| Joseph Gordon-Levitt Takes Inspiration From Music For His Role As Cobra Commander | | Posted on 07-09-2009 at 05:06 PM by Shin Densetsu |  | Recently, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who we'll see next month in G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra as The Doctor then as Cobra Commander, participated as a guest DJ at KCRW. He picked five songs that he used for inspiration to prepare for five specific roles, including Cobra Commander:
JGL: So the next song is one I would listen to when I was hyping myself up to do G.I. Joe and I play this kind of hyper-villainous – I hesitate to even call him a guy. He’s an archetype, he’s a legend. He’s a bad guy.
Song: Jay-Z’s “Say Hello”
JGL: It’s a Jay-Z song. Jay-Z has the perfect grandeur and bravado for this character. Jay-Z literally calls himself “J Hova” after God. He calls himself God MC, me, J Hova. And the character that I play in G.I. Joe certainly fancies himself a kind of God. I tend to usually like to play characters that are not black or white but some shade of gray and so it was kind of interesting to play character that was absolutely the bad guy, he’s the villain. When you play with G.I. Joe toys, that’s the phrase you use when you’re playing when you’re 5 – ‘are you a good guy or a bad guy?’ ‘Oh here come the bad guys!’ ‘How many bad guys did you shoot?’ And that’s what I was doing, getting to be the bad guy. Say hello. | | Credit: KCRW | Views: 1,238 |  | | Shin Densetsu: From KCRW Quote:
For his Guest DJ set, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt created a list of songs he used for inspiration while prepping for five specific roles, including two characters in movies coming out this summer – Zooey Deschanel’s suitor in 500 Days of Summer and the villainous Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Levitt, who has been acting since age 6, has distinguished himself with an interesting array of performances and his music choices also reflect a wide range – from hip hop and hard rock to spoken word.
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Tracklist
1.) She and Him - Sweet Darlin'
2.) Rage Against the Machine - Freedom
3.) Tom Waits - Trouble's Braids
4.) Jay Z - Say Hello
5.) Pearl Jam - Arc
Transcript
Chris Douridas: Hi, I’m Chris Douridas and I’m here with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Hello, Joe.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Hello.
CD: Joe’s been acting in television and movies since he was six years old. He’s starring in two movies this summer, 500 Days of Summer and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
JGL: Yes sir.
CD: Now today we’re going to be playing excerpts of songs that you’ve selected that have inspired you over the years as part of KCRW’s Guest DJ Project. We’re gonna get into this, Joe, what did you bring in?
JGL: There’s two things that I make sure that I bring to my work everyday when I’m shooting: number 1 is the script and number two is music. A movie set is a logistical nightmare. Half of the challenge is maintaining your concentration while all this other crap is going on all around you and so earphones and music is key for me. I spent a lot of time coming up with what music will work to put me in the right place for this character, as well as the scene I know I’m going to be doing today. So, I brought five different songs for five different characters that I’ve played.
Song: She & Him’s “Sweet Darlin’”
JGL: The first character is from “500 Days of Summer.” It’s about to come out. It’s a movie with me and Zooey Deschanel. I don’t know if you know, do you know She & Him?
CD: Sure.
JGL: Zooey’s one of my favorite people in the world and I love her as an artist, as an actor and as a musician. In the movie, the character I play is supposed to be just desperately in love with her, smitten, and so in the morning I would listen to her album. It was perfect because I would have these beautiful melodies running through my head with her voice and how could you not have a crush on this girl after listening to this song?
CD: The voice of Zooey Deschanel with help from M. Ward. The group is She & Him, the track “Sweet Darlin’.” It’s part of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Guest DJ Project here on KCRW.com. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is with us, and stepping through some of your favorite characters that you’ve played over the years, a sample of the accompanying playlists that you would build around these characters.
JGL: That’s right, so the next character on my list…I went back ten years, the movie’s called “Manic.” It takes place in this private, juvenile psychological lockdown facility and the character is just in a lot of pain, can’t control his anger, almost killed somebody and ended up in this facility. So, I brought a Rage Against the Machine song. This music’s perfect to get hyped up and angry to.
