ani difranco's 'make me stay' in sign language

-- its funny watching this now... i made this video about a year before i graduated from my program. though this wasn't an assignment for a class, its representative of what i would have done at the time. there are parts of this i have to chuckle and blush at in retrospect... but i keep it posted for nostalgia's sake.

this is also a good example of "live" interpretation. no bells and whistles to the video; it was filmed in a single shot. memorized and practiced of course, but no cutting or editing. understand that doing this is very different than putting clips together over a longer period of time. doing a live interpretation in front of a live audience takes a lot of gusto, chutzpah, and dare i say 'balls' - my hat is totally off to terps in the field who do this :D

Category:

Music

Tags:

• stormfx
• asl
• sign
• language
• interpret
• ani
• difranco
• signed
• deaf
• hearing
• oogabooga

[staircapades]

When you interpret songs, do you interpret word-for-word?

[st0rmfx]

far from it! rarely do songs work in a word-for-word interpretation. i aim to interpret the [meaning] of the song, not the words. each phrase is broken down, metaphors replaced with real-world examples, and then i insert bits to match the overall feeling/affect of the piece as a whole :D

i made this video about two years ago and looking at it now there are all sorts of things i would change, but i keep it up here simply to see progress

[maeveenroute]

Very random question - is there a chance I might have met you at FORGE 'round about this time last year? If so - well, I was impressed with you then, and I'm impressed with you now. *smile* Queenoftheages is better-placed than I to comment on the conceptual accuracy (though everything seemed rock-solid to me), but what everyone in my circle of friends is talking about - yes, you're being talked about - is how well you've captured the gender expression/physical presence of the performers.

[st0rmfx]

hey thanx maeveen :) its exciting to think that some folks see past the surface structure of these and appreciates the little nuiances that make them what they are. this ani song was made while still in my program - i'd change lots of stuff now, but i keep it up for nostalgia sake heh.

as for the forge conference: "how many interpreters does it take to change a lightbulb?"

answer: "i'm sorry, thats confidential" LOL ::wink::

[Queenoftheages]

You are an amazing signer! I love watching you sign. You really get conceptual accuracy and getting the point across, but also showing the music! Do some more stuff, because you are fun to watch.

From an ASL teacher in Sanford, Florida.

[st0rmfx]

well thank you very much for the keen observation ms. queen :D more stuff in the works i promise!

[nyourfacephotography]

Holy crap you are hot!! And talented.

[deafkim]

Dammit, my pantie got soaked very wet.

[APTCALI]

this is awwesome

[Murrison]

Ani + ASL... How did it not occur to me earlier?!?

[badabingbambino]

I'm a terp student...and a long time fan of Ani...and a new fan of you. I've hit the trifecta

[davismomof16]

Dude, i love your stuff, I am new to sign and you just make me want to watch over and over to catch your signs. Thanks for much for putting these up.

[Jaime1979ish]

I have watched this a ton of times...... Love it everytime

[Sparrowinparadise]

You may have single-handedly (double handedly?) made ASL the sexiest language. I thought it was gorgeous before. Now it's freakin' sexy. Thanks.

[2pinkstars]

this is great i love the marilyn manson one too and that your interpreting not typical songs this is wonderful;