De Barge by Chipka
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Description
It’s not often that an empty barge (maneuvered by a tug-boat) recalls the rather colorful, lurid, somewhat fashion-deconstructed presence of a family/musical group known throughout the 1980s. It does, however, happen on occasion. Debarge—the ‘80s group/family was (for a while) something of a shot of adrenaline for a declining Motown Records. As performers, they crossed borders: despite their lurid, ‘80s style (hair, shoulder pads, garish colors). They were known for Soul, Funk, R-&-B, and Gospel. I never actually liked them, however; at the time they hit the airwaves, I was already well within the complicated musical interior of Jerry Goldsmith, The Eurythmics, John Williams, Cyndi Lauper, James Horner, Prince (and the Revolution), and quite a large number of not-exactly-mortal Russian composers (Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, and Rimsky-Korsakov.) The 80s-whatever Motown Sound was what my childhood neighbors were into.
At some point (I wasn’t paying attention) El Debarge (one of the male siblings) launched his solo career. I didn’t follow it. Other people did. I was only vaguely aware of his name. I thought it was Spanish-derived, simply declaring that he was The Debarge of the male persuasion. I never thought of El Debarge again.
…Until this evening, as I made my way home from work. My route home now allows me to cross the Chicago River, on foot if I so choose. I crossed the Chicago River on foot. I saw a barge (pushed by a tugboat) and afterward, I caught the el. The association was made. I saw de barge (pushed by a tugboat) and then caught the El. And so an ‘80s reference was born: El Debarge…
On a level the ‘80s have nothing to do with this image, and yet…
…
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (13)
KatesFriend
The '80's was definitely not my decade. Although I did enjoy the Steve Guttenberg film 'Short Circuit' whose sound track was performed by El Debarge. But I must confess I was mostly attracted to Ally Sheedy - it was a crush. Had a lot of crushes in the '80's, none fulfilled of coarse. Don't get me started on k.d. lang. A very absorbing photograph. It's always the colours lights of a dark city that takes me in. I think it's related to my love of Christmas Trees. Needless to say that I am still in withdrawal and your image is definitely something of a fix. If one could forget the cold, I might like to be riding on your el debarge, just taking in the city from the solitude of the river and marveling on how a dirty city can be so beautiful at the same time.
brewgirlca
Chip, you don't need any excuses for a great night shot.... and this is a great night shot. All the more so because I suspect it was shot without a tripod... I mean who carries a tripod on the way home from work. Heck, most of us are just lucky to be carrying a camera... I think you and I are some of the very few who do pretty much always have a camera handy.... but a tripod? I have three of them, two quite small, but even so they do not go with me everywhere. And yet you give us a shot so sharp; that it says "I was taken with a tripod." And yet again, reason tells me it was not. Few things in photography impress me so automatically as a well done low light shot and this is such a shot. Well seen and taken.
giulband
Superbly suggestive image !!!
durleybeachbum
I enjoyed your rambling round a bit of your past! The photo is splendid, as long as I don't have to actually BE in a city myself.
Faemike55
Fabulous night shot Chip! as for the 80's music, there's very little that I cared for.
jendellas
I love this photo, I also like your ramblings (as Andrea put it) about your life in Chicargo etc. Sorry but I do not know Debarge, I know the others though :o)))
photosynthesis
I love the lights & reflections against that red-orange glow - this is a wonderful night shot. It's also fascinating to read about how the similarity of two words with completely unrelated meanings caused a neural connection in your brain to fire & work it's way down an unexpected path...
kgb224
Amazing capture my friend. God bless.
MrsRatbag
De barge; da Bears. It's Chicago, whatever, right? Stunning night shot, Chip, really lovely!
netot
It has a fantastic texture and light, Chip!
auntietk
I love the way your mind works. :D Great night shot. The lights on the river are wonderful!
anmes
Great night shot, totally vibrant capture
anahata.c
Brilliant how you got your way back to "El Debarge". Terrific...The shot is so Chicago, glittering on the surface but deep and dark everywhere else, mysterious, sinister, up all night and asleep all night, and that feeling that a vast industrial heart still pounds at the center of this massive metropolis. Your golds in the water are striking, as are the flares and almost liquified bursts of lights above. And the deep shadows of the buildings---such a Chicago River shot, it really gets the river to a tee---bring out all the darkness of the city. Your deep red sky is ominous, even as it harmonizes with all the glitter. And in the background, cranes---that ever-present sign that places are building, building, building, while maybe going no where. In these shots, I get the sense of feeling of the backgrounds from your writing---that, in these dark cavernous places, lives dwell or will emerge; and in your hands, they will meet and find deep love. In the meantime, we have the dazzling glitter of those fiery lights on the water, and that dark mystery all around. Brilliantly done, from one of our finest chroniclers of urban life in America...midwestern America to be exact...