Song: Rage Against the Machine’s “Freedom”
JGL: Rage has these two powerful sides to them. They’re an extremely political band and their lyrics are revolutionary and really smart but their music is so emotional and powerful. I think when I was making “Manic,” that character probably to be honest didn’t pay that much attention to the political content to the lyrics of Rage Against the Machine. Me, personally, absolutely that inspires the hell out of me but I guess that’s the difference between me and the guy I was playing.
CD: Just a taste of “Freedom” from Rage Against the Machine, it’s part of our Guest DJ Project here on KCRW.com, from our guest, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, I’m Chris Douridas, it’s KCRW.com. We’re stepping through an assortment of characters that you’ve played over the years and the accompanying music you’ve used to inspire you when you’re prepping for the character or trying to hold your concentration on the set.
JGL: Yeah, well you’ve got three guys standing right next to you setting up a light or eating a hot dog and you have to pretend that your buddy just died or something, blocking out the sound and being able to go away into music is key. So this one is from the movie “Brick,” it’s a Tom Waits song. Brick was very lyrical, the writing was highly stylized dialogue. The dialogue is written in such a way that it’s not about realism, it’s more about how it feels.
Song: Tom Waits’ “Trouble’s Braids”
JGL: While the dialogue was very lyrical, we didn’t want to sound like we were reciting poetry in “Brick,” we wanted to sound like we were just speaking. Tom Waits is perfect ‘cause the guy is just lyrical -- not only as a great writer but the way he talks and sings, he’s just got a way of making it sound like these poetic words belong in his mouth. It’s called “Trouble’s Braids,” it’s really dramatic. I think it’s just the mood of “Brick.”
CD: It’s Tom Waits, “Trouble’s Braids” from Swordfish Trombones, I’m Chris Douridas, this is a song you’ll find that’s part of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Guest DJ Project here at KCRW.com.
JGL: So the next song is one I would listen to when I was hyping myself up to do G.I. Joe and I play this kind of hyper-villainous – I hesitate to even call him a guy. He’s an archetype, he’s a legend. He’s a bad guy.
Song: Jay-Z’s “Say Hello”
JGL: It’s a Jay-Z song. Jay-Z has the perfect grandeur and bravado for this character. Jay-Z literally calls himself “J Hova” after God. He calls himself God MC, me, J Hova. And the character that I play in G.I. Joe certainly fancies himself a kind of God. I tend to usually like to play characters that are not black or white but some shade of gray and so it was kind of interesting to play character that was absolutely the bad guy, he’s the villain. When you play with G.I. Joe toys, that’s the phrase you use when you’re playing when you’re 5 – ‘are you a good guy or a bad guy?’ ‘Oh here come the bad guys!’ ‘How many bad guys did you shoot?’ And that’s what I was doing, getting to be the bad guy. Say hello.
CD: “Say Hello” from Jay-Z, it is part of the album American Gangster. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is our Guest here at KCRW.com. It’s our Guest DJ Project, I’m Chris Douridas. The next song is…
JGL: Well, I always use music as part of the acting that I do and I’d say the project where I used it the most is the character that I played --which is probably the hardest I’ve done as far as just, I don’t know, how much time or effort or how much it hurt -- it was a movie called “The Lookout.” I was playing a guy who had suffered a mild traumatic brain injury from a car accident.
You know, it’s one thing to play someone who thinks differently or has different opinions or who comes from different places and that’s a challenge but to play someone whose brain physically doesn’t work the same way…I thought a lot about it and when it came time to decide what I was going to do for music, I had the idea to try to really limit what I listened to because his brain was very limited and often went in circles. He couldn’t sequence time right and he kind of felt trapped in his own limited head. He used to be this smart, up and coming, world on a silver platter guy and now he’s living this dull life with no apparent future and he can’t keep things straight.
So, I thought if I just listened to only one band, only one voice, that that might start to do something to me. And it did. I often would just listen to this one little minute piece of music over and over and over and over and over again.
Song: Pearl Jam’s ‘Arc’
JGL: I’m talking about Pearl Jam, it’s a band I’ve loved ever since I was really young so it resonates on that level.
