Old Timers Rock And Roll
Written: Aug 07 '08
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: A good documentary about a unique troupe
Cons: I like the songs, but I'm not rushing out to buy the soundtrack
The Bottom Line: "You're never too old to rock 'n roll if you're too young to die." - Ian Anderson
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| pmills1210's Full Review: Young@Heart |
During a concert, a woman steps up to the microphone and does a humorous and enthusiastically received version of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go," a number normally associated with the Clash, one of punk rock's most acclaimed bands. She's hardly a punk in terms of attitude or appearance. In fact, she was already a senior citizen when this song was first released. The woman, an English-born citizen named Eileen Hall, walks with the assistance of a cane, and talks instead of sings. Once she turned seventy, she joined a Northampton, Massachusetts, group of senior citizen singers called Young@Heart, who have toured in both North America and Europe. In 2006, British documentary filmmaker Stephen Walker came to Northampton as the group rehearsed songs for a new revue. This documentary, which is the same name as the group itself, first aired on British TV the following year. The following year, Walker and his producer, Sally George, edited their work to feature film length and showed it at film festivals. In 2008, Fox Searchlight Pictures released the full-length effort in US theaters.
Young@Heart takes a look at the singers and their chorus director, Bob Cilman, as they work on a batch of new songs. The songs run a gamut of rock and R & B styles, from covers of James Brown's "I Got You" to Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia." The group was founded in 1982 by Cilman, and originally performed songs from the younger days of its singers. Cilman changed focus, though, when one of his singers, a former vaudevillian, performed a rousing rendition of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," a 1964 hit for Manfred Mann. Ever since, Cilman, a rock fan who grew up with the genre, has kept the rock covers coming. Every year, he and his performers put on a new show in Northampton. Walker and his associates followed Young@Heart over a seven-week period, as they worked to familiarize themselves with the new material. Cilman also reached out to a couple of other people who've been with his ensemble full-time in the past to see if they can participate in a small portion of the show. During that time, these people not only work on the songs, but also deal with the realities of aging. The show always remains important to them, despite the difficulties they face.
Young@Heart has been received warmly at every step of its filmed life. Walker, who narrates his documentary, himself seems to have a good time meeting Cilman, his singers, and his band. The Young@Heart band has the traditional rock instruments - electric guitar, drums, and keyboards, but they also have a violin and an accordion player in the band. Some of the singers have had previous singing experience, while others have not. The musical interests of the vocalists are anything but contemporary. Still, they are all expected to put their best efforts into each song. Cilman may have a bond with his aging singers, but at practice, he's like a director of a high school musical. The words have to be right, as well as the emotions. As concert time approaches, Cilman works with his vocalists and his band to get each song right. Every annual concert is a sell-out, which is a testament to Cilman and the people who are with him.
The emotional highlight of the show comes when Fred Knittle, who can only stand or walk for short periods of time, takes a seat in front of his fellow singers and performs a moving rendition of the Coldplay song "Fix You." Knittle was supposed to perform this as a duet, but his duet partner died before they could perform it together. Unlike the campy singer known as Mrs. Miller, who had her heyday in the sixties, Young@Heart perform with both decency and dignity. Their renditions of songs don't top the better-known versions, but that doesn't matter. The applause is deserved, for they have made the songs meaningful to their situation. In addition, Walker includes footage from another concert and some music videos which allow the singers to have some more fun. Highlights of the videos include their covers of the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated," depicting them in a nursing home, and the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," where they have their run of a bowling alley. Knittle and others also let Walker get a glimpse at their lives outside the group, and some of the ups and downs they face. It's an enjoyable look at a group unlike most others, though their songs are not ones I would rush to acquire.
At one point, Young@Heart performs Bob Dylan's song "Forever Young" in memory of a fellow singer who died the night before they were to do a show. Their bodies have gotten old, but they have a willingness to embrace music that is more popular with their children and grandchildren than it is with them. With the help of a demanding, yet understanding, musical director, Young@Heart finds meaning in the music of a younger generation, and has become a passion for them. Young@Heart shows their passion is often stronger than the illnesses and other aspects of aging that they know. The music gives them one more reason to look forward to another day. They have formed bonds in the same way many other performers do. They are music makers, and they share their music with receptive audiences everywhere they go.
This is an entry in the French & English Write-Off hosted by ifif1938. Please click on the hyperlink for more rules and entries.
Thanks Barbara.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Feel-good Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Member: Pat Mills
Location: East Chicago, In.
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"Nothing in moderation." - Ernie Kovacs. Read and enjoy!
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