Fans of Yoko Ono know that she has a flair for the avant-garde. People seek her singular creativity far and wide, knowing that her contribution will add an extra edge to any project. John Malkovich, for instance, recently worked with her on a spoken word song. And, yesterday, Ono teamed up with Rose McGowan and musician Miike Snow to release a trippy modern dance video of her track, âCatman.â
The video opens with a young woman wearing a Catwoman-like costume, prancing about a classroom of tired-looking older women. She then taps each of the women in turn, prompting them to jump to their feet and join her in dance. According to Rolling Stone, the video represents âsolidarity among women of all ages and the joys of movement.â
“Yoko Ono has been an ardent supporter of women and modern dance for years,” said McGowan, who directed the video. “Casting women dancers over 60, including one with cancer, was my way of showing that vitality doesn’t die with age. I used color overlays to create my own visual beat.”
The song itself is frenetic, with breakneck rhythms and playful melodies smashed together in odd-lot combinations. It may not be the most fluid track youâve ever heard, but it fits McGowanâs theme. The sonic paroxysms mirror the bursts of dance and movement that appear on-screen, nailing home the point that the âjoys of movementâ need not disappear with age.
The original âCatmanâ appeared on Onoâs 1973 double LP, Approximately Infinite Universe. This reimagined version can be found on her most recent album, Yes, Iâm a Witch Too. Check out the video and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Image: Nationaal Archief