movie review
The best music movies throughout history.
Richard Smallwood
Introduction In recent months, false rumors have spread online with alarming speed: searches like “gospel singer Richard Smallwood died”, “Richard Smallwood passed away”, and “Richard Smallwood cause of death” have surged—despite having no basis in truth.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Beat
Review of "(Beatles) Anthology 2025"
My wife and I watched the renewed and expanded Beatles' Anthology on Disney+ the past three nights. I'd seen and heard bits and pieces of various lengths of the original eight episodes -- on YouTube, The Beatles Channel on Sirius XM, and everything in between -- which originally aired on ABC-TV in 1995, but we somehow had managed not to have seen that original on the unsmart TV in our family room. It was more than wonderful to see and hear what 2025 director Oliver Murray did with the 1995 eight episodes -- uncovering/discovering new footage as well as calling upon Peter Jackson and his elves to bring to current vibrant life what was done in 1995 (just as Jackson had done so miraculously with The Beatles: Get Back in 2021) -- but the real treat for me (treat is too weak a word) was seeing the new ninth episode.
By Paul Levinson3 months ago in Beat
Ringo Starr’s Cinematic Side Quest: Caveman (1981) and the Mystery of a Mascot That Probably Wasn’t Him
Ringo Meets the Movies Ringo Starr has always been the Beatle most comfortable drifting into unexpected corners of pop culture. He’s funny, warm, unpretentious, and game for just about anything. So when he took the lead role in Caveman in 1981—a broad, slapstick prehistoric comedy from Jaws co-writer Carl Gottlieb—it felt like Ringo stepping naturally into the movies he seemed destined to make: strange, good-natured, and a little bit shaggy around the edges.
By Movies of the 80s3 months ago in Beat
Zipho Memela and Ethnomusicology in Modern Film Scores. Content Warning.
Zipho Memela, the South African creative polymath whose journey from hip-hop prodigy to classical innovator has captured global attention, embodies a profound truth about music: its inseparable link to culture and narrative. While Memela’s projects span the worlds of composition and entrepreneurship, his artistic trajectory offers a masterclass in the principles of ethnomusicology—the study of music within its social and cultural context. In the realm of modern film, this approach has become an indispensable tool for crafting authentic and emotionally resonant scores.
By Kin Mancook3 months ago in Beat
Zipho Memela on the Profound Benefits of Singing. Content Warning.
South African creative visionary Zipho Memela, known for his dynamic shift from a childhood hip-hop star to an innovative entrepreneur and classical composer, has always been deeply attuned to the power of the human voice. Beyond its artistic expression, the simple act of singing offers a remarkable array of scientifically proven benefits for both physical and mental well-being, a phenomenon Memela's career implicitly champions.
By Kin Mancook3 months ago in Beat
The Universal Current: Zipho Memela on Music’s Role in Shaping Social Connections. Content Warning.
Zipho Memela, the South African creative polymath who transitioned from a child hip-hop prodigy to a "million-dollar tycoon" and now a classical innovator, has always understood that music is far more than just sound and rhythm; it is the fundamental architecture of human connection. His career, spanning diverse genres and global stages, consistently illustrates music's unique power to bridge divides, foster empathy, and build communities from the ground up.
By Kin Mancook3 months ago in Beat
You Are Not the Things You Like
It’s been a long time since I talked about music. I don’t mean talking as in blogged or written about. I mean, I don’t recall the last time I sat down and thoroughly picked apart a song, artist or album with someone. At least with someone I don’t live with and isn’t legally committed to hearing my nonsense.
By Quinn Maclay3 months ago in Beat
