20 Feet From Stardom – Just a Shot Away
20 Feet from Stardom nabbed the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and deservedly so. This excellent doc chronicles the lives, careers and tribulations of a group of feisty, uber-talented background singers. Based on an idea by the late veteran music exec Gil Friesen and directed with empathy by Morgan Neville, it includes an in-depth interview with pioneering singer Darlene Love of Blossoms fame as well as commentary and vocals from Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega, Claudia Lennear and newcomer Judith Hill.
We know the voices, we love the songs, we’re just not sure of the identities of anybody other than the leading artist. This untold true story changes everything by putting the spotlight on these unsung heroines, mostly black singers who rose to prominence in the 60’s and 70’s. Judith Hill, who was a contestant on The Voice and collaborated with Michael Jackson, gives a fresh perspective as a contemporary back-up vocalist with dreams of becoming a solo artist.
Mega stars Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Sting, Bette Midler and Stevie Wonder weigh in on why they remained in the shadows, struggling creatively and financially in spite of extraordinary talent. Springsteen allows that they lack the narcissism of artists while Sting makes a point that success in the music business is rarely about talent rather “it’s circumstance, luck and destiny.”
It was revealed that many of the ladies have gospel roots and perhaps this spirituality affected notions of fame and fortune in their chosen vocation. Certain dubious and controlling music producers didn’t help either. Love, in particular, is outspoken about manipulation and exploitation and claims that eccentric Phil Spector released tracks such as He’s a Rebel and He’s sure the boy I love under the name The Crystals, without crediting her as lead vocalist.
Understandably, there’s a wistfulness – feelings of frustration and underachievement especially when they are forced to compromise artistic talent in order to pay the bills. Love had other people caring for her children and thankfully she got an epiphany when she heard herself on the radio singing (Christmas Baby Please Come Home) while cleaning a client’s bathroom in Beverly Hills!
When Hill sang back-up for Kylie Minogue on The Jay Leno Show, her twitter feed was abuzz with dismayed fans “Yo, why did you do that?”
The juxtaposition of the successful versus the struggling artists is evident throughout the film so it was nice to see the music legends refrain from hogging the limelight and acknowledge the valuable contribution of their friends and colleagues. Giving credit where credit is long overdue is a salient theme throughout the film. We will now have a different perspective on tracks such as Burning Down the House, River Deep, Bowie’s Young Americans and Take a Walk on the Wild Side. I’ll be singing Doo d’ doo, doo d’ doo loudly from now on!
Jagger, one of my favorite talking heads gets nostalgic about the time The Stones arrived in New York and requested an impromptu recording with Clayton who provided the intense and wailing vocals on Gimme Shelter, wearing jammies and rollers in her hair! Clayton is as great at telling stories as she is at singing.
This is a poignant, and occasionally, heart breaking documentary study with an amazing soundtrack, terrific archival material and a very compelling cast. 20 Feet From Stardom guarantees we will never underestimate the power and point of a background singer – they are way more than just harmonizers. Their selfless support for leading artists is unstinting, their techniques and talent are extraordinary thus their failure to launch seems so unfair. Fittingly, the closing credits include a killer new version of Lean on Me.
Overall, a wonderful feel-good celebration of back-up singers and a must-see for music-lovers or aspiring artists everywhere.