ALICE SMITH, featured in the Isaac Julien film, Once Again … (Statues Never Die)

"If you think of Julien’s film as an artwork negotiating with your senses, then the sonic throughline is the song that opens and underlines the film.
Sung by Alice Smith, she puts her four-octave range to work here on a track commissioned by Julien’s studio and co-written with Syience (also known as Reginald Perry). Smith’s opening notes announce Julien’s goal, to break through our frozen sympathies: “Once again,” she sings, “I defend my open heart…” and moving along steep stairs in a cavernous lobby, “I’ve spent so many days and nights, tried in so many ways to change my situation,” she says, finally belting out notes that make you shiver.
“Oh, I go beyond everything that I’ve ever seen, beyond everywhere that I’ve ever been . . .
(From Robert Sullivan's review in Vogue, July 29, 2022.)
This posting is an edit from 'Isaac Julien, Sharjah Biennale, witty, sarcastic and empathetic, Once Again ... (Statues Never Die)' here: • Isaac Julien, Sharjah ...
and there is a little more of Alice in the second part, here: • Isaac Julien Sharjah B...

[@juliaszwejk1180]

Been to this exhibition in Whitney museum and it touched me deeply. Both by the song, the movie and exhibition overall. Wish the song was available at Spotify

[@marleyjake]

Yes, maybe it will be on the upcoming album she talks about here: artandschwartzman.substack.com/p/the-art-world-what-if-season-2-episode

[@berit5364]

Thank you for posting ❤

[@billynolen82]

Sublime

[@marleyjake]

Yes indeed . . .

[@griosescobar]

Amazing

[@benjaminbell8891]

Is this song on Spotify?

[@marleyjake]

I'm not even sure of the song's name. The only other versions or excerpts from it that I know of are here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/op_Pk4uhe5yeosk and here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZaXd4mvr9ZkhMU - I don't know if it's on Spotify but I suspect it's not; you could have a look . . .

[@benjaminbell8891]

Yeah sadly had a look for it but no luck.

[@marleyjake]

@@benjaminbell8891 She's apparently been working on a new album with her producer Reginald Perry, so maybe this will eventually appear on it when she's done.

[@chrisw4554]

PLEASE dear lord this better be released soon, as soon as I got out of the exhibit and was processing it, I began looking for the song

[@marleyjake]

@@chrisw4554 Yes, maybe it will be on the upcoming album she talks about here: artandschwartzman.substack.com/p/the-art-world-what-if-season-2-episode