<p>Saw this film on an airplane today. It’s about back-up singers (mostly black female back-up singers), but also features Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mick Jagger and various record producers talking about the role of these back-up singers.</p>
<p>I’m not a movie watcher, but I was blown away by this film. One of the best moments was when they described the making of “GImme Shelter” and how Merry Clayton came in and belted out the “rape, murder, it’s just a shot away.” They played the song with just her vocals in the mix and I had goosebumps, and rewound the tape several times to hear it. I never really thought about how the backup singers were so integral to a song. </p>
<p>Anyway, was curious if anyone had seen. It was premiered at Sundance last year and was nominated for a Grammy, I think … But I didn’t know that at all, I just happened to be scrolling through and found it. </p>
<p>It is up for an Oscar for best documentary. I saw it on the big screen, and also loved it. Other than Darlene Love, I hadn’t heard of any of the amazing women featured in the film, but their voices play an integral part in many of my favorite songs. I am glad they are getting some well-deserved time in the spotlight. </p>
<p>I enjoyed it. I thought it highlighted how very difficult it was to make a living in the music business, and how the difference between “stars” and “backups” really didn’t have much to do with talent (in a pure sense). More an issue of personality and what catches the public’s fancy. </p>
<p>I ordered it off Direct TV a couple of nights ago. I had wanted to see it in the theater when it came out, but never actually made the time to do it. It was a great film.</p>
<p>When I saw Darlene Love, I thought, “I didn’t know she was a singer! I just thought she was Danny Glover’s wife in all the *Lethal Weapon *movies.”</p>
<p>Loved it. Rented it from Netflix, and watched all the supplementary material, too. And big parts of it twice.</p>
<p>I had known about Darlene Love and Merry Clayton, but I had never heard about Lisa Fischer, who completely blew me away. Or Claudia Lennear, Ikette and Jagger girlfriend (and apparently the inspiration for “Brown Sugar”), who has been teaching community college Spanish for the past 20 years. Or Jo Lawry, the Australian PhD, and her relationship with the Americans who can’t even read music. </p>
<p>In addition to Jagger, Sting comes across really well, too – thoughtful and generous.</p>
<p>The movie is full of great moments and little insights. Sure, Merry Clayton talking about recording “Gimme Shelter,” but also her ambivalence about “Sweet Home Alabama” (her husband told her she had to take the job, that’s what professionals do). Darlene Love talking about hearing tracks she had recorded for her own album go out on the radio as other singers’ work. Fischer on how un-standardized Rolling Stones concerts are. The small twists of fate that kept these ultra-talented women from stardom in their own right.</p>
<p>Will check out the movie. Growing up I was fascinated with Clare Torrey who did the wordless vocals on Pink Floyd’s
Great Gig in the Sky. Remember many a college evening trying to visualize what she looked like.</p>
<p>It’s an excellent film. I saw it at the Nantucket Film Festival last June. It was a featured film on opening night After the showing, Judith Hill (the young singer who was featured who worked with Michael Jackson) spoke about the film. Later that evening, I saw her at a festival fundraising party–she’s smart, friendly, and very talented–she sang at the party. </p>
<p>Saw it a couple weeks ago as part of a documentary film course. I was unfamiliar with all the singers except Judith Hill ( michael jackson singer) . Only wish the movie had focused on one or two singers more intimately.</p>
<p>I was absolutely enthralled with this film. Claudia Linnear (Brown Sugar inspiration) was absolutely gorgeous…I can only imagine what her students would think if they knew her history.
Although I don’t like David Letterman, his remarks that Darlene Love’s annual Christmas performance on his show is the best part of the season for him were spot on.</p>
<p>I saw this - felt there was a striking difference between Judith Hill, who wants to be famous, and someone like Lisa Fischer, who is a talented artist.</p>
<p>It’s a great film and gives us just of slice of some of the things that went on in recording studios besides the headliners. One of the most revealing parts to me was a current day producer lamenting the fact that this quality of backup singers is not so much in demand these days - but they put in a budget on most records for “tuning” the singers that they do use - which means using autotune to correct the pitch of singers who are off key.</p>
<p>If you liked 20 Feet…look for the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. This one is about The Funk Brothers, who you will “know” as the musicians of nearly every famous song that came out of Motown. Unfortunately they were never given credit. From the Internet Movie Database: Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown’s Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music.</p>
<p>The story incredible, and the music a treat.</p>