It Begins With A Song
Music is a hard thing to transcend to people. Honestly, its' one of the reasons that we, at Victims and Villains, haven't successfully covered it that much. It can be a hard thing to review. Unlike film or comics, I've personally found that it's hard to be objective about certain things – music being one of them. A friend of mine and I often discuss music and specifically the music we grew up on. Which isn’t inheritably a bad thing. He is cemented into nostalgia. If something doesn't sound like that nostalgia, chances are he's not going to like it. Whereas I have other friends who exclusively listen to one genre. Anything else outside of said genre is just noise as far as they are concerned.
Music is one of the only artistic mediums where you, as a listener, can feel like that song was written for you. Looking back, I'm so thankful for bands like Underoath, For Today and Haste the Day that helped to shape me in a lot of who I am today. I'm thankful for songs like "What Hurts the Most" (by Rascal Flats) or "Whiskey Lullaby" (by Brad Paisely & Allison Krauss) - that got me, not only out of my normal routine of music. Also, helped me feel like I wasn't along after a breakup or after the suicide of a friend. Music means so much to so many of us.
For the documentary, It Begins With a Song, viewers are taken into the real struggle of songwriters and the journey it takes to make a hit happen. The documentary primarily focuses on Nashville. Before I go any further, I want to preface this misconception I shared coming into this film. Nashville is the sole city of country music - a genre of which, I'm personally not the biggest fan of. However, that notion is quickly absorbed thanks to men and women who have written for artists like Pink, Evanescence and more. Nashville is a beckon for up and coming songwriters to come and cast their vision as far as they can.
Thanks to a host of talent from all genres, the movie never feels pigeonholed into being one genre. Which ultimately, within the documentary, casts a broader appeal to the audience. But even more than that, invites viewers on a journey to understand the gravity of how vast Nashville is. How important it is to the music, we grew up on, the generations before us and the generations coming after us. The candid vulnerability and theme of struggling artists allows the film to carry weight with it. When the film hits into the third act, however, that the emotional rollercoaster really begins. Song is fearless in its ability to showcase the power of music. Even more, than that, the vulnerability, it allows itself to have. That is the marks of not only a great documentary but great filmmaking.
Overall, It Begins with a Song, might lure you in with the premise of country music. Heck, it may keep you away for that reason. However, the filmmakers successfully dissolve such notions, early on. Viewers are in for an insane rollercoaster of emotions that will transcend a multiple of musical genres. Honestly, the people who made this documentary have my utmost respect. Song holds nothing back from its subject's struggles, victories and treasures that lie in between. Nashville might be known for its immense talent pouring out of its city limits - but It Begins With A Song allows the neighborhood to be known for something else now. Song is incredibly crafted, informative and entertaining for numerous reasons. Even if you sleep on country music, do not sleep on this documentary.
RORSCHACH RATING:
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Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. It Begins with a Song is property of TriCoast Entertainment. We do not own nor claim any rights.