NEW YORK — Whenever you’ve made your method via AP’s record of 2024’s best films and withered the ones tears later bingeing “I Am: Celine Dion” — we received’t pass judgement on — it’s era at hand over the far flung.
Listed here are 10 of The Related Press’ favourite song documentaries of the week, that includes artists spanning genres and generations. Maximum are on streaming products and services and Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, MAX and Netflix all have choices.
They’re offered in deny explicit layout, along side the place to seek out them:
Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes. Booker T. & the M.G.’s. The Staple Singers. Those bulwarks of American song historical past have been on the center of Memphis’ music scene within the ’50s and ’60s by way of Stax Data, one of the crucial biggest and maximum influential document labels in U.S. historical past. Now not simplest that, however Stax embraced interracial inventive endeavors at some degree within the crowd when doing so used to be life-threatening. The multi-part “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” is a party of the label, an extended past due report of the establishment, and do business in audience the chance to inspect with that historical past.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on MAX.
“The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, tells the story of three Wilson brothers — Brian, Carl and Dennis — along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, and how their sunny Southern California sound became beloved the world over through classics like “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.” The movie contains in depth brandnew interviews in addition to attracts from archival pictures to present the views of Carl Wilson, who died from most cancers in 1998, and Dennis Wilson, who drowned in a Los Angeles-area harbor in 1983. Brian Wilson makes current-day appearances within the movie, together with in an emotional scene on the finish, as AP cleverly refused to ruin in its story. Simply … advance monitor.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
It is an astonishing display of transparency in the music business: In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings announced that it was acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which released Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums and owns her masters. At the time, Swift said she learned about the deal when the nation did; because of this, she started re-recording those records in order to own her new versions. A new two-part documentary, “Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” interrogates the deal — and offers digestible details for those hoping to learn more about what went awry, from varying perspectives.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on MAX.
It kind of feels like there are innumerable Bruce Springsteen documentaries out in the world, and most of them are worth viewing. But those who want to dive deep into the live experience of seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band — and let’s be honest here, the live show is a key component in loving the boss — a new film attempts to scratch the itch. “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” is directed via Thom Zimny, who used to be additionally slow the medical doctors “Western Stars” and “Springsteen on Broadway.” This one candidly captures the band on their 2023-2024 excursion, with archival pictures jumbled in.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Terminating week, pop’s primary avid gamers spared blockbuster live performance movies. Each “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” and the non-narrative “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” crowned AP’s 2023 very best of record, for breaking the fourth wall (with regards to the previous) and artfully created a near-replica of the reside revel in (with regards to the endmost). This week, the prevailing pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo takes the mantle along with her Netflix particular, “Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour.” For those who neglected her at the highway, don’t fear. This movie captures the spell.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
Elton John, Generation’s 2024 Icon of the While, appears to be like again at 5 a long time of his profession in a brandnew documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late.” Directed via R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the movie options by no means prior to noticeable pictures and brandnew interviews. Ever marvel how Reginald Kenneth Dwight turned into Elton John? Right here’s a possibility to be informed.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
Just about 40 years in the past, superstars Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, underneath the unimpeachable tutelage of the past due admirable Quincy Jones, got here in combination to document “We Are the World, a 1985 charity single for African famine relief. A new Netflix documentary, “The Greatest Night in Pop,” takes a behind-the-scenes take a look at the complicated delivery of an surprising megahit — and simply what it used to be love to have all that ability in a single studio, for one night time.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
For her fanatics, Megan Thee Stallion is a larger-than-life determine; a fearless Houston MC that preached “hot girl s—-” and self-empowerment. At the back of the scenes — and reasonably frankly, in entrance of it, too — her revel in has been all however shiny. Who may just fail to remember the onslaught of grievance she won all over Tory Lanez’s assault trial, what mavens described as a sunny example of misogynoir, a selected form of misogyny skilled via Unlit girls? In her Amazon documentary, Megan Thee Stallion candidly discusses the highs and lows of her revel in with status, social media, psychological fitness and the whole thing in-between.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Amazon Top.
Luther Vandross — the R&B crooner with a tone like silk and a penchant for undying melodies — died in 2005. His legacy is widely known in a brandnew movie, “Luther: Never Too Much,” a dive into his life story. For diehard fans and curious, casual listeners alike.
WHERE TO WATCH: Currently in theaters and will premiere on CNN on New Year’s Day.
It might be hard to believe in 2024, but there was a period of time where ABBA, the Swedish pop group of epic proportions, were considered… kind of cheesy, schmaltzy, just all around uncool. “ABBA: Against the Odds” main points their exit, starting with the 1974 Eurovision Track Tournament. They received, gave the arena “Waterloo,” and, smartly, introduced into their ascent to global domination. Mamma Mia, monitor it spread.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Apple TV+.