It has been a while since I last watched something and thought that I just had to write about it and share it with the world. I've been experiencing some ups and downs as of late, which certainly haven't helped. However, I took the time to check out a recommended documentary: Searching for Sugar Man.
Searching for Sugar Man is based on the search for Sixto Rodriguez, a failed musician from Detroit in the 70s, a musician that was known for roaming the streets and being relatively mysterious, writing beautiful lyrics that were compared to that of Bob Dylan. Nobody really knew what Rodriguez did for a living, where he'd go, or much about him. Having failed to establish a fanbase, his music career ended and he disappeared from public eye.
However, unknown to him, as a result of piracy, his works had risen to immense fame during troubled times in South Africa. His music became a staple of rising up against oppression, following your heart and fighting for yourself. His lyrics influencing the people so much that his records would have banned songs, scratched off the vinyl so that they could not be played; though the documentary states that this only resulted in his music gaining more popularity among the rebelling youth.
The documentary follows the search for Sixto Rodriguez, starting in South Africa with a music journalist, curious as to what happened to the singer given throughout the years rumors had grown regarding his death: he burned himself alive. He shot himself in the