This December is a musical month for me, and it’s only fitting my streaming recommendations are musical.
I’ve included links to two articles about the best music documentaries of all time in case you are also bitten by the music bug this month.
If you want to get out of the house this holiday season and feel comfortable at a movie theater, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, the new biopic about Whitney Houston premieres December 23, 2022, in theaters across the country. I’ve been watching the trailer and have it on my list.
The 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony was held on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. If you missed it, the ceremony is available on HBO Max. There are some incredible performances this year. This Year’s inductees include Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were honored and inducted into the Hall for Musical Excellence. Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten were honored and inducted for Early Influence; and Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine, and Sylvia Robinson received the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performing industry professionals who have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll music and its cultural impact on future generations.
Even if you don’t agree with all of this year’s selections - I’m still waiting to see Kate Bush and several other worthy performers get the nod – the inductees this year represented music’s best and their performances left little doubt that they belong and appreciate the honor bestowed upon them.
Elton’s John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour – Dodger’s Stadium 11/20/22. When Sir Elton John announced he was planning to retire and end his career with a 300-concert world tour, people rushed to get tickets. The American leg of his tour started in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 8, 2018. It was scheduled to end at Dodger’s Stadium the first concert venue Elton John played in the United States. Unfortunately, COVID hit, and the world stopped for a while as even Sir Elton battled a mild case of COVID. The concert at Dodger’s Stadium finally took place on November 20, 2022, and it was live-streamed on Disney+ where you can watch it. Growing up with his music, the concert for me was bittersweet, but I’m so glad I watched it because every song had a special meaning for me and brought back so many incredible memories. Your Song, his first American hit is still my favorite. Every song was a love letter to his fans and watching and listening to him play the piano is an unforgettable experience.
If you like Music Documentaries, you should check out these links:
70 Greatest Music Documentaries of All Time (Rolling Stone) by Tim Grierson, Jason Newman, Cory Grow, David Browne, John Dolan, Andy Greene, Hank Shteamer, Sam Adams, Eric Hynes, and David Fear,
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/70-best-music-documentaries-24757/
The 50 Best Music Documentaries of All Time by Noel Murray for Vulture ( updated 4/7/19), https://www.vulture.com/article/best-music-documentaries-ever.html
Photo Credits:
Photo Farwell Yellow Brick Road:
By Unknown - twitter.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62394481
Elton John Photo:
By TheArcadeAddict - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88529071