Twenty Feet from Stardom (FILM REVIEW)
Twenty
Feet from Stardom
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Backup Singers Belatedly Get Their Props in Pop Music Documentary
Do the names Merry
Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Darlene Love, Claudia Lennear, Tata Vega or Lynn Mabry ring a bell? Probably not, yet you are undoubtedly
very familiar with their stellar work as backup singers for a variety of musical
icons.
For example, it’s Merry’s powerful voice
which adds a memorable touch of soul to the Rolling Stones’ classic “Gimme
Shelter” in the brief interlude where she makes the most of the opportunity to
belt out the bizarre lyrics “Rape! Murder! It’s just a shot away!” The same can
be said of Darlene who not only handled backup duties on hundreds of hits by everyone
from Elvis Presley to The Beach Boys to Tom Jones to Sonny & Cher, but even
anonymously ghost recorded the lead vocals on such Sixties anthems as “Da Doo
Ron Ron,” “He’s a Rebel” and “It’s in His Kiss,” without getting credit or
decent compensation.
Sadly, despite their amazing
talents, folks pursuing this profession generally have precious little to show
financially for their considerable contributions to the annals of rock, soul
and other genres. For most of the backups are black and female with gospel
backgrounds, and have stories to share about being underpaid, underappreciated
and/or outright exploited. In fact, Darlene confesses to having to clean houses
as a maid between gigs in order to survive at a low point in her career.
Most backup singers are frustrated artists
who spend years helping others shine while waiting for that big break that
might never come that could catapult them into the limelight. Finally, thanks
to Twenty Feet from Stardom, these neglected sisters are finally getting their
props, if not the fortune and mega fame that has eluded them for so long.
Directed by Morgan Neville, this
very entertaining and illuminating documentary includes testimonials by the
likes of Sting, Springsteen, Bette Midler, Sheryl Crow and other greats freely paying tribute. A
reverential retrospective representing the first tip of the cap to backups I
can remember since Lou Reed warbled “And the colored girls go!” on the gritty
ditty “Walk on the Wild Side.”
Excellent
(4 stars)
Rated PG-13
for profanity and sexuality
Running time: 91 minutes
Distributor: Radius-TWC
To see a trailer for Twenty Feet from Stardom, visit:
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