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comment by Cathal
Cathal  ·  4045 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Searching for Sugarman

Saw it the other day at the cinema. Cool, almost fairytale story. That label boss couldn't have come across any more evil and evasive with a top hat and a gold chalice.

Rodriguez himself is the star of the show, his unassuming modesty and pure coolness shine through. All those years of toiling in obscurity and not a hint of regret after his stardom was hidden from and exploited for...someone. The definition of cool you could say, not giving a shit, and getting dirty as need be to keep things going.

I don't think his music itself isn't as great as the film claims it is. They say he was a premier singer-songwriter in the age of Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Carole King, Neil Young, Paul Simon etc.? I think not. The songs are pretty good, but the orchestration is syrupy and sound like they're sung by a Donovan impersonator. His songs did touch the South African people in a thoroughly real, though bizarre way, but the film shoots right on by his late seventies tour of Australia, presumably because it didn't fit the narrative.

That being said I will get his new album whenever it comes out. Thirty years of living as self-actualised as he has must have produced some really strong songs.