Alicia I love this movie so much

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

robert-259-28954 As a professional musician myself, it was particularly wonderful to see these marvelous singers and entertainers finally getting their full due in a film all their own. So often, singers with far less talent get the spotlight, with these incredibly brilliant voices so often left behind, or worse still, never given the credit their stellar talent truly deserves. This film, happily, fills that void. You could say the same of great actors. Only a handful of them get the attention, while so many others, often more talented, have to make due with being the perpetual "second fiddle." That said, I also noticed that the one thing that often separates great background singers from great soloists is something I simply call, "charisma," that hard to describe, magnetic, magical quality that makes someone able to take that spotlight, and fill it. Although there are those who have made successful careers largely built upon physical looks alone, this singular characteristic is the one that separates the stars from the "also-rans," in my opinion. But in any regard, this film never fails to capture this elusive quality, while still giving these amazing talents the accolades that they've so rightfully earned. Well worth watching.

SnoopyStyle They're the secret weapons behind most of the iconic music of their era but the public rarely knows their names. They take over the world of white backup singers and plain vanilla performances. They come from the gospel world. Darlene Love works under producer Phil Spector who uses her voice and released it as other people. These women are part of some of the most iconic songs ever.This is a lot of information and a lot of different people. There are plenty of big names and recognizable faces. It's a lot of stories and songs. The first half is more like a highlight reel of fascinating behind-the-scene snippets. There's nothing wrong with that but it does get a little repetitive. The overall flow does allow the flow of time to deliver an overall story of backup singing in general. The second half recounts some of the girls trying to make it on their own and that part is interesting.

mdroel20 This music documentary, unlike any of its predecessors, focuses on artists not usually the center of attention in the music industry, the backup singers. This film portrayed the careers of the unsung forces behind many notable cuts from the past fifty years.The essence of these great backup singers is rooted in gospel music and black culture. In the 60s, singers like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Patti Austin, and many other black women (and a few men) became the sound of many legendary cuts, for which they did not receive the recognition they deserved. Many songs from that era's catchy hooks came from these artists, but unless you are a music historian, you wouldn't be aware. This movie sheds light on the hidden stars behind some of the most famous tunes in history.And the colored girls go/"Doo do doo do doo do do doo …" – Lou Reed Walk On The Wild SideThe only artist of the bunch that I knew anything about previous to this film was Darlene Love from her previous encounters with Bruce Springsteen, but this movie was extremely enlightening about her rise,fall, and resurrection. It chronicled her days as (in)famous record producer, Phil Spector's go-to-girl in creating hit after hit in the 60s. He helped spark her career as lead singer of The Blossoms, but also had her record hit songs such as He's A Rebel, and then release them under a faux group name and have a group lip sync them for performances (in the case of He's A Rebel, it is credited to The Crystals). Even when Love finally broke free of Spector's hold, he ultimately bought her back in, thus putting a damper on her hopes and dreams until much later in her career. Her eventual election into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 is one of the movies, and her careers, high points. Most of the other backup vocalists did not have the same amount of success Love had, but their stories were fascinating nonetheless.Through all the hardships these singers faced, there is a great story of liberation that came with rock 'n' roll, specifically from the United Kingdom. Many artists from the UK were fascinated by the soulful harmonies produced by these early backup vocalists and wanted that sound replicated in their recordings. Musicians from Joe Cocker, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones all feature these vocalists on some of their most classic recordings. Merry Clayton's tale marking one of the most prolific and strongest vocals in rock history is truly an amazing thing. Her chilling screams of "Rape, murder/It's just a shot away" in The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter sends chills down the spine of anyone who hears it. The Rolling Stones have continued to recruit black, female vocalists to this day including Lisa Fischer, whose career is also highlighted in this film. A most poignant point in the movie depicts four images of Fischer fading in, harmonizing with herself, and then fades out until we are left with nothing but a single microphone as we are told of the lessening of demand for backup vocalists in today's industry.Towards the end of the film Sting plays with the idea that maybe it is just pure luck that those who have "made it" are where they are. Patti Austin comments that one needs a certain amount of "ego" to make it in the music business. Maybe it is a combination of both.This film is a must see for any music lover, as it is extremely entertaining and enlightening as a great untold story of the music business.

catherinetaormina I came across this movie as a preview for another film and I got it out of the library. I loved it and the ladies they featured. These ladies are legends and stars - they are not 20 feet from it they are knee deep in it.... I especially like the special features with the extended interviews. How nice it is to even be considered 20 feet from stardom, it is a blessing as well as a position earned through hard work, dedication and love of sharing the talent. It made me think about the position of a background session singer like a background musician...there are so many great musician out there and not all of them are stars, but they are working, well-respected and sought after...what more would anyone want from the entertainment business...it's a reward. These ladies are those people.