The world of music is a fertile ground for documentary makers. There are thousands of interesting stories that resonate deeply with music lovers. Many of the performers and genres have been around for decades, long enough to create a chronological sweet spot. Enough time has passed to allow for thoughtful and objective evaluation of the subject and its importance, but there are still people around with firsthand involvement and connections. Here are a few great documentaries that I've watched recently.
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
It's only fitting that the true King, Inventor, and Architect of Rock and Roll gets not one but two great documentaries. I Am Everything and King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll both tell the story of Richard Penniman, aka Little Richard, from his beginnings as one of 12 children in a shotgun-style house in Jim Crow Macon Georgia until his death in 2020. There is no doubt that Little Richard has a strong case to make as the inventor of rock and roll. Without Little Richard, there may never have been the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson, Lizzo, Beyonce, or Beyonce. And he never got his due. He was cheated out of his money by record company executives, oppressed by the racism in the country and industry, and his legacy was overlooked for decades. On top of all that, he had serious personal mental health issues, chiefly deriving from struggles with his own sexuality. Tormented by his homosexuality or bisexuality, he did everything in excess - drugs, alcohol, and sex. It's amazing that he lived as long as he did. Both documentaries do a great job of exploring everything about him.
Love to Love You, Donna Summer
From the King (and Queen) of rock and roll to the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer. Few performers dominated the industry like Donna Summer with hit after hit. One of her daughters produced Love to Love You, Donna Summer which incorporates a lot of home movies. As it turns out, Summer was an aspiring filmmaker and often had a video camera in hand. The documentary gives viewers a real glimpse into both her professional and personal life, and viewers might be surprised to learn that she had a real sense of humor and was always "on" in one way or another. On stage and in music videos, she was playing a role, or many roles, creating characters for her songs. Off stage, she was making family videos and being generlly goofy. It makes for a charming depiction.
Fanny The Right to Rock
Raise your hand if you've ever heard of Fanny? I never had, and I know a lot about rock music of the 1970s and 1980s. Fanny was the first great American all-female rock band and the first ever Filipino-American rock band in history. They recorded five albums from about 1969 to 1975, while The Go-Gos only recorded 3 in their career, and had numerous chart hits. The documentary includes lots of commenting musicians who are much more famous than Fanny but who were hugely influenced by their music. This documentary was a great discovery, and I am so glad I saw it. I became a huge Fanny fan. Look up their music. It's amazing. They deserve much more attention than they ever got.
Moonage Daydream
HBO is now airing Moonage Daydream the 2022 David Bowie documentary approved by his estate. For Bowie fans like me, it's a must see. The music and cinematography are unbelievable. Unfortunately, I didn't see it in in a theater during its original run, but I'm glad I can now catch it on my small screen.
