What is Cosmic Ray?
Cosmic Ray is a 1962 experimental short film directed in the United States that pairs a performance of Ray Charles singing What'd I Say with a rapidly shifting visual collage. The collage incorporates female nudes, cartoons, and newsreels of atomic bomb explosions.
- Type
- Film
- Year
- 1962
- Release date
- Mar 1, 1962
- Genres
- Music, History
- Updated
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Cosmic Ray is a 1962 experimental short film directed in the United States that pairs a performance of Ray Charles singing What'd I Say with a rapidly shifting visual collage. The collage incorporates female nudes, cartoons, and newsreels of atomic bomb explosions.
Culturally, the film holds significance as some critics have recognized it as one of the very first music videos. It features a brief runtime and an avant-garde style that blends historical news and popular music.
Should you watch it?
“An experimental short film pairs Ray Charles with a shifting visual collage.”
- It features a soundtrack of Ray Charles performing What'd I Say.
- It presents a constantly shifting collage of female nudes, cartoons, and atomic bomb newsreels.
- It is recognized by some critics as one of the first music videos.
- It is an experimental short that relies entirely on a fast-moving collage without a traditional narrative.
Watch it if you are interested in early experimental cinema and proto-music videos.
The film is an experimental short with a rapid pacing and a collage-based tone incorporating archival newsreels and artwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Where to stream Cosmic Ray?
Streaming availability is not provided in the sources.
Is it worth watching?
It has received user scores of 82% and 72% on specific review platforms, and is noted for its historical importance to music video history.
What is the binge duration?
The film has a runtime of 4 minutes.
What are the essential episodes?
Cosmic Ray is a standalone short film rather than a television series with episodes.