If music is your favorite hobby, you should be aware that there are advances in cinema, such as documentaries about music, released not so long ago. These include films about musicians, poets, and artists who have not gained such prominence as Mick Jagger or Bob Dylan.
It’s a fateful time for a music fan who’s reading this article right now. Those who love music (such as virtuoso musicians or simply students on the harpsichord) can view these films on the Internet and watch them in their spare time. The most dedicated music fans can even find royalty-free music, add it to their collection and sort it by type of music effects.
While music libraries are being replenished with new developments in the music world, literally hourly, you can take the time and look at something not so new. We mean documentaries about music, of which there are ten below.
Woodstock, 1970
When the authors made the film, they planned to make another ordinary film about music festivals. In fact, there are countless such films. If you watch this movie, you will feel the vibrations of the politics of those years, the riots of sex and drugs. However, this film became special because it reflected the counterculture of the 1960s. If you watch this film, you will feel the vibrations of politics of those years, the riot of sex and drugs. This whole film is a talented reflection of the culture of that decade. That’s why this film is so attractive even to modern youth. The film features live performances of Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Janis Joplin, and more.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, 2015
Brett Morgen kept in his collection recordings of Cobain’s antiquated performances, diaries, drawings, and photographs of his daily family life. This documentary contains these and other archival sources. Such an extensive and thorough collection makes this film so unparalleled. Not only ordinary people in the music world but also Nirvana’s most ardent fans were surprised by the film: so rare and personal were the materials that were shown in the film. This movie was a vivid reflection of how Cobain went from being a poor musician to a real rock star.
Amy, 2015
Have you ever heard of Club 27? Rock stars such as Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and other celebrities, Amy Winehouse when she died were 27. She died at the peak of her fame, and her best album was "Back to Black." Amy’s life was unhappy. But even with all the suffering, she has endured in her short 27 years, she has transformed the R&B scene and won the hearts of millions of fans with her deep voice. All this was shown in this film by director Asif Kapadia.
Searching for Sugar Man, 2012
The Who and The Rolling Stones fans know everything about these bands, from the loudest stories to the smallest jokes. The film is directed by Malik Bendjelloul. The film is about a unique person named Sixto Rodriguez. This musician was originally from the United States, but in his youth, he left his native country and began performing only in South Africa. Yes, a truly unusual case! But in the end, it was the director of this film who began to explore the mysteries of Sixto’s life, and he went off in the darkest pursuit of a mysterious musician.
Good Ol'Freda, 2013
Before The Beatles, documentaries about musicians were rare. This film’s director, Ryan White, became an innovator in the documentary world. And the thing is, he’s moved away from the popular trends in documentaries that have been going on for about five decades. Freda Kelly was the same woman who tore millions of pop fans away from outdated musical geniuses and threw her parties singing songs at the holiday table.
Elvis: That's the Way It Is, 1970
This film is different from the previous, leading character of Icon pop music, not rock! Elvis Presley was famous in the 1960s and not only as a musician. He also acted as an actor in other films, but they turned out to be unproductive. By the early 1970s, the man was rehabilitated in the world of music and returned to the pop scene. His winning land was Las Vegas. It was then, in the late 1960s, that Elvis flew to the Olympus of the pop music world and became known by his legendary nickname, the King of Rock and Roll. That’s when the man started getting to know all over the world.
20 Feet From Stardom, 2013
This film is the only one in our line that is not dedicated to individual stars, but to background vocalists. The creator of this film is Morgan Neville. He showed how singers from "backgrounds" make their lives with talent and skills. Many women and men who cannot do more than sing in the background of great genius musicians are forced to fight sexism and prejudice. This documentary is dedicated to this problem. Many talented men and women have become mere marginalists who, because of their circumstances, are unable to move up the career ladder. In its years, the film became so stunning and insightful that it was the first film in its style that win an Oscar.
Madonna: Truth or Dare, 1991
This film, as you might have guessed, is about Madonna. Ties between performance and self-branding are the main theme of this film. The director of this movie miracle is Alek Keshishian. Madonna was a rather intelligent person and was well aware that what she would show in the film will alienate critics and even her fans. However, she even wanted the film to be a provocation. In this film, she spoke with contempt of Oprah Winfrey and Kevin Costner. What a bold move!
Bohemian Rapsody, 2018
The guys from the rock band Queen always refused to follow patterns. Bohemian Rhapsody became the same name as the rock band’s song. The song, as well as the film itself, still attracts the admiration of the world’s youngest rock fans, although the song was originally published in the early 1970s. However, the film is not about Queen, but about its main member and vocalist, Freddie Mercury. Rami Malek played a gay musician with a difficult fate.
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, 2019
Beyoncé is not just a singer with a beautiful body and voice. She is considered one of the most prolific and hardworking artists of modern times. A marching band and an army of dancers became a highlight of her performance at Coachella in 2018. This documentary not only reflected that legendary concert but also showed all the background of the hard work that Beyoncé does with weight before each performance. Feminism is the main theme of her work. That is how she inspires millions of fans.
Therefore, our top ten documentaries and biographies came to an end. Even if you’re not a fan of Beyoncé or Freddy Mercury, you can find in each of these films a motivation for productive creativity and just learn a lot about the music world. |
