7/06/2012
7/04/2012
Video Inspiration - Frank Ocean + Nabil Elderkin
Early this morning (July 4th), singer Frank Ocean boldly posted a message on his Tumblr page that announced he was bisexual. It wasn't just a post, but a story of when he first fell in love with another man and the emotions that followed.
I love Frank's music and his voice. My favorite video of his is "Swim Good" directed by Nabil Elderkin. As far as music videos go, Nabil's done a few small insignificant things like:
Seal – Change is Gonna Come
Kanye West – Paranoid
GOOD Music – Mercy
John Legend – P.D.A.
Bruno Mars – Grenade
I mean, small things, nothing to sneeze about ;-)
Anyway, this collaboration with Frank Ocean is a creative dream come true.
This video inspired this short story interpretation:
I loved her like no other. So much so I would kill for her. But there always comes a day when your love is tested. On that day, I left work early, routinely stopping by the Nihonto antique store to admire their latest findings of samurai swords. Every fourth Thursday of the month they would display whatever traditional find they had authenticated and mount it high in a bullet proof glass case in the front window. Three months ago, I had my eye on a rare Shinogi Katana. The grip was a little worn, but the deep blue leather was still sturdy. I saved a whole year for that piece and when the time came, I choked before closing the deal. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Something so precious, so beautiful, didn’t deserve my possession I thought. But not this day. This day I walked in there with courage, with a glint in my eye. She had told me I had earned it. Earlier that morning, I swear she kissed me on the cheek and told me so. And I believed her because I loved her like no other. This time around I didn’t even look in the display case. I went right for the Tachi sword hoisted behind the counter. I handed my man four thousand dollars in cash and drove right home to her.
Thursdays were also a routine for her. She didn’t go to work on Thursdays. She woke early to catch the train to some flower depot up state then returned by mid-afternoon to work at home. She was a museum curator and knew any and everything there was to know about history. I could only imagine the look on her face when I brought home this 1344 Tachi antique. My baby.
There were so many signs I missed. So many signs pointing me to turn around, to not stand on the tracks and watch the train that ultimately hit me. I opened the unlocked door and entered our home. Even though strong scents of alcohol and food lingered, I still kept the smile on my face. I drew the sword out of its case and walked to the back towards our bedroom. I gripped the flowers in my left hand and stepped over the clothes in the hallway, pushing the door aside.
“What have you done?” I whispered. It was the only thing I thought to say. My cracked voice startled them and they sat up gripping our silk sheets. Our silk sheets. Her long, black hair was beautiful even in its most traitorous state. My brain switched off.
“No!” She screamed. He put his arm up to shield her, to protect her, to anger me. My sword came down on him first. Quick and clean. She, however, didn’t deserve the same.
“I love you.” She managed to say and smoothly extended her legs over the bed to get up. She stood in front of me. She was always so bold, so fearless.
“I finally bought it.” I said.
“I know. You deserve it.”
“I know.” I raised it to her neck.
Now I’ve got this black suit on. It was my grandfather’s suit. The same one he wore at his wedding. My father never married my mother. The hope was on my shoulders but I’ve thrown it off. I was on my way to the funeral, but that’s too risky. Being lonely is hard. Being alone is hard. The best thing is to try and start over. Cleanse my sin in the ocean. Without her, the only thing I can do is swim good.
I love Frank's music and his voice. My favorite video of his is "Swim Good" directed by Nabil Elderkin. As far as music videos go, Nabil's done a few small insignificant things like:
Seal – Change is Gonna Come
Kanye West – Paranoid
GOOD Music – Mercy
John Legend – P.D.A.
Bruno Mars – Grenade
I mean, small things, nothing to sneeze about ;-)
Anyway, this collaboration with Frank Ocean is a creative dream come true.
This video inspired this short story interpretation:
I loved her like no other. So much so I would kill for her. But there always comes a day when your love is tested. On that day, I left work early, routinely stopping by the Nihonto antique store to admire their latest findings of samurai swords. Every fourth Thursday of the month they would display whatever traditional find they had authenticated and mount it high in a bullet proof glass case in the front window. Three months ago, I had my eye on a rare Shinogi Katana. The grip was a little worn, but the deep blue leather was still sturdy. I saved a whole year for that piece and when the time came, I choked before closing the deal. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Something so precious, so beautiful, didn’t deserve my possession I thought. But not this day. This day I walked in there with courage, with a glint in my eye. She had told me I had earned it. Earlier that morning, I swear she kissed me on the cheek and told me so. And I believed her because I loved her like no other. This time around I didn’t even look in the display case. I went right for the Tachi sword hoisted behind the counter. I handed my man four thousand dollars in cash and drove right home to her.
Thursdays were also a routine for her. She didn’t go to work on Thursdays. She woke early to catch the train to some flower depot up state then returned by mid-afternoon to work at home. She was a museum curator and knew any and everything there was to know about history. I could only imagine the look on her face when I brought home this 1344 Tachi antique. My baby.
There were so many signs I missed. So many signs pointing me to turn around, to not stand on the tracks and watch the train that ultimately hit me. I opened the unlocked door and entered our home. Even though strong scents of alcohol and food lingered, I still kept the smile on my face. I drew the sword out of its case and walked to the back towards our bedroom. I gripped the flowers in my left hand and stepped over the clothes in the hallway, pushing the door aside.
“What have you done?” I whispered. It was the only thing I thought to say. My cracked voice startled them and they sat up gripping our silk sheets. Our silk sheets. Her long, black hair was beautiful even in its most traitorous state. My brain switched off.
“No!” She screamed. He put his arm up to shield her, to protect her, to anger me. My sword came down on him first. Quick and clean. She, however, didn’t deserve the same.
“I love you.” She managed to say and smoothly extended her legs over the bed to get up. She stood in front of me. She was always so bold, so fearless.
“I finally bought it.” I said.
“I know. You deserve it.”
“I know.” I raised it to her neck.
Now I’ve got this black suit on. It was my grandfather’s suit. The same one he wore at his wedding. My father never married my mother. The hope was on my shoulders but I’ve thrown it off. I was on my way to the funeral, but that’s too risky. Being lonely is hard. Being alone is hard. The best thing is to try and start over. Cleanse my sin in the ocean. Without her, the only thing I can do is swim good.
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