On Monday, it was announced that singer/producer Pharrell
Williams will be producing a musical film about his early life. Titled ‘Atlantis,’
Fox has agreed to greenlight the project. The story is being billed as a ‘Romeo
and Juliet’-type love story mixed with a unique film score.
Williams isn’t the only artist to have a musical written
about them. The practice has become quite popular on Broadway in the last 10-15
years. It’s also not unheard of for a film to be loosely based on an artist’s
life either.
The announcement of ‘Atlantis’ has gotten us thinking about
some other musical movies about musicians. That is why Vinyl Bay 777, Long
Island’s top music outlet, has come up with a list of seven musical films
loosely based on a musician’s life and/or career.
1.
‘Once’:
Not necessarily about one artist’s life in particular, ‘Once’ was apparently
written after the director was discussing busking stories with his fellow
Frames bandmate and the film’s star Glenn Hansard. The film seemed like a true
story though, given that Hansard and his love interest in the film, Marketa
Irglova, were actually writing partners and for a while performed together
under the name The Swell Season.
2.
‘Dreamgirls’:
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, ‘Dreamgirls’ follows the story
of The
Supremes, the 1960-70’s Motown girl group that made Diana
Ross famous. The film was as big a hit as the show, launching the acting
career of singer Jennifer Hudson.
3.
‘Jersey Boys’: Another Broadway musical turned
film, ‘Jersey Boys’ is the story of New Jersey’s Frankie
Valli and the Four Seasons. Unfortunately, this film didn’t do as well as
the musical, despite having Clint Eastwood in the director’s chair.
4.
‘8
Mile’: Not a musical in the truest sense, ‘8 Mile’ was still a musical
film. Produced in 2002 with a plot loosely based on the rise of the film’s
star, rapper Eminem,
the film was very well received. Eminem also ended up with a hit single out of
it.
5.
‘Tenacious
D in The Pick of Destiny’: More of a musical comedy, ‘The Pick of Destiny’
was a comedic farce created by Jack Black for his rock duo Tenacious
D. It is supposed to be an origin story for the band and a vehicle for their
music. Despite the film’s stellar comedic and musical cast, including frequent
collaborator Dave Grohl as Satan, the film didn’t do well at the box office.
6.
‘The Jazz Singer’: Written about and starring
performer Al
Jolson, the film follows a singer who is supposed to follow in his father’s
footsteps as a cantor, but ends up defying his father and becoming a secular
Broadway performer. This musical is also the first talkie, dating back to 1927,
so even early films had autobiographical elements to them.
7.
‘Purple
Rain’: Before ‘8 Mile,’ there was ‘Purple Rain.’ The film was Prince’s
acting debut in a film that was loosely based on his life and career and pretty
much made him a star. It’s soundtrack also became a hit for the singer, going
on to be certified platinum 13-times over.
There has been a very long history of movie musicals being
produced based loosely on the lives of musicians. Though no release date has
been announced for Pharrell Williams’ ‘Atlantis,’ we know that he will be in
good company when it does finally hits the big screen.
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