A Hope to Live: Jesse 1990

I was editing late one night for my day job as a contract video producer when Seattle poet/songwriter Steven Jesse Bernstein called. It was shortly after we'd worked together on a video commissioned by Seattle's Center on Contemporary Art. He'd signed up for an epilepsy research program at a nearby hospital. It paid $50 a night. While there, he'd written a new song and wanted me to tape it before he forgot it. The only thing I had handy was a cheapo VHS camcorder. This is the result.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Steven Jesse Bernstein
• poetry
• songwriter
• epilepsy
• Hope to Live
• guitar performance
• solo performer
• songs
• male vocalist
• singer songwriter
• hospital.

[calico992]

Not to be morbid, but anyone please tell me what the hell happened to his head, and why there is tape all over it?

btw, I know he killed himself, I know he was a tortured soul.....

[videofrankvideo]

@calico992: As I wrote in my description, Jessie had signed up for an epilepsy research program at a hospital. Staff there monitored his brain activity, which is what all those wires are for. The hospital actually hoped Jessie and the others in the program had seizures while they were there so the hospital could study them. Jessie did not suffer a seizure while I was recording him.

[videofrankvideo]

Party Balloon. Good choice.

[d7sfblab]

Cool posting, Frank. Really nice rendition of this song. (He and that guitar got along so well, too...) I haven't seen the doc yet so maybe this is a silly question but did Pete Sillen ever see this?

[videofrankvideo]

Thanks!

Yeah, Pete and I emailed when he was gearing up for his doc. I'm pretty sure he's seen this one by now.

[carlodave9]

I saw this at 911 Media Arts shortly after he killed himself. Though Youtube can't do this piece, or him, proper justice, this is a wonderful way to remember SJB.

Thanks for posting.

[videofrankvideo]

You're welcome.

[creativefunnel]

Such a special soul, he saw the world through compassionate eyes, his words allow us to see and feel what he felt, lucid Jesse, a true poet. This video is a real gem.

[videofrankvideo]

Thank you, carlodave9. Even though hope ultimately failed Jesse, I like remembering him singing about it.

[corpuscollossus]

I heard prison about 10 years ago for the first time, and it's an album that's stayed with me ever since. Even though my darkest days are behind me, there's something about his art that pinpoints a grim, beautiful concept like nothing else can.

I had a big interview two weeks back and they asked me some bullshit psychometric question about what the first song I'd put on my shiny new iPod. Party Balloon by Steven Jesse Bernstein was the answer. I didn't hear back.

[gato71f]

Wow! We loose all the greats!

[gravyturns]

what a fucking amazing tune, i really wish there were more like this one, gah!