1965 Performance of “My Girl”

(DetroitLives313 The Temptations – “My Girl” (1965))

When viewing the Temptations’ 1965 performance of “My Girl” on the television show Shindig!, the impacts of camera capabilities on the proliferation of early Motown ideals are clear. Hosted by white disc jockey Jimmy O’Neill, Shindig! was one of the many music variety shows that aired throughout the early 1960s. The lyrics and tone of “My Girl” is typical of the unprovocative beginnings of the Motown genre. “My Girl”, like many other songs by Black artists of the 1960s Motown period, is the epitome of benevolence and naive youth. Aligning with Johnathan Andrew Flory’s discussion of Motown groups’ song content, the lyrics tell a story of innocent love and infatuation without any noticeable insinuations of sex or uncouth behavior often associated with traditional black popular music. These themes are further emphasized through the visual elements of live performance.

The Temptations’ wholesome and virtuous front, initially established by the dominant influence of Berry Gordy, is compounded by the filming style of Shindig! and the camera technology available at the time. Filmed in 1965, the performance predated the innovation of portable two-piece cameras that allowed producers to achieve studio-quality film with increased portability. Although not explicitly stated in the video, the Temptations performance of “My Girl” on Shindig! was most likely filmed by two to three dolly-based cameras that could only zoom and be angled up or down. The static nature of the cameras reinforces the choreographed, white-manufactured ideals of Motown that shaped the Temptations style during the early 1960s. Each of the band members is separated from each other on platforms of varying heights, following a meticulously choreographed performance routine characteristic of Tin Pan Alley performances. Because the heavy, firmly positioned cameras were not able to adapt to swift changes or impromptu interactions, the Temptations’ live performances were defined by a lack of individual agency and served as a projection of the homogeneous ideals that the white consumer market found appealing.