Watch The Weird World of Blowfly

The Weird World of Blowfly is a documentary film released in 2010 that explores the life and career of Clarence Reid, a musician known by the stage name Blowfly, who is notorious for his sexually explicit and controversial lyrics. The film is directed by Jonathan Furmanski and is a fascinating portrait of a musician who has had a significant impact on the world of music, despite being an outsider in many ways.

The Weird World of Blowfly is a movie that takes a deep dive into the life of Clarence Reid, who is a musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his stage name Blowfly, which he adopted in the 1960s while working as a songwriter for Miami-based TK Records. Blowfly's songs are known for their sexually explicit and often controversial lyrics, which have both shocked and delighted audiences over the years.

The documentary starts by introducing Clarence Reid, the man behind the Blowfly persona, and follows his life story from his early days in Georgia to his rise to fame in Miami. The film delves into Reid's early inspirations, which include gospel and soul music, and how he first got into the music industry. We learn that Reid wrote songs for several well-known artists, including Sam & Dave and Betty Wright, before deciding to create his own persona as Blowfly.

The film then explores Blowfly's career and how his music evolved over the years. We see how he started out as a songwriter and producer for other artists before deciding to perform his own music. Blowfly's unique style, which combines funk, soul, and rap, is showcased throughout the film. We see him perform some of his most famous songs live, including "The Incredible Fulk," "Butt Burglar," and "Shitting on the Dock of the Bay."

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how it tackles the controversy around Blowfly's music. While many of his fans celebrate his provocative lyrics and irreverent humor, others have criticized his work as being offensive and degrading to women. The documentary explores both sides of the debate and features interviews with those who have been both positively and negatively impacted by Blowfly's music.

The Weird World of Blowfly also explores the personal life of Clarence Reid and how it has been affected by his music career. We see him interacting with his family, including his mother and daughter, as well as his friends and fellow musicians. Throughout the film, we get a glimpse of the man behind the Blowfly persona and how he has coped with the ups and downs of the music industry.

The documentary also features interviews with other musicians and industry professionals who have worked with Blowfly over the years, including Steve Alaimo and Bela B. We learn about Blowfly's influence on other musicians and how he has inspired a generation of artists who are unafraid to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in music.

The film is expertly crafted and features vibrant animation sequences and archival footage of Blowfly's performances throughout his career. The Weird World of Blowfly is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in music history and the evolution of popular culture over the past several decades. It is a fascinating look into the life of a musician who has had a significant impact on the world of music, despite being an outsider in many ways.