20 FEET FROM STARDOM   3.5 ***

 

 

   What I learned from this movie which is an excellent documentary is that much of the  pop and rock music that I have heard over the years owes its sound to a fairly small group of backup singers most of whom are black women who have never been given much credited, who earn substantially less than the singers and artist who hire them, and who live in obscurity. There are some male and some white singers in this group, but they are mostly black women, who learned to sing in church and who typically improvise the harmonies they sing.

 

During the course of the movie we meet a series of these talented vocalists, mostly unknowns who contributed to many hit recordings of the past.  We learn about their journey for fame and fortune and its high cost. Many edge their way toward the spotlight only to somehow lose sight of that elusive goal. “20 Feet from Stardom” honestly tells their  stories. Most end unhappily, some are more fortunate. All are thoroughly engrossing studies of blind ambition (or in some cases, the lack thereof) and the singer's personal need to share their vocal gift with others. The movie looks at personality and the influence  it has on singers. Some of these singers prefer to sing harmony, while others would prefer to be soloists. I would say  that many of these  singers  lack a certain X-factor in how they present themselves. While they may be fabulous singers they just don’t have that sizzle, that stage presence that makes a star a star.

 

Sometimes the film slightly overstates its message and becomes a bit redundant. But the filmmakers have captured extraordinary performances, both then and now. The Director,  Morgan Neville, builds his story with rare archival footage of these singers in performances from the sixties to present day and he incorporates strong imagery throughout the many interviews with the backup singers as well as  established stars like Bruce Springstein, Stevie Wonder, Patti Austin, Bette Midler, Mike Jagger, and Sting, all of whom used some of these backup singers. These stars truly appreciate the genuine talent of these women and the musical contributions they bought to their mega-recordings.

 

The most musically moving moment was when Lisa Fischer,, who at times has been the lead female vocalist/backup singer with the Rolling Stones since 1989, improvised some harmony with four copies of herself singing. It was one of the most fascinatingly beautiful sounds that you can  imagine and shows her wonderful gift of harmonizing

 

The film features some terrific music from all of the artists mentioned so music fans will have a blast hearing songs from the 50s up through the near present.” 20 FEET FROM STARDOM” is certainly one of the best documentary films of 2013.

 

NOTE: This film may be hard to find in the theatres(it  is playing at the Rialto in Raleigh) so you’ll have to search hard for it .. try the rentals and TV.. but it’ll be worth the effort.

 

Clark