CD: And there’s something about Eddie Vedder’s voice that has this anguish.
JGL: Yeah, he wears his emotions on his sleeve, which is important, but he still has toughness to him. The character in The Lookouthated himself. He killed two of his friends, injured himself to render himself this person that he doesn’t want to be. I think even worse than the condition is his own self loathing. I’m not saying that Eddie Vedder has self loathing, but the anguish that you’re talking about I think really fit.
CD: That is Pearl Jam, a track called “Arc,” a very short piece from Riot Act, part of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Guest DJ Project, I’m Chris Douridas, it’s KCRW.com. Joseph, thank you so much for joining us and bringing in these great stories and this wonderful collection of songs.
JGL: My sincere pleasure, I’ve been a lover of KCRW my whole life, I was born and raised in LA and I love this station. I’m proud to have my voice here.
CD: Thanks for putting so much work and passion into it.
JGL: Thank you.
CD: For a complete track listing and to find these songs online go to KCRW.com/GuestDJProject
| Zefram: I just know that people are going to run wild on bits of this, but I gotta say that I'm really interested in seeing what he does with this now. C.I.A.D.: Quote:
Originally Posted by Zefram  I just know that people are going to run wild on bits of this, but I gotta say that I'm really interested in seeing what he does with this now. |
Agreed. SnakeEyes2184: I love how he talks about CC. Calls him a legend, that is Awesome. TheLongestDay: now im EVEN MORE EXCITED to see what JGL does with the Commander COBRACOLLECTOR: I Picked up this figure today its the only one so far out of the ROC line i felt i had to get so far, they made CC so diffrent that i just had to have him for historic value of a whole new CC being created
at first i was pissed they changed him now im looking foward to seing how it goes down on the big screen
plus hes rockin that hova in his ipod so that cant hurt lol JohnJett: He actually reads like a pretty cool guy with some decent taste and a good outlook. He's good some cred in my book if he's calling out Pearl Jam's Arc. It's more of a vocal piece than a song, and definitely not something a fairweather fan would recall by name.
By coincidence, he was on tv last night for something random and my wife said "Hey, it's that the guy from 3rd Rock all grown up"; which lead to the me telling her about his upcoming role as CC. She gave me the same look she would give me if I told her I had a unicorn parked in our backyard. C.I.A.D.: Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnJett By coincidence, he was on tv last night for something random and my wife said "Hey, it's that the guy from 3rd Rock all grown up"; which lead to the me telling her about his upcoming role as CC. She gave me the same look she would give me if I told her I had a unicorn parked in our backyard. |   Zefram: One thing that really influences me when I write is the music I put on. I'm glad to see he's taking the role seriously and it's a good sign. One thing I really relish in a story is a great villain, and if Levitt and Eccleson can manage to knock it out of the park then I could really see myself forgiving a lot of whatever else I might disagree with about the film enough to enjoy it. samantha: I think he will do a great job with the commander. BadWolf: What a Joke! At least he knows hes a "Bad Guy"! Immortal_Joker: If he is taking his character seriously I wouldnt call him a joke by any means. Jergor: Hes a great actor, I really hope he delivers! The Conflict: I dont really see any simularities between Jay-z's rap personna and the character of cobra commander. If this kid really drew some type of connection between the two,he obviously is not very familiar with one or the other. Blade: okay he's got HIP HOP and RAP as his inspiration for CC? as if it couldnt have gotten any worse. I swear to christ if he busts out in mad cobra raps in anyway... Zefram: Quote:
Originally Posted by Zefram I just know that people are going to run wild on bits of this... | Quote:
Originally Posted by Deckard okay he's got HIP HOP and RAP as his inspiration for CC? as if it couldnt have gotten any worse. I swear to christ if he busts out in mad cobra raps in anyway... | Yo, did I call it or what?  Blade: heehee...c;mon i was just the first one to say it out loud. Ya'll know you were thinkin the same thing Troynos: After reading the novelization, I can't wait to see JGL's CC on the big screen. CC is such a creepy bad-ass. Derek2783: I just..... just can't bring myself to care. SVT_COBRA: Check it check it
Im big Cobra with teh villainous flow
I kill fat beats and GI Joes
