Documentaries are a special genre in filmmaking because each one takes years to make and can range in topics from nature to music. Over the last couple of decades, several of the biggest musicians in the industry have made documentaries about their careers or defining moments. In the past couple of months, the newest documentary released was “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” a momentous release that made me reflect on some of the other great music documentaries that came out this past decade.
Taylor Swift – “Miss Americana”
Taylor Swift has chronicled her life through her music but has also had her life blasted on dozens of tabloids. With “Miss Americana,” Swift lets us into her world on her own terms, delving into her life outside of her music. The documentary takes us through the very early stages of her career, from getting her first guitar to being honored as the Artist of the Decade in 2019. Though many of us know the events in her life through media coverage, there is an intimacy created by showing never-seen-before home videos or reading through her journals. Celebrities often feel larger than life, and while Swift produces that feeling at times in the film, there are many more stripped-down moments that feel utterly human. “Miss Americana” is for any Taylor Swift superfan but also anyone who dares to dream.
Beyoncé – “Homecoming”
When thinking about music documentaries that span a specific era in an artist’s life, I look to Beyoncé’s “Homecoming.” This documentary showcases Beyoncé’s whole process in making her show for Coachella when she headlined in 2018, including footage from both days of the festival. Beyoncé directed this documentary, which makes it ooze with her creativity. Besides the documentary showcasing an important milestone of her career, it is also one of her most personal pieces. As the audience, we see how much detail she puts into the music, the dancing, and the fashion. This concert may be about celebrating her work, but it is also about showing the beauty of the Black community. Beyoncé is an icon in the music industry, but she always ties all of her work to a bigger purpose—her community. This documentary is going to be one of the greats in the music documentary genre.
Lady Gaga – “Gaga: Five Foot Two”
Though these are not in any particular order, rounding out my top three is “Gaga: Five Foot Two.” Lady Gaga is known for her avant-garde style as a singer, but this documentary takes us on a different journey, chronicling her most stripped-back album “Joanne.” At the core of every good music documentary is the artist, and Lady Gaga gives us insights into many personal parts of her life, including the inspiration for this album, her aunt Joanne. This documentary takes her fans and the larger consumer base through a new era in her career, which is more personal than ever before. Throughout the documentary, this is seen through glimpses of Lady Gaga’s struggle with chronic pain, as well as sexism surrounding a woman earning more than the man in a relationship. Overall, this documentary is about what lies underneath the Lady Gaga brand and shines a bright focus on the mind behind it all.
All in all, there are dozens of music documentaries on many different streaming services. These three films center around some of today’s most influential singers. When you are looking for a new music documentary, each of these films should be on your list because each showcases strong women who have paved their own paths in the music industry. Better yet, they show three stars who have paved the way for many others and the future of music.