If you’re in the mood for music but don’t have the patience to play iPod DJ or the attention span to sit down and listen to a whole album all at once, these music documentaries may do the job.
What Happened Nina Simone (2015)
With all of the recent controversy surrounding the upcoming release of Nina Simone’s biopic, this is a good time to find out about the legendary priestess of soul firsthand with this attention-grabbing documentary. Catch concert footage that’s never been seen before, listen rare recordings of her compositions and hear the woman herself tell her powerful and historic story.
Crescendo: The Power of Music (2014)
Whether you make music or just enjoy listening to it, many people can agree that it can change a life. When three New York City kids are given the opportunity to study music through the El Sistema music program, they experience changes in attitude, perception and understanding of the world around them – just from being introduced to the art of playing a musical instrument. If music has ever had an impact on your life, you’ll appreciate this story.
Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train Coming (2013)
Rock God Jimi Hendrix impacted the landscape of pop culture and music with his unique style, bold personality, and celebrated guitar skills. Though many have tried to imitate him, no one has been able to match his creativity and this documentary highlights the intimate details that made him such a rare talent. Follow his story as they show performance footage, photos, letters and drawings.
Downloaded (2013)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever went online and illegally downloaded a song for free. This documentary tells the story of Napster, the cultural phenomenon that changed the way listeners listened to and accessed music until this day. If you’ve ever been curious about some of the steps that lead to companies like Pandora, Spotify or Tidal to become a social norm, this is the film for you.
Under the Electric Sky (2014)
Do you even rave, bro? If so, you’ll feel right at home watching this high-energy documentary about the Electric Daisy Carnival, an exciting, action-packed three day music festival that takes place annually in Las Vegas. Watch as concert-goers live it up in a world especially created for them to let go and give into their wild side while they lose themselves in the music.
Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory (2014)
Thank God there’s no cut off age for enjoying music and expressing your love for it, or else these seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s would miss out on experiencing a resurrection of the self via music of their past. Social worker Dan Cohen heads the effort to unlock the memories of patients in a nursing home and shows that although the mind may lose some of its capacities, the heart and soul are everlasting.