You like them heroes but I steal the show
Im half the battle so now you know
WERD The Conflict: Quote:
Originally Posted by Deckard heehee...c;mon i was just the first one to say it out loud. Ya'll know you were thinkin the same thing | I dont believe you we're the 1st to touch on it but yeah,it is amusing and a bit disturbing at the same time,lol. I think there are
better examples that fit CC 's personality than Jigga man Jay-z. I think Micheal Jackson was a better example,or maybe 50 cent or eminem if he must go the rapper route. The Conflict: But in all fairness he never stated that he got his inspiration from rap or hiphop or even jay z,he stated that particular song "say hello" inspired him. My one question to him is "do you listen to music or do you just skim through it"(jay z lyrics) This particular song has nothing to do with worid domination or beleiving to be God like. The song is actually about the average person judgemental perception of the average criminal or person who brakes the law. Several rappers have made songs with this concept and even this title. They got this from the scene in scarface, "well say hello to the bad guy". §torm§hadow: Jay Z. Why am I not surprised. When I see Cobra Commander, I do not think rap. And Jay Z has been calling himself J hova for years. He needs to get a different name because he isnt like God or anything. Matter of fact, I dont think God would be hanging out on a yacht with hos pouring liquor on their boobs. Jesus Christ people really. Ash Talon: I have no idea about the Jay Z reference, since I don't listen to rap.
However, everything else he was referencing makes sense to me. I like how he picks music to help him reference emotion. Famke Jaansen was on the same program a month or so ago, and she does the same thing. It's an interesting insight into how some actors think and prepare for a role.
Okay, I just tried to read the lyrics for "Say Hello" and had to stop. I'm not sure what language it's in. It must make more sense when spoken. It seemed to be about a guy that's made his own success and doesn't care what other people think about him. He's doing what he can to survive and thrive despite coming for a situation that's not ideal. I could be wrong about the interpretation. If I'm right, I can see how this would influence JBL. CC is doing his own thing for his own reasons. If his origins hold true to rumors, he's a Spec Ops who was left for dead. Maybe this makes him realize he's on his own, and if he wants to enact change, he's gotta do it himself. Mandingo Rex: Yesterday the 7-packs get posted for preorder, and it's the best news in months. Guess everyday can't be a winner at the news desk huh guys?
If he'd said Talib Kweli perhaps I would have taken his rap-inspired influence with a tad of respect, or even someone more obscure. He may as well have said Beyonce inspired his performance and put him in the mood to be a serious villain.
Then I have to remember we got Joseph Gordon Levitt to play Cobra Commander, who is about as menacing as Paul Reubens.
Oh well, can't be any worse than Revenge of Michael Bay, who got his inspiration for TF2 from cocaine and too much explosive damage to his ear drums. Jergor: Paul Reubens is pretty menacing in my opinion! coola784: hopefully he does CC justice. looking forward to the movie and hoping for the best. Mandingo Rex: Quote:
Originally Posted by Jergor Paul Reubens is pretty menacing in my opinion! | The real life Smoochie. I guess you're right. COBRACOLLECTOR: i found this variant on the shelves today
 COBRACOLLECTOR: i doubt talib kwelis gonna make anyone feel like a villian by hearing his music lol
50 cent maybe but not Talib
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandingo Rex Yesterday the 7-packs get posted for preorder, and it's the best news in months. Guess everyday can't be a winner at the news desk huh guys?
If he'd said Talib Kweli perhaps I would have taken his rap-inspired influence with a tad of respect, or even someone more obscure. He may as well have said Beyonce inspired his performance and put him in the mood to be a serious villain.
Then I have to remember we got Joseph Gordon Levitt to play Cobra Commander, who is about as menacing as Paul Reubens.
Oh well, can't be any worse than Revenge of Michael Bay, who got his inspiration for TF2 from cocaine and too much explosive damage to his ear drums. | Mandingo Rex: Quote:
Originally Posted by COBRACOLLECTOR i doubt talib kwelis gonna make anyone feel like a villian by hearing his music lol
50 cent maybe but not Talib | Haha, I meant if he'd said someone less mainstream, I'd maybe have bought the rapper connection. Jay-Z? Come on. He's one of the top 5 rappers in the US right now.
