With too many awards and accolades to list here, Taylor Swift ranks as one of the most successful songwriters of all-time - and Miss Americana offers us a glimpse into the life of an uncompromising pop artist. Studio footage shows her at work writing hooks, recording with guest vocalists, and deciding which new tracks will be singles and which won’t. This confirmation that Swift is in total control of her own success - and knows exactly what to do with it - is one of the real pleasures of this documentary.
Whether you’re a fan or not, you can’t help but admire the talent, work ethic and business savvy. 2. Searching for Sugar Man (Amazon Prime) S earching for Sugar Man documents the efforts of two South African music fans who go looking for a mysterious Detroit musician named Sixto Rodriguez, who had recorded two albums in the late sixties only to fade into obscurity. Unbeknownst to Rodriguez, his music was inspiring young South Africans in their fight against apartheid and their realisation of new sexual freedoms - only they didn’t know who or where he was.
Thus begins a mission to track down the man behind the music. Stranger than fiction and blessed with a killer soundtrack, this heart-warming true tale is a testament to the staying power of music and its ability to break down barriers, as well as a profile of a forgotten artist who should have been one of the greats of his generation. 3. The Real Michael Jackson (BBC iPlayer) OK, so you’re probably thinking: do we really need another MJ documentary?
But it’s definitely worth giving this ‘reappraisal’ of the controversial pop star a go. Director Jacques Peretti has made three films about Jackson previous to this one, so he’s somewhat of an expert. This feature-length film sees Peretti go back to the beginning to chart the singer’s life, with the aim of creating a complete picture of who Michael Jackson was. The most powerful aspect is that we start asking questions about our own role, as the audience, in the media circus surrounding the singer and why we may have been willing to ignore certain facts in order to preserve our admiration for one of the most innovative pop artists ever.
4. What We Started (Netflix) Filled with factoids and new perspectives, this excellent documentary tracks the evolution of electronic music while also considering what it means to be a DJ, using veteran Carl Cox and boy wonder Martin Garrix as examples of the old school and new school, respectively. Starting with early disco and the subsequent birth of house and techno, the film takes us to Ibiza, the London club scene and illegal raves, and right into the modern era, with footage of pioneers including Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles, and interviews with Paul Oakenfold, Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong, and more.
Are USB DJs doing it wrong? Do you have to spin vinyl to be genuine? What is the purpose of the DJ? This documentary takes on the emotive questions that appear so often in DJ forums and social media groups.
5. Chasing Trane (Netflix) One of the all-time jazz greats, John Coltrane changed the game multiple times, combining his musical talent with intellect, spirituality and politics to address societal issues in a changing America. Much like hip-hop, jazz was driven by black artists expressing the pain they and their ancestors had suffered over multiple centuries - and Chasing Trane shows the journey of one such artist as he overcomes his demons and discovers not only his talent for making music, but his reasons for doing so.
8. Supersonic (Amazon Prime / Netflix) Even if you’re tired of the Noel vs Liam shenanigans, rock and roll fans will find it hard to resist watching this in-depth documentary about Oasis and the chaotic relationship between the Gallagher brothers. Though you could argue they’ve become caricatures of themselves in recent years, this excellent film reminds you just how great the music is and why their backto-basics approach sounded so vital at the time.
Hilarious and shocking, the appropriately titled Supersonic rattles along at break-neck speed - much like the band themselves - documenting backstage antics, recording sessions, early successes, sibling rivalries, and a decade-defining band at the height of its powers. 6. 20 Feet From Stardom (Amazon Prime) If you’re looking for something a little different, why not try this Oscar-winning documentary about backing singers? Often hugely talented in their own right (I’m thinking of Luther Vandross backing David Bowie), the film explores the world of the vocalists who support legends from Elton John to Kylie Minogue to Micheal Jackson, and the role they play in the music.
I don’t know about you, but I love hearing from the unsung heroes of pop music - whether that be the producers, session musicians or backup singers. If you do too, this is the documentary for you. 7. Satan & Adam (Netflix) What happens when an aging blues busker is approached by a young Jewish harmonica player on the streets of Harlem?
Well, one of the most fascinating blues acts of all time. The story of Sterling ‘Mister Satan’ Magee and Adam Gussow certainly makes for great documentary material. Shot over 20 years, the film documents not only a successful musical partnership but a lifelong friendship - one that saw two musicians from different worlds join forces to create a bi-racial blues, defying the norm during a time of great racial tension. HILARIOUS AND SHOCKING, THE APPROPRIATELY TITLED SUPERSONIC RATTLES ALONG AT BREAK-NECK SPEED" " 9.
Hip-Hop Evolution Series (Netflix) This series takes a serious, indepth look at the evolution of hip-hop over the years, from its foundations in the Bronx during the 1970s to its diverse current form. Being a series, you can dip in and out, or focus on the areas of hip-hop that interest you most. But as the name suggests, this is all about the evolution of a genre that emerged from the underground, blasted its way into the mainstream and impacted just about every aspect of our culture.
More films to check out... ● Roy Orbison: One of the Lonely Ones (BBC iPlayer) ● Amazing Grace (Amazon Prime) ● Rock n Roll Island: Where Legends Were Born (BBC iPlayer) ● Long Time Running (Netflix) ● Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (BBC iPlayer) ● Lemmy (Amazon Prime) ● Sisters in Country: Dolly, Linda and Emmylou (BBC iPlayer) ● Daft Punk Unchained (Netflix) ● Mark Ronson: From The Heart (BBC iPlayer) 10. Gaga: Five Foot Two (Netflix) In this Netflix doc we follow Lady Gaga as she works on her new album with Mark Ronson, prepares for one of the biggest gigs in the world - the Superbowl Half-Time Show - and deals with the physical and emotional stress that comes with being a modern performer.
Lady Gaga is a co-producer for the film and some moments do leave you wondering how much she’s playing up to the camera. But there are definitely other, more candid, moments that reveal in her the driving force common in all great pop artists: an innate love for singing and performing for others. As we watch Gaga reach the apex of her career, the documentary presents us with an interesting question: where do you go when you’ve reached the very top?
