I really liked this Oscar-winning look at (mostly female) backup singers in pop music including Darlene Love, Claudia Lennear, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega, Merry Clayton, Patti Austin, Cheryl Crow, and Judith Hill, among others. It considers their place in the song and notes that in many cases they are the chorus for the audience (live and on record), the hook we really know and remember that brings us in. It looks at the history and role of these singers in making particular songs work with bands like the Stones, Luther Vandross, the Talking Heads, Sting, Bowie, Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike and Tina, and Springsteen. It looks at Phil Spector’s twisted musical genius and ego and the business that sells contracts and tries to reduce these amazing artists to chattel. Background in the church figures prominently in the film, as does the tension around race and sexuality, age, body shape, and costuming/dance/and self. We hear and see amazing performers who puzzle through their success or failure as solo performers on camera. It’s a film with exceptional access to stars who understand these women’s roles, including Jagger, Bruce, Bowie, Sting, and Stevie Wonder. This is a very interesting film that should be seen by any music lover. See this one