If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I have a huge love affair with Rodriguez and his music. It goes way back…way, way back.
Surfing the net today I made a discovery. My idol of the 70’s is coming to New Zealand.
I just about dropped the laptop.
There were whoop whoops, oh yeahs, and a whole lot of dancing going on. Recently I was able to finally watch “Searching for Sugarman”. If you haven’t seen this film…you really are missing out.
When you want as desperately as I did to see a movie there is always the fear that it will be a bomb.
From the moment they played “Crucify your Mind” I knew…just knew I was witnessing a magical moment in film history. And as the film progressed I was sucked further in to his world.
I saw Rodriguez play in Sydney.
Are there moments in your life that define you ?
That concert was a defining moment for me. He sat there on stage and played the guitar and sent his voice out across the seats to settle upon me. He sang and my soul soared out of my body to touch his voice as it floated in the air. It caressed the deepest parts of me like the warm water in a bath licking your skin.
I was amazed at how much influence he had in South Africa. My only criticism of the film would be that there was no mention of how popular he was in Australia. But then again this is a story of South Africans searching for a cult idol.
I had no idea how much he influenced the rebellion against apartheid. How his words told a nation it was okay to stand against the establishment. His music inspired a group of Afrikaans musicians to use their music to speak out and start a vocal opposition to apartheid from within the country.
Another important question raised in this movie is where did all the money go from his record sales ? As the people who were looking for Rodriguez went further they got more and more stonewalled. But all roads seem to lead to one man – Clarence Avant. He was the founder of Rodriguez’s record label. He goes on and on about Rodriguez’s talent, but when it comes to talking about where the money went from South African sales he becomes quite evasive and belligerent.
The great Rodriguez hunt saw a website born that had his picture on a milk carton asking if anyone had seen this man. Finally the words of a song lead to Mike Theodore in 1997 who had produced Rodriguez’s album Cold Fact. This led to Rodriguez himself. No he hadn’t committed suicide, he hadn’t died of a drug overdose. He had taken the disappointment and gotten on with the job of living. That milk carton web page led to Rodriguez’s daughter.
It seems life can still hold surprises. Rodriguez was talked in to performing in South Africa. I think his daughter’s account of their arrival in South Africa was the high point of the film for me. They tried to get out of the way of the limousines that were on the tarmac never realising those limousines were for them.
When Rodriguez took to the stage for his first concert it took 10 minutes for the applause to stop…before he had played a note. So this is when I began to cry. And when he began to play “I Wonder” the roof looked like it was shaking…so I cried a little more.
What is the most poignant thing in this documentary of this extraordinary talent? His complete and honest humility. This is one of the world’s most extraordinary men. It makes my heart soar that he knows that his words touched people. Some people get fame undeservedly…not Rodriguez.
Beware…whether you knew Rodriguez before or not, this film will touch a place in your soul. It will make it fly with joy, that sometimes…just sometimes the spirit is rewarded.
It gets better. Rodriguez is selling out tours across America – finally.
And he is coming here…where for the second time in my life I will feel his words bathe me in their sweet softness.
What he’s demonstrated very clearly is that you have a choice. He took all that torment, all that agony, all that confusion and pain and he transformed it in to something beautiful. He’s like the silkworm, you know, you know you take this raw material and you transform it, and you come out with something that wasn’t there before, something beautiful, something perhaps transcendent something perhaps eternal, in so far as he does that I think he is representative of the human spirit of what’s possible that you have a choice, this has been my choice, to give you “Sugarman”, now have you done that…ask yourself ? – Rick Emmerson
My 2 favourite songs
and…
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I need to rent this movie. I’ve read so much about Rodriguez and I’m intrigued. Thanks for the videos here.
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He was and is amazing…you have to watch the film. But have tissues handy.
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I am truly ashamed to say that I’d never heard of this wonderful man Jo. Thank you so much for the introduction. And to think that he’s lived only 300 miles or so away from me all this time! 😀
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I have been in love with him from the 70’s…it is blows my mind = incredible that Americans did not know he existed.
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Yet another thing for us to be ashamed of! I’ve been listening to his stuff on YouTube ever since I read this post and I’m going to post a couple of his songs tomorrow. Mind if I link back to this one?
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Go for it Izaak. Anything that brings him out is cool by me.
