Nr. 27
EESTI ELU reedel, 8. juulil 2022 — Friday, July 8, 2022
13
The Rolling Estonian A review of the music video for “X-Ray” by Tommy Cash Natalie Jenkins Tommy Cash is an artist that knows how to throw a curve ball at you. No matter how familiar you may be with his experimental, surreal, eye brow-raising antics, he still manages to create something unexpected and unapologeti cally eccentric with every release.
The traditions of Seedrioru’s Suvihari were restored last week end. In the photo: Seedrioru president Lia Hess and Kadri Hunt, Estonian girls’ choir conductor.
Without any doubt, the same holds true for one of his most celebrated music videos, “X-Ray,” released in 2018. The song originates from his 2018 record YES. The three-minutelong video is beautifully put together by Cash’s co-director and long-term creative partner Anna Himma, who in 2020 won the UK Music Video Award for Best Art Production of Cash’s music video “Sdubid.” Turning our attention back to “X-Ray,” Himma’s creative directorial style perfectly syn chronizes with Cash’s provocative nature, enhancing his absurdity without taking away from the video’s overall cohesion. Carefully balanced between clarity and obscurity, Himma assembles pieces of a puzzle that create a picture vague enough to keep you guessing, while still being sufficiently decipherable to avoid complete visual anarchy.
Placing flowers at the memorial were Luuka, Aleksa and Sofia Hilkewich with Juhan Käärid, who lit the commemorative flame. Photos: Estonian Life
Superb singing… (Algus lk. 12)
usual at Suvihari. After the commemorations and speeches, the choir once again took to the risers and was, as Kadri Hunt promised, not as serious as in the first half. Where perhaps most of the very patriotic songs sung were performed in Toronto. Now the young ladies really let loose with unexpected material. Smiling all the while. And the audience was beckoned to sing along at times. One skinny wretch accepted the dare, knowing the words and melodies, and found that his eyes were misty. Why? It was not that humid. Must be something in Seedrioru’s air. These young maidens are truly incredible singers. With genuine heart. The svelte one had the opportunity to speak, after a lovely dinner, with the choir’s voice coach Külli Kiivet. Who is a remarkable individual as well, involved in the Estonian choral community on many levels, as a singer, conductor and many more roles.
She believes in the power of song, the freedom that it gives in the form of self-expression. Truly a wonderful and giving, caring person. Hope to see her again. Kadri Hunt as well. The smiles, the genuine e njoyment of sharing their gifts through song were greatly a ppreciated at Seedrioru. Nothing like a cheerful teen ager, believing in her voice, giving happy smiles galore to spark happiness. As surely was the case wherever these wonderful songbirds alit during a time of confusion and expectations that their conveyors here, governments and airports could not meet. The skinny guy is proud to be an Estonian, especially after making the acquaintance of these wonderful young Esto nians. Elagu Eesti noored. Long live our youth. Especially those, who know that singing is often the only way to communicate those difficult to express sentiments otherwise. After all, we all have a legacy to uphold. Aitäh noored! Aitäh Seedrioru! OTEPÄÄ SLIM
Good art leaves you satisfied, but great art frustrates you. It should provoke you, tantalize you. It should elicit an intrigue that draws you back in for seconds, to figure out what you may have missed the first time, instead of being spoon-fed a message so obvious a toddler could understand. Himma succeeds in this because she lets Cash’s hyper surrealism do the talking. From scenes of what appears to be a cult led by Cash, to body contortionists creating dynamic tableaus, to forests made of gourds and kale, it’s impossible to anticipate what may happen next. What’s clear is that in “X-Ray,” we are invited to live in Cash’s surrealist, absurd world, far away from the predictable rhythms and habits of everyday life that we may be used to. As viewers, we become guests abiding by Cash’s house rules.
He calls the shots, and it works. Some may say this unpredictability is too chaotic, too messy. But such chaos holds your attention and keeps you wanting more. In fact, I would say that this chaos is in perfect harmony with the song’s electrifying sound. The song’s fast tempo and electric vocals reinforce the emotionally-charged energy in the scenes featuring Cash’s screaming and convul sing cult. While whimsical and uncomfortable to a certain degree, “X-Ray” is still tame compared to some of Cash’s other videos. But taking away from this music video’s value merely because it does not incorporate the same outlandishness found in Cash’s other projects is not fair. “X-Ray” contains just enough oddities to elicit dialogue about the project, but not too much as to leave you having nightmares. “The video is a shoutout to scary horror-core and the aesthetic of another world,” said Cash in an interview with British magazine New Musical Express. By taking something like a cult and having it present on another distant, far-removed world from our own, it seems like Cash and Himma are sending the rather pessimistic message that corrupt human nature – the desire to control – can transcend even galactic frontiers. But perhaps this is reading too far into the video. Of course, the project is open for interpretation; its ambiguity warrants a degree of thought and discussion about what its true meaning is and what it’s trying to convey, if anything at all. Cash is a provocateur. “X-Ray” is underpinned by his unconventional, freakishly uncanny creative spark that distinguishes him from the same old. Overall, I enjoyed watching “X-Ray.” I highly recommend you take a look for yourself if you want to visit a bizarre, mysterious fairytale land. “X-Ray” is available on You Tube and other sharing platforms. Watch it here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=K5kD_vYnbe4&ab_ channel=TOMMYCASH
Tommy Cash posing as a cult leader in his music video for “X-Ray”. Photo: Dummy Magazine
Tommy Cash in his music video for “X-Ray”. Photo: Paper Magazine
The government submitted the NATO Accession Protocols for Finland and Sweden to the Riigikogu for ratification On July 5, the Government of Estonia submitted the NATO Accession Protocols for Finland and Sweden to the Riigikogu for ratification and proposed that the Riigikogu convenes for an extraordinary session for this purpose. The Protocols were ratified. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas: “I assured my Finnish and Swedish colleagues already in spring that Finland and Sweden have no better friend in NATO than Estonia. We welcome their accession to NATO with open arms and will take all the necessary steps as quickly as possible. Estonia’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Am bassador Jüri Luik, has signed the protocols with 29 other Allies in Brussels, and we held an extraordinary government meeting immediately afterwards.” Prime Minister said that this marks a historic turning point. “Soon, the whole Nordic and Baltic region will belong to NATO. This strengthens the defence of our entire region as well as the Alliance as whole. Just half a year ago Russia was issuing ultimatums demanding that NATO close its door to new members, but NATO is more united than ever and will be even stronger soon when it will hopefully grow by two capable Allies,” Kallas said. Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership on 18 May 2022. NATO heads of state decided at last week’s Madrid Summit to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Today, on 5 July, the accession protocols were signed in Brussels. For Finland and Sweden to join the Alliance, all Allies must approve the protocols according to their respective legal pro cedures. In Estonia, protocols must be ratified by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu. GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS
