Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America

UNBRANDED is a series of advertising imagery targeted at African-Americans found in magazines from the late 60s to current day which have been digitally manipulated and appropriated by artist Hank Willis Thomas. He has removed all traces of advertising information like logos, headlines and text, which he hopes encourages viewers to recognise that which has become second nature to our experience of life in the modern world.

" I believe that in part, advertising's success rests on its ability to reinforce generalisations around race, gender and ethnicity which can be entertaining, sometimes true, and sometimes horrifying, but which at a core level are a reflection of the way culture views itself or its aspirations" - Hank Willis Thomas

HankWillisThomas.com

Current long-term Installation at the Brooklyn Museum

Karoke Dreams IT'S A TIE FOR #1

Prince - Darling Nikki..

I have a good friend Nicole who is always good for a dirty joke and even dirtier dancing. She says when she was young she memorized the dance moves Prince does in Purple Rain performing Darling Nikki. That's an amazing image to me, a little Nikki grinding to VHS tape of Prince.
Once I tried to surprise her with a Karoke performance of it and I realized quickly how difficult a song that is to recreate. I barely got through the the sex noises. She had to jump up and start grinding to save me from myself. Still i have no regrets...


Try A Little Tenderness By Duckie Pretty in Pink

DAMN, I am a sucker for an impromptu dance scenes. I dream of the day I meet my own Ducky. I am even more in love with Otis Redding. There is nothing better in my opinion then some Otis Redding.

Karoke Dreams Song #2 Beth Ditto & The Gossip - Heavy Cross / LIVE on german TV Show

Matchless has a Metal Karoke nigh...Gossip is more puk then anywhere near metal but do you think I could get away with trying to sing this...
I love Beth Ditto. This is one of my hype myself up songs. When i need a little outside help to get out the door this usually does the trick.

Karoke Dreams Song #3 Dolly Parton -- Jolene

I had this song sung in my face about dozen times by drunk older people before I learned this was an actual song. Now i love me some Dolly. In my eyes she can do no wrong. This song could not be anymore not describing me. I am far from the eyes of green fair red headed man stealer.
I find it really moving though. Its a style of song writing that is not too uncommon in country music. Which in my opinion is some of the most clever song writing in the world.
Country music lets loose in a style of very revealing and personal story telling, that is all too easy to mock but none the less very trueful.
Today you hear songs about stealing man , not needing a man, being too hot for man, but here Dolly reveals that wanting desperate and almost all too real insecure side of being in love.

Karoke Dreams Song #4 K D LANG Crying Umplugged

My mom didn't play music a lot in our house but when she did she picked good. Mostly a lot folk music but at the time the most contemporary music she played was more modern country. Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and the lovely lovely K.D.Lang.
What I find the most charming about her is the juxtaposition between her androgynous looks and comeliness of her voice. Like many country singers I love the humor and then heartfelt ness of her song writing. She also has this great song about a "big boned girl" going out the bars that I adore.

Spongebob's Band - Knee Deep - F**kin' Deathcore

A Muppet death metal special.