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Fin Favorites: 20 Feet From Stardom

Greetings from The Music Bowl! I'm The Wonderfish.  It's time for Fin Favorites, where we present great films about music and three reasons why we think they are worth your time. This week, we're examining Morgan Neville's 2013 release, 20 Feet From Stardom.  If you want official film reviews, you'll find the links at the end of the post along with the trailer and an 11-minute TimesTalks interview with the director and three of the film's stars, Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, and Merry Clayton.

Why should you watch 20 Feet From Stardom?

1) You will be shocked to discover how many hit songs the same group of backup singers are a part of.  I won't spoil the revelation for you, but I guarantee that song count is much higher than you think.  Through this brief history of hit songs, you'll notice how critical backup vocals can be.

2) You get to hear and see the voices.  You see the work that goes into recording a song.  It is rare to witness musicians, let alone female vocalists, practicing their craft and doing the work behind the scenes.  As an artist, watching these vocalists is awe-inspiring, motivational, emotional, and comforting.  As an avid music listener, it is eye-opening and enlightening.

3) You will gain a new perspective on the music industry and, possibly, a newfound appreciation for the people that create your favorite songs.  Is singing for a living more about creating art or business?  This film helps show both sides of an industry that depends on creative artistry.  It's not always pretty, and it's often a roller coaster ride, but one thing is for sure: if you have that desire inside of you to sing, you will find a way to sing.

20 Feet From Stardom is a beautifully made film that portrays the ups and downs of the artists and their careers as they persist within the music business.  Give it 20 minutes of your time, and I'm sure you'll want more.  Clips and links are below.  Shark's in the water!  See you next time!




Film Reviews:
Roger Ebert's site
A. O. Scott for the NY Times
Rotten Tomatoes
IMDB Page
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