Music
Mayhem and Discography Documentaries
By
Kristin Battestella
Raise
your hand if you remember the founding of MTV and the foretelling “Video Killed
the Radio Star.” Fortunately, with these
great multi-genre concert videos and music documentaries, the timeless tunes
and talent live on.
Marvin
Gaye: Behind the Legend– Made in
2004, this hour plus tribute to the late soul singer of such exceptional hits
as “Let’s Get It On,” “Sexual Healing,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and
“Mercy Mercy Me” looks very dated and low budget. There’s not much footage from his earlier
career, and only snips of his Motown hits and duets with Tammi Terrell are
heard. Ironically, his 1984 death is also quickly handled in the last few
minutes. Despite its poor presentation, the treats here are in the intimate
conversations with Gaye’s former wives Anna Gordy and Janis Hunter, his
children, and close family and friends as they recount their memories and
private stories through Gaye’s career highs, personal lows, and wonderful music.
Marvin
Gaye: What’s Going On – By
contrast, this 2006 retrospective subtitled The
Live and Death of Marvin Gaye begins with Gaye’s youth and his estranged relationship
with his now infamous father, Marvin Gay, Sr.
Archival footage of the man himself speaking on his faith, a strict
religious upbringing, and ongoing family conflicts is anchored with great early
videos and hit performances of “How Sweet It Is”, “Pride and Joy,” “What’s
Going On,” and more. Family and friends
from the 2004 set also appear along with Gaye’s own interview reflections on the
struggle of black musicians in the sixties, the Vietnam War, and how the times
both personal and larger influenced his life, career, and ultimately his death.
Fans and scholars really need both of these videos to get the whole picture of
the man and his music.
Janis - For those like my mother who dislike the eponymous
singer’s live shouting and concert screaming, this archival set is not for
you. Vintage video interviews and great
concert material wonderfully capture the unique musical spark of the gone too
soon star in this 1974 ninety-minute documentary. For fans and music
historians, It’s great to see the fun, confident interviews of Janis Joplin being
her honest, open rock self in contrast with the shy, awkward, and uncomfortable
conversations of a woman trying to find herself. Pieces of her past and psyche can
be explored thru the music in both today’s retrospective analysis and the then
seventies contemporary lenses. An interesting study indeed.
Nine
Hundred Nights - Early black and
white conversations and rare intimate footage of Big Brother and The Holding
Company anchor this 2001 hour long video highlighting the band often
overshadowed by its brief and more famous member Janis Joplin. From the
formation of the group to early Texas stories,
surviving members and retro footage with Joplin
tell a tale of rifts, egos, and substance abuse. Even the current Big Brother
incarnation’s grievances and distaste over the aforementioned Janis documentary not mentioning them is
heard. The Behind the Music format of
a band being brought down is nothing new. Some might find the format here old,
annoying, or even bitter. However, there is a not often told story here with an
interesting dynamic in comparison to Joplin’s
legend.
Queen
Rock Montreal – This 1981
concert starts a bit slow, with an unnecessarily fast “We Will Rock You” and
few now lesser-known songs such as “Let Me Entertain You” and “I’m in Love with
My Car.” We’re pre-Highlander after
all, so those soundtrack tunes won’t be heard as well. “Somebody to Love,” however, is glorious, as
are “Love of My Life,” “Save Me,” and “Under Pressure.” While some might be put
off by Mercury’s theatrics, you cannot deny his skill and star power. Guitarist
Bryan May looks a little uncomfortable in the spotlight, but Mercury drinks
beer during his songs and slowly strips down from white jeans to nothing more
than tiny white eighties undies. It’s
bemusing to see some of the girls fawning towards the stage, too; but Mercury thrives
on the attention, taking all the love and giving it back with music. By time we
reach “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Another One Bites the Dust,” it’s as if the
audience- and today’s video viewer- are on an intimate level with Mercury. His
magnetism is forward and unforgiving, but also captivating, sweaty, and
beautiful. Not to mention it’s all damn good music! Check out the new DVD
release with more Live Aid footage
for a special evening in the bedroom with Queen.
Wynonna
Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime
– I thought this 2005 video was a sit down conversation focusing on the
daughter half of The Judds. But no, this
two hour concert is an exclusive evening with the country crossover star
belting tunes such as “Love is Alive,” “Love Can Build a Bridge,” and covers
like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “I’m the Only One,” and “I Can Only Imagine.”
Wynonna does share back-story both
tender and fun between sets, and mom Naomi has a few moments in the audience,
too. I must say, Wynonna makes some bemusing facial expressions when she sings,
but you have to respect that when she’s reaching spiritual notes that would
make the rest of us turn blue. The
country here isn’t for everyone, but there are also rock tunes and gospel
inspiration worth the listen. Ironically, I got this DVD from Netflix the same
week that Wynonna’s current husband Michael Moser lost his leg in a motorcycle
accident, adding an extra spin to her talk of life and struggles healed through
song.
Nay,
it’s quite the contrary.