I made this post five years ago – during the pandemic – June 27, 2021. Since then – I have left northern Arizona and moved back east, but the ceremony of Dancing Before Painting (and while painting) continues. 

Ceremony

I often dance before making art. It’s important to me, part of my ritual in the creative process.  

I made a pre-art making dance video last January that Warner Music Group completely blocked on youtube. I get it, they gotta make money, I didn’t ask for permission, eventually it gets shut down. On the other hand, Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators have never been “huge” – and from Roky’s story, Warner Music Group didn’t exactly take care of him financially. 

I have a lot of videos on youtube that have copyright claims – I cover a lot of songs, or I dance to music in my living room. And youtube’s way around that is to offer any revenue  to the owner of the copyright. I am happy about that. I am happy that is even happening – maybe it actually works. Artist’s should get their work out there, and, they should make money for their creativity. That is as it should be.

Going forward, I am going to try to make sure my silly dance videos are using music made by myself, or by friends who maybe don’t get their music out there enough or aren’t represented by huge corporations. There are so many artists out there who don’t get seen or heard enough!

In the meantime, here is the silly video that got blocked – the song is Miss Me, written by Roky Erickson and performed by the 13th Floor Elevators:

Here is the same song, as performed by my band, the Halfbreeds in 1995 – at the Funhouse, in Bethlehem, PA.

A little while back, I created Music Monday post featuring Roky Erickson. All the music posts are meant to honor the artists and maybe turn you on to songs you haven’t heard before. Enjoy! (while you can). 

Peace and love, 

Holly

Flagstaff, AZ
June 27, 2021

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More dance videos from and since that time  are here:

 

Have fun!

Love your life!

x- Holly

June 26, 2026
somewhere in North America

images:

Dance before Paint © holly troy 2024
Moving through the Maya © holly troy 2021