Feb 7, 2024
Benjamin Smoke (2000), directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from Russia
seen from Australia
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Maldives
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Saudi Arabia
Benjamin Smoke (2000), directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen
Benjamin Smoke (deceased)
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Gay
DOB: 28 January 1960
RIP: 29 January 1999
Ethnicity: White - American
Occupation: Drag artist, poet, singer, songwriter
Note: Had HIV
Smoke :: Heaven On A Popsicle Stick (Atlanta Series Continued)
“Without my guitar I would most likely have ended up in a cult wearing my brand new Nike high-tops waiting for UFOs” – Benjamin Smoke
Smoke - Curtains
another autumnal Atlanta-bred misery jam.
"And we were at the Clairmont playing with Mister Chesnutt
Well I stopped by the buddies' and told "hi" to Rose
And remembered a week or so before that, that
I saw 'em, they went through Tennessee when the whole violet crop froze
And I remembered during the song I said "hey, Vic, do you suppose
If Tina doesn't mind, you'd be my Valentine for a minute?"
He said no."
"The Foxx and her redneck friend
In the house was me and them
The Foxx and little Vic
Little Vic this and little Vic that
The Foxx was starting to salivate
The Foxx and Little Vic
Frolicking around with her face
The Foxx was getting go for the chase
The Foxx and Little Vic
Little Vic here and little Vic there
I flipped over backwards in my chair
The Foxx and little Vic"
The same night as told by two songwriters. Benjamin Smoke ( AKA drag queen "Opal Foxx' ) and Vic Chesnutt. Who once had a pet rabbit called " Little Vic". The juxtaposition of the two narratives is deeply disturbing to me.
What is portrayed in Benjamin's song as a playful bit of flirting is retold by Vic as a terrifying encounter. The Fox/Rabbit/predator/prey dynamic writ large. Also possibly the only time Vic explicitly mentioned his wheelchair in his lyrics. Indicitave perhaps of the physical vulnerability he felt.
Benjamin Smoke (2000), directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen
Benjamin Smoke (2000), directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen
Benjamin Smoke (2000), directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen