What is When Down Looks Up?
Hi there! My name is Greg and this show is an outlet for creative energy. I prefer the audio format over video as I find the listening experience can take someone to worlds that images can’t. It’s almost like reading a book where you have to imagine the places in a story rather than being shown.
I grew up making crazy recordings and crafting audio adventures on cassette tape using four track recorders. I had to master the necessary analogue skills of an 80s kid. Skills that utilize Scotch tape or a pencil. (Those who know get it.) With the seemingly boundless world of podcasting and digital technology, I can let the same energy and goofball recordings loose on the world!
Why the name?
I’m not sure if anyone else has used this phrase or if it has special significance. The phrase “when down looks up” is a reference to the song Chilly Down by David Bowie from movie Labyrinth . This is the weirdest part of the movie when the fire gang is telling Sarah that she can forget her troubles if she hangs out with them but when they find out she can't remove her head as they can, they chase her around wanting to pop her head off. The song is weird on its own without the visuals. It’s disorienting and kind of hard to follow which is probably why I like it!
“So when things get too tough (get too tough)
And your chin is dragging on the ground (dragging on the ground)
And even down looks up (down looks up)
Bad luck, heh-heh
We can show you a good time (show you a good time)
And we don’t charge nothin’ (nothin’ at all)
Just strut your nasty stuff”
Again, weird song. I don’t want to pop heads off but sometimes up can look down and vise versa. My take away is: in a world that is relentlessly uncertain, it’s nice to have a place where you can be silly.
Why a podcast?
Podcasting is fun. To have a creative outlet where serious, humorous or introspective recordings have the potential to reach millions of people or perhaps enhance the lives of just a few listeners is an awesome prospect. I do this primarily to entertain myself but if others find value in these episodes all the better.
This show may become a stream of consciousness, but in the end, who cares? It will evolve into its own entity and that is exiting! I refuse to set parameters because much like extra tight pants, parameters are constrictive and may pinch in unpleasant ways.
I also co-host some other podcasts, mostly about 1980s television, with my good old friend, Dave. Check out www.ciampaklein.com for our little corner of weird.
Not much else to say! Say hello and send a message if you feel inspired. Just listening is fine too!