Corb Herzog

About eight years ago I saw a German film called Fata Morgana by Werner Herzog (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067085/). This film is mainly all footage of Africa set to the music of Leonard Cohen. Since seeing the film I have thought about it often over the years and always wanted to make my own version. Here is a little clip to understand what I mean (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGtl7LvPjfg&feature=fvw). The footage captured by Herzog in my mind gave a very real and insightful view of Africa. The landscape was everywhere and was everything, it was dead but also living and it flourished but also struggled. The film allowed a view into part of the world where I had never been and it showed Africa for what it was. I was able to experience a part and time in Africa that I never would know otherwise.

Cohen’s music is a nice complement to the film but otherwise I found it hard for me to connect with his monotone sound. A few years ago while in Portland I stayed at the Ace Hotel (http://www.acehotel.com/portland) which had the lyrics to one of Cohen’s songs written on the wall. As I was reading them I recognized them from somewhere but had a difficult time remembering the song without the music to accompany them. I spent the rest of the evening finding the source of the lyrics and then listened to the song once I found it over and over again. As soon as I heard the lyrics with the music I recognized it from Fata Morgana. It is called "Suzanne" and there is one version of this song that I like in particular which I have shared previously on this blog (http://idiocorb.blogspot.com/2008/09/turn-and-face-strain.html).

A few weeks ago I returned from Africa and while there had a chance to create my own little video in the "Fata Morgana" style. The song which plays along with my video is not Cohen but one of my favorites Joseph Arthur and the song is called “Toxic Angel”. I hope you enjoy.