Today is Patti Smith’s birthday, the “Godmother of Punk”. I discovered her during the season 2 finale of Millennium, a series by X-Files creator Chris Carter. Michael John Petty writes in collider.com that one of the best moments in The Fourth Horsemen/The Time Is Now (Season 2, Episodes 22-23) is “Lara Means’ disturbing psychotic break to the tune of Patti Smith’s “Horses”.
The Millennium website gives the correct name of the song, which is often understandably mistitled as simply “Horses”:
“The Millennium episode The Time Is Now contains the following music by Patti Smith:
- Land: Horses/Land of 1000 Dances/La Mer(de)
Heard during the intense motel cabin scene where Lara Means, (depicted through the use of various montages, imagery and stock photography) slips into insanity after failing to come to terms with the knowledge revealed to her by the Millennium Group.”
In “You’ve never heard Patti Smith’s‘Horses’?!” Charlie Kaplan writes that the protagonist’s (Johnny’s) “emotional collapse is a herd of horses, "white shining silver studs with their nose in flames".
Patti Smith’s iconic song could also work well in Goran Mihailov’s short film titled “The White Horse” where “A couple's daily routine is interrupted by an unexpected threat.”
Both “The White Horse” and Rob York’s screenplay titled “Trickster” feature a horse and a girl. Rob York’s screenplay is “Based upon a true story a wise old horse narrates his extraordinary life. After a near death accident he finds the meaning of life through the eyes of a special needs little girl.”
According to his writer biography, Rob York “…is a distinguished screenwriter whose passion for storytelling rivals his love for horses…Among his accolades, York proudly holds numerous awards for his standout screenplay, "Trickster" earning 87 awards in 23 countries…While Rob's talent in crafting captivating scripts is evident, it's his passion for horses that truly sets him apart. With a deep understanding of these majestic creatures, he brings an authentic touch to equestrian-themed stories, painting vivid portraits of the bond between humans and horses…Rob's other home away from home is working at the D6 Movie Horse Ranch in Apple Vally California, the home of Roy Rodgers. Rob works directly with the legendary horse trainer Ty Nitti who is one in a few horse trainers in the world who has mastered all three disciplines of Spanish, English, and Western. Rob is the direct assistant for Ty horse wrangling, stunt coordinating, and qualifying professional stuntmen in the movie industry. As Rob embarks on new projects and collaborations, there's no doubt that his unique blend of Texas roots, California spirit, and unwavering passion for horses will continue to shine through in every script he crafts, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression on the world of cinema.”
The Heaviest Order by Peter Böving is a stop-motion short film featuring Greta Thunberg who “places a significant order at a bakery.” According to the director’s statement: “The film begins with musical references to the Thuringian children's song "Backe, backe, Kuchen" (Bake, bake, cake). This simple song is fundamentally enumerative in content, essentially a pure baking recipe. Its simplicity and clarity radiate a "healthy" approach to food. In other words: baking - simple - analog! In the short film, this cake is created at the request of a young activist, even though the accompanying elements may remind one somewhat of the US short film series "The Little Rascals." The intended feel-good atmosphere serves primarily the purpose of creating the greatest possible anticipation for the punchline in the finale, which puts the issue of food waste at the center of the film.”
Greta Thunberg’s birthday is four days after Patti Smith’s. In January 2020, Jennifer Velez wrote on grammy.com: “If you follow punk rock legend Patti Smith, you’re likely aware of her fondness for Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg. The singer posted tributes to the teen throughout 2019 and didn’t leave out posting one on Thunberg’s birthday, Jan 3.”
Patti Smith appears in Chris Gero's “The Sound of Us”, a documentary that attempts to answer the questions: “What is music? What is music to you?” Patti Smith’s answer? “It contains the essence of the human soul, one could say.”
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