they haven't bothered.
  • electronblueelectronblue Posts: 3,460
    i must see this film...~

    :)
    ********************************
    "Forgive every being,
    the bad feelings 
    it's just me"


  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    It's also kind of amusing how he was working in MacDonalds when he recorded the greater part of his output. Although he was finally sacked after whacking his boss over the head with an iron bar.
    He became famous after Kurt Cobain was seen wearing a Daniel Johnston t-shirt on about 10 different occasions, although he had appeared on mtv a few years earlier - whilst still at MacDonalds - after MTV did a few shows on the emerging Austin art scene.

    http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GNOSGS.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V61056792_.jpg
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    In light of Ed's covers of Daniel Johnston's 'Walking the cow' at the recent shows...

    bump!

    http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3515162/The_Devil_and_Daniel_Johnston_(2005)_(real_and_complete_)
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Byrnzie wrote:
    Has anyone seen this film/documentary?

    I saw it today, and I thought it was amazing. It's a film about genius/madness/creativity.

    Remember Kurt Cobain wore a Daniel Johnston T-shirt on many an occasion?

    Anyone seen it??

    ive not seen the doco but i did see daniel johnston live in NY in feb. :D
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • PJGARDENPJGARDEN Posts: 1,484
    They were playing the doc on one of the movie channels for a while and I saw it. I've actually known him for years. He is so talented but crazy. I thought the movie was really good.
  • PaukPauk Posts: 1,084
    I tried youtubing to check him out... it made my ears bleed. I'd like to check out the documentary though, sounds interesting.
    Paul
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  • direwolf74direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    Personally I find his music incredibly annoying, but the documentary was amazing. Definitely one of the most fascinating films I've ever seen.
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • merkinballmerkinball Posts: 2,262
    The Flaming Lips cover of Go (from the soundtrack) is a great one. Very understated for the Lips, but very heavy.
    "You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.

    http://www.last.fm/user/merkinball/
    spotify:user:merkinball
  • elmerelmer Posts: 1,683
    I heard his Artistic Vice album, catchy songs with good lyrics but the voice can grate.

    Wanna see this doc, few years ago there was one by a Dutch TV station that I saw, was a little spooky, seems he's veered over the edge a few times.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    elmer wrote:
    Wanna see this doc, few years ago there was one by a Dutch TV station that I saw, was a little spooky, seems he's veered over the edge a few times.

    He sure has. I do love his early stuff though - His first recordings - 'Yip/Jump Music'.
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Songs of Pain is brilliant. Haven't seen the film yet.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958
    edited January 2016
    I FINALLY watched this last night. What a good documentary! I have known of Daniel Johnston and his work of course, but had no idea his mental illness problem is so incredibly severe. It's rather heartbreaking, especially when it comes to the fear of his elderly parents, worrying about what will happen to him when they die. Terrible. :frowning: Actually, this movie is like 10 years old now... perhaps they have passed away by now, I have no idea. If so, I guess Daniel is managing, since he is still performing and producing art.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • BIGDaddyWilBIGDaddyWil Posts: 3,067
    ^^^^ Awesome doc! It's pretty crazy when he throws the keys to the plane, out the window.

    .......while their still flying!!!!
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  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,958

    ^^^^ Awesome doc! It's pretty crazy when he throws the keys to the plane, out the window.

    .......while their still flying!!!!

    Yeah, that's brutal! I felt sooooo bad for his dad when retold the story. He was completely traumatized.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
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