20 Feet From Stardom

Sydney Film Festival closed on a light-hearted, high note with the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom. Director Morgan Neville follows the oft-forgotten back-up singers who round, and sometimes truly define, much beloved hits. David Bowie's Young Americans, Ray Charles' Raelettes, Mick Jagger's duet partner on Gimme Shelter. They are all here and for 90 minutes, they have centre stage. Neville offers a comprehensive look at back-up singers, from those who have managed some success as solo artists to those who faded away to do different things. Despite the regrets of older back-up singers who never got the recognition they deserved, hope is on offer with Judith Hill. Hill was to be Michael Jackson's back-up singer on his ill-fated London tour and she is quite frank about her aspirations. It is not only the back-up singers who discuss their adventures and their plights – Springsteen, Jagger and Sting also show up singing their praises. There is plenty of good music on the soundtrack, pretty much from an era long gone. During the film, it is easy to notice that such talented back-up singers have disappeared from today's less rich contemporary music. This long overdue look at these talented women of music's history might do something to spur on talent into music's future.