A Must-Watch in a Time of Isolation
A quick look at the docu-film of Lil Peep
Do you know the poem by Dylan Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night? If you haven’t, take a quick read. (It was a favorite of Peep’s Grandad.)
Dylan Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
This poem starts and ends with what is called a molossus, three stressed syllables — ‘that good night’ — indicating the author’s fearful reluctance to say unequivocally, ‘do not die’. He knows that resisting death is pointless, but in this poem urges his father to fight it.
The good men, the author states, wish they could have done more. Alternatively, the ‘good men’ (e.g. those who died in WWII which ended just 6 years before the poem was written) rather than just feel they could have done more, may feel it is an injustice that their contributions may not be remembered.
So how does this have anything to do with Lil Peep? Even when he was suffering, he wanted to please all around him. He wanted to be everybody’s everything. His Grandad knew this and was one of the only people who truly let him be himself. I draw the comparison to this poem simply because in the life of Lil Peep, he was always hoping he could have done more.
Gustav Elijah Åhr
Creating a unique mix of punk, emo and trap, Åhr was set to bring a new musical genre to the mainstream when he died of a drug overdose at just 21 years old. From the streets of Los Angeles to studios in London and sold out tours in Russia, the artist born Åhr touched countless lives through his words, his sound and his very being.
For many people, Lil Peep went un-noticed. This is quite sad due to how Peep took the rap game to new levels with hit songs that were not only catchy but real. When Peep died in 2017, it was a shock to not only his fans but the entire music industry. You can’t put Peep in a single category due to the diversity of his music. The tattooed poet, was disregarded by many, simply due to his appearance. What I hope to convey is even if you are turned away simply by appearances, Everybody’s Everything is a movie that everybody should see and is a true reminder of why you should never judge a book by its cover.
Background
Åhr’s story is quite intriguing. Growing up, he was consistently struggling with depression and fitting in. It wasn’t that he wanted to fit in, it was the lack of respect others had towards his way of expressing himself. Parents wouldn’t let their kids be around Åhr, due to his cannabis use and provocative body ink. This judgement by appearance dismayed Åhr, ultimately perpetuating a dissonance with those around him. Without providing any spoilers, he eventually stopped going to school for reasons depicted in the film.
Åhr’s only source of light in his life was music, which he spent night and day on. His success stems from a lifetime of self-doubt and depression. Åhr’s message in his music is so blatant, so strong with emotion, those who listen get a vivid image of Åhr’s mind. For those that truly listen, you come to find Åhr is quite sensitive and vulnerable. For many artists, especially rap artists, have trouble relaying sensitivity, anger, resentment and love in a song, yet, Åhr does it seamlessly. It was second nature. He could record a song in a hotel room with more emotion and honesty than a award winning artist in a million dollar studio. He was literally changing the way music is made and perceived by the public.
Trust the process
Bored and creative. A young Gustav will make a music video with his girlfriend in a emptied parking lot. Edited later with minimal transitions and dark visual effects, music videos became second nature. His success on Soundcloud furthered Åhr through collaboration. This cycle of putting music and content online, then finding a community of likeminded groups of people to feature with allowed for a seamless transition from a spontaneous video to full blown projects. Åhr, like many others, proves once again that you don't need anything other than your creativity. As long as you turn idea into action, everything else will fall into place.
Spark any interest?
If you found any of this intriguing, I recommend checking it out. It gave me a different perspective on an artist and genre I knew nothing about, perhaps, it will for you too.
There’s a powerful feeling of catharsis to Everybody’s Everything, especially in a time of social isolation…
July 8, 2020 | Full Review…
Jones and Silyan fashion a postmortem that plays like his greatest hits, in which wounded wooziness somehow gives way to a warped sense of uplift.
December 11, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Devotees will appreciate a different look at their fallen idol, while those who aren’t familiar with his music might find the film a bit long at nearly two hours but will see what the appeal was to those who loved him.
November 15, 2019 | Full Review…
