Dan Bern Takes on Dewey Cox at Sundance
Dan Bern writes songs that seem to play out as miniature movies; tunes that tell character-based stories and which can make you laugh, cry or otherwise feel some kind of emotion. It's no wonder then that Bern wrote many of the songs for the movie 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.' The actual music on the soundtrack to the biopic spoof was performed by John C. Reilly in the character of Dewey Cox, but Bern (and songwriting partner Mike Viola) had the opportunity to play the songs for the movie industry this past weekend at Sundance. Bern tells Spinner that ever since sound came into motion pictures, there has been a natural marriage between music and film. "With 'Walk Hard,' it was even more of a thing because the main character was in fact a songwriter," says Bern. "The music that we wrote for it was like a character in itself."
As for his first Sundance experience, Bern wasted no time in taking advantage of his stay, seeing six films in just a couple of days. "If you're looking for movie star hob-nobbing stories, I don't really have them," he says. "But I've been fortunate to see some really amazing films."
Posted by Benjy Eisen on Jan 30th 2008 12:00PM
Filed under: News, Exclusive











Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Burgernoodleat 1-30-2008
wow, impressed this guy is still doing music. i think i saw him 10 years ago during that unfortunate period of time when i was obsessed with ani difranco and ben harper.
Kristieat 2-06-2008
Dan Bern is an amazing talent and I can't think of anyone more deserving of every opportunity he's been given.
Vikeat 2-17-2008
Dan Bern is a unique voice in the history - that's right, the history - of American music. It's a shame - deep shame - that our culture doesn't just give him a generous stipend so that he can get on with the task of creating and making wonderful songs - some of his songs, to me and to many, are some of the best songs ever written in the American folk/pop idiom. Amen, Dan Bern deserves every ray of light that shines on him.
Sex Mahoneyat 4-16-2008
If you like Dan Bern, check out the cartoon video for his song "President" from his 2004 album "My Country II" at http://youtube.com/watch?v=r1BUCo102Z0.
Sex Mahoney for President