Even LL or someone else who isn't so "hot" right now. Meh. This movie's gonna let me down. COBRACOLLECTOR: Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandingo Rex Haha, I meant if he'd said someone less mainstream, I'd maybe have bought the rapper connection. Jay-Z? Come on. He's one of the top 5 rappers in the US right now.
Even LL or someone else who isn't so "hot" right now. Meh. This movie's gonna let me down. | hahaha i here you well maybe this will make u happy lol
 quintonarledge: lame! If you really want to get in a Cobra Commander mind-set you gotta crank some Marduk and some Falkenbach! Troynos: What does mainstream have to do with anything? Because Jay-Z is mainstream he can't be used by an actor to get influence to play a role?
That makes no sense whatsoever.
The lyrics of the song really don't matter either. What JGL sees in the song is what he sees, not what you or I could see, and he gets his influences thru it.
I personally don't see Rap and Ego-Manical-Pyscho-Doctor-Terrorist going together but whatever, he's not me and what influences I get he wouldn't.
But because Jay-Z is mainstream that has bearing on whether it's good influence or not? That makes no sense whatsoever.
And to even think that what music JGL gets his influences from is going to have any bearing on the movie is even more out there. Mandingo Rex: Quote:
Originally Posted by Troynos What does mainstream have to do with anything? Because Jay-Z is mainstream he can't be used by an actor to get influence to play a role?
That makes no sense whatsoever.
The lyrics of the song really don't matter either. What JGL sees in the song is what he sees, not what you or I could see, and he gets his influences thru it.
I personally don't see Rap and Ego-Manical-Pyscho-Doctor-Terrorist going together but whatever, he's not me and what influences I get he wouldn't.
But because Jay-Z is mainstream that has bearing on whether it's good influence or not? That makes no sense whatsoever.
And to even think that what music JGL gets his influences from is going to have any bearing on the movie is even more out there. |
What makes even less sense is you got your panties ruffled and your mind boggled by an empty statement I made about an even emptier "news" posting. The point was it's an already silly thing if you ask me that JGL was cast to play the Ultimate Evil in this film's world, and that he uses a popular rapper as his muse for the part.
As if the film didn't have enough detractions already, this only makes his performance less credible in my eyes. It was just even more stupid due to it being Jay-Z. Archrivals: Ah it doesn’t matter what JGL listens to while he is preparing for a role. Most good method actors have strange rituals that mentally help them insert themselves in the minds of the characters they are portraying
I heard a lot of crazy shit about what Ledger did to fully grasp the Joker. Sometime this leads to dark places mentally speaking. Daniel Day Lewis did some thing similar while portraying Bill the Butcher in GONY. The Conflict: To me it seem like he just chose a random rapper and one of his songs for the sake of having a rapper as one of his choices. As if rap goes hand and hand with being a super villian. Im not trying to make a big issue of it,like a cultural thing,Im just trying to make the point that this guy dont know what he's talking about. Immortal_Joker: Quote:
Originally Posted by quintonarledge lame! If you really want to get in a Cobra Commander mind-set you gotta crank some Marduk and some Falkenbach! | Marduk I would understand I have their whole Discography but Falkenbach sounds like it came from the first Hot Shots movie lol. 80sBabyFTW: Quote:
Originally Posted by COBRACOLLECTOR I Picked up this figure today its the only one so far out of the ROC line i felt i had to get so far, they made CC so diffrent that i just had to have him for historic value of a whole new CC being created
at first i was pissed they changed him now im looking foward to seing how it goes down on the big screen
plus hes rockin that hova in his ipod so that cant hurt lol | Blueprint 3, FTW ... coola784: Quote:
Originally Posted by COBRACOLLECTOR hahaha i here you well maybe this will make u happy lol | lol 80sBabyFTW: Quote:
Originally Posted by Troynos I personally don't see Rap and Ego-Manical | You just described the core dynamic and foundation of many rappers personas. LOL ... | All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:38 AM. | | Cool Stuff |   | |