Isn’t he AMAZING !!!!!
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Hate to say it, I’m another American who didn’t know about him. I’m super excited for you! And thanks for the introduction.
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There were so many who didn’t…it is sad but the way life goes I expect.
😦
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Great listening to that music again – thanks for that, and the back story from the film. Make a fine weekend of your concert visit to the city – not that the concert will need any embellishment to live on as another highlight of your life, by the sounds of it 🙂
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I can’t wait to see him. I just hope I am successful getting a ticket.
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Enjoy, Jo. Us expat Seff Efrikens are off to see him in Sydney at the end of March 😉
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That is where I first saw him. A concert I will NEVER forget.
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A very exciting and informative review. I had never heard of this person but you have introduced me to a wonderfully talented person. I am so glad you will be able to see and hear him in person. I will try to find this movie as well. Thanks for sharing thisl information.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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You will love the movie Francine. It made me laugh, cry and feel so proud to be part of the species that he belongs to…he is such an incredibly humble man.
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I’m excited for you! Enjoy.
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Me too !!! Me too !!!! Still whoop whooping around the house.
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Now I hope you can get tickets, JO!
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Oh boy so do I Sue…I will crying for a month if I don’t.
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Great taste and like the sounds,, and good luck in chasing your dream for tickets .;)
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Thanks Gerry. I may need a lot of luck to get my hands on them as he is only doing one show in Auckland.
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Goodness, what a blast from the past. Thanks for sharing Jo, can’t wait for DH to come home to share this with him!
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I love it when I find others who knew about Rodriguez…so many didn’t.
🙂
🙂
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😉
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Yaay! How exciting for you, Jo!
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Oh and I put some more info for you here: Reflection
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Hahaha – love the Pointer Sisters!
Brings back sweet memories 😉
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Well that is fitting then…this post is ALL about sweet memories.
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I remember the 60 min… extraordinary story! I’m excited for you, Jo!
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Me too Amy…now – if I can just get a ticket.
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I clicked the watch later Jo… I can see He had a great affect upon yourself so I will be definitely watching … Love to you and enjoy the Weekend.. Hope you are cooling down,.. Here we have snow… so swap ya! 🙂 Hugs
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oh no Sue…no swapping please. Hope you have a great weekend too.
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Honey there is something in the back of my memory but rather vague, very big like the tracks here, especially Street boy and I Wonder (that’s the one that’s familiar).
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Just so long as you like him now Gilly. It still seems amazing to me that he was not bigger in other parts of the world…just amazing. You really should watch the movie/documentary. I hope that it goes on to win at the Oscars next month.
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I read a lot of movie reviews and have not seen a documentary as well received as this one. Wish I could have seen it when it was playing in the theaters, but I will rent it!
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I wish I could have seen it in the theatre…but it was not playing here sadly.
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How is it that I’ve never heard of him? I listened to a few of the songs and his music is wonderful. Surely they’ll be my newest additions to my I-Pod play list. Have a blast at the concert, I bet it’s going to be just great.
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Well that just made my day…another convert to the magic that is Rodriguez.
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I had never heard of him either, but the tv program 60 Minutes aired a profile of him. I was fascinated by his story. I also wondered who pocketed the money from the record sales all of those years.
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I think it is obvious who got the money by his reaction when asked in the movie.
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I REALLY hope you’re able to get a ticket and see him, Jo! If I knew where to go to buy one for you, I would. Where in NZ is he playing?
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He has two shows. 1 in Auckland [where I would go}, the other in Wellington. Just gonna have to get on the net and try on the day I guess.
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For the Auckland show –
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/6235/Rodriguez-Searching-for-Sugar-Man-Announces-March-Shows.utr
Sunday 17th March – Auckland at The Logan Campbell Centre
Tickets available from Ticketek from Tuesday 29th January.
Would you be taking a date? 😉
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Nah…not likely.
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Have read your earlier posts on Rodriguez. Happy for you Jo 🙂
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Me too. Now on the 29th keep ALL fingers and toes crossed I actually get tickets.
😉
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Shan’t forget 😀 Good luck!
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We saw that movie at home and we both liekd it. It’s weird how his music lived his own life without him knowing about it.
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The lad wrote some of the best lyrics… ever!!! 😉
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