Music docs
‘George Michael Freedom Uncut’
George Michael wanted the world to hear his shy-chubby-kid-to-handsomepop-idol story firsthand, and was the driving force behind the 2017 documentary, “George Michael Freedom.” The movie featured interviews with other superstars – from Elton John to Linda Evangelista – as well as a narration by the British-born Georgios Panayiotou. Michael died in 2016.
The producers behind this new “Uncut” version of the doc say it will feature some never-seen-before footage and upgraded video quality. Otherwise, it will retell the tale, focused on many ’90s highs and lows, including the making of Michael’s bestselling 1990 album “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1,” and the death of his partner, Anselmo Feleppa, of AIDS in 1993.
Directors: George Michael and David Austin
h Where and when to watch: In theaters, June 22
‘Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song’
Leonard Cohen arguably was more poet than musician, perhaps in the same way that Bob Dylan meets that description. The Canadian was adored not just by devoted fans, but also by fellow performers who considered him a songwriter’s songwriter.
No Cohen song has been more widely covered, not to mention scrutinized and debated, than the soaring hymn “Hallelujah,” an incantation that manages to both captivate and mesmerize. This documentary tries to deconstruct Cohen through the creation of his greatest composition, and features not just previously unseen personal notes and videos, but also interviews with musicians who have tried to do the song justice by covering it, ranging from Judy Collins to Rufus Wainwright.
Directors: Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine
h Where and when to see it: In theaters in New York and Los Angeles, July 1
‘Nothing Compares’
Sinead O’connor has courted attention her entire life, from her early years
as an innovative voice on pop scene to more recent struggles with physical and mental illness. The intense five-year period between 1987 and 1992 are the focus of “Nothing Compares.”
From the scene-rattling debut of “The Lion and the Cobra” to O’connor’s definitive rendition of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1990, to the shocking moment she ripped up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live in 1992, there is more here to unpack than in most people’s entire careers. Director: Kathryn Ferguson h Where and when to watch: Showtime, fall
‘DIO: Dreamers Never Die’
For true metalheads, Ronnie James Dio needs no introduction. For the rest of the world, consider Dio a progenitor of metal whose soaring voice and fiery guitar solos (not to mention early use of the devil-horns hand salute) helped cement the genre’s unsentimental approach to music. After all, this was a
man known to battle fake dragons on stage while wielding a huge prop sword.
He was summoned by Black Sabbath to be a steady antidote to their wild singer, Ozzy Osbourne, and could be counted on to play the role of onstage madman while preferring quiet days at home when off the road. Dio’s theatricality flirted with the kind of metal parody exemplified by “Spinal Tap,” and no surprise, Jack Black played homage to Dio by featuring him in the Tenacious D movie “Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny.”
Directors: Don Argott and Demian Fenton
h Where and when to watch: Theatrical release late summer/streaming in fall
‘The Return of Tanya Tucker Featuring Brandi Carlile’
Tanya Tucker burst onto the charts at 13 with the hit song, “Delta Dawn.” Her life and career became a bit of a personal and professional roller coaster ride, but the country singer has endured not only as a female exemplar of so-called outlaw country, but also as proof that you can strike gold as a teen and still have success – notably with two Grammys in 2020 – as an adult.
This doc is centered on Grammywinner Brandi Carlile, a longtime Tucker fan, who takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her idol about Tucker’s raucous and rebel life. The movie dwells less on the drama of her big life, and focuses more on the majesty of an impossibly big voice.
Director: Kathlyn Horan h Where and when to watch: Theatrical release this fall
‘In the Court of the Crimson King’
Taking its title from one of King Crimson’s more well-known songs and their debut album, this documentary explores the travails of one of progressive rock’s less well-known bands. Unlike Yes and Genesis, who went on to major fame, King Crimson blended jazz, folk, metal, electronic and other genres to create a surreal blend unto itself.
Founded by guitarist Robert Fripp, who later collaborated with producer and composer Brian Eno, Crimson also featured a young Greg Lake on keyboards. (Lake would go on to find mainstream success with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.) The movie tracks more than 50 years of Crimson lineup changes that somehow did not disrupt the band’s quest to push the boundaries of rock. Director: Toby Amies h Where and when to watch: In negotiations, fall/winter
‘Moonage Daydream’
David Bowie was the ultimate iconoclast, a man who took his unique vocal instrument and used it to reinvent rock music almost album to album. From otherworldly Ziggy Stardust to the ethereal Thin White Duke, Bowie played fast and loose with style and sexuality throughout a five-decade career.
The filmmaker was given unprecedented access to Bowie’s archives, which include performances shot on both 35mm and 16mm that have never been seen before. Making the doc more personal is narration provided by the late musician himself, gathered from a range of interviews.
Director: Brett Morgen h Where and when to watch: Theatrical release this fall