Visual Instincts

This is not the first song that I learnt to sign sing. It was one of the first where I did my own translation. You will have to forgive the camera angle, though I suspect those who know BSL/ Auslan, will get what this song is about. In lieu of captions, I have provided the full lyrics at the end of this post.

This performance was part of a performing arts day, at a school near where I was living in the UK at the time. This is about just over 10 years ago now. The song is Devil Gate Drive, a jolly good rocker, that is the perfect antidote to the crappy lovey-dovey stuff, Deafies love to do. While you all are waiting For the World To Change, I’ve gone down to Devil Gate Drive.

I have three more videos that I would like to share with you, and they will come. The songs are Respect by Aretha Franklin, Independence Day by Bruce Springsteen, and Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison.

I will write more about my sign singing, but for now, let me introduce you to Tony the rock star, and I hope you enjoy the video for what it is. If you watch the oirginal video below, of Suzi performing the song, you will notice some of the moves are similar. At the time I performed this song, I hadn’t seen the video in years.

The Original video:

The Lyrics: Devil Gate Drive by Suzi Quatro

[Spoken:]
“Hey, you all want to go down to Devil Gate Drive?
Well, come on”!

“Welcome to ‘The Dive’!”

Well, at the age of five they can do their jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
And at the age of six they’re gonna get their kicks
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Well your mama don’t know where your sister done go
She gone down to the Drive. She’s the start of the show
And let her move on up. Let her come let her go.
She can jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive

[Chorus:]
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate…down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate…down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive

When they reach their teens, that’s when they all get mean
Down in Devil Gate Drive
When I was sweet sisteen I was the jukebox queen
Down in Devil Gate Drive
I lead the angel pack on the road to sin
Knock down the gates!
Let me in. Let me in
Don’t mess me ’round, cause you know where I’ve been
To ‘The Dive’ down in Devil Gate Drive

[Chorus]

Well your mama don’t know where your sister done go
She goes down to the Drive. She’s the start of the show
Let her move on up. Let her come let her go.
She can jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive

[Chorus]

[Spoken:]
“Come on, boys. Let’s do it one more time for Suzi!
Are you ready, now?”

Come alive. Come alive Yeah!

I first saw the show Characterful & Joymonger, in its edited version on the ABC, over a week ago. I assumed it would be a one off broadcast of a live show by one of my favourite comedians, Adam Hills. Imagine my joy when a search on the ABC site for information about the program, revealed that it was out on DVD.

Adam Hills is an Australian comedian, best known for his work on the music trivia show, Spicks and Specks. Not only is Adam a big hearted, good natured comedian, unafraid of diversity, watch any of his DVD’s or TV’s shows to witness the fact [and how much he actually loves people], he is also “Deaf Aware”.

He often has a sign interpreter at some of his shows. Characterful & Joymonger [the DVD] not only features a sign language interpreter, whom we see often, but…… but Adam incorporates her into his show, drawing the audiences attention to her, giving the audience a bit of Deaf Awareness, publicly showing his appreciation of her work, and making her repeat signs for the rude words. Yes, I know it is the usual Hearing thing to be fascinated by linguistic differences in swearing, but Adam is a big hearted guy who does it in a genuine spirit of curiosity and good natured humour.

As with any DVD, there are extras, and they are worth viewing. Especially the backstage shenanigans that feature the said sign language interpreter, and asking an elderly member of the audience of she was OK with his swearing. Her blithe reply was, “She’s heard worse.” Summat like that. AND the exchange with someone he thought was Deaf but turned out to be another sign language interpreter.

But what sets Characterful & Joymonger apart from the plethora of captioned and subtitled DVD’s, is the use of invision [ I think I got that right. Correct me in the comments, if I got that wrong] to bring up the sign interpreter in a separate window. I was gobsmacked to see this feature. I would have been content with the captions, as I love watching this guy.. but the addition of invision raised my estimation of him.

I hope he continues to make all his work as accessible as possible.

This is a double thumbs up for the man! Now go buy the DVD. HERE!

My name is Tony Nicholas, and some of you may know me as the ratbag from All The Young Dudes [Now Mephisto's Musings].  Visual Instincts, previously The Devil’s Playground has been some time coming, and I finally got my act together to start it.

Visual Instincts is my Art Space. It’s my culture laboratory. A breeding ground for ideas. Idea’s that can be expressed textually, visually and aurally.

If you have read, All The Young Dudes [Mephisto's Musings], then you will know that I am Deaf. I have set up this blog to write and talk about all things pertaining to the arts. Specifically, writing, producing, directing, music, theatre, literature, and the visual arts.

The intention behind this blog is to focus on the arts, and not be sidetracked by the usual deaf vs hearing politicking, or be dragged down by the cliched oral vs signing debates. I want to talk about writing, producing, directing, music, theatre, literature, photography and painting; and not just from a Deaf point of view [that is a given].

You will hear my voice as a writer and artist. You won’t find me using the word Deaf ad nauseum in this blog, my deafness is a given, and needs no further explanation or emphasis.

It may confuse you to hear a Deaf person speak of some of the things that I will write about, but that would be up to you, dear reader to seek understanding. My job is to tell the story. But hopefully, the journey will be a pleasant, educational and enjoyable one.

If you are wondering what is the significance of the blog title, that is a for a blog post to come.

But for now, this is a simple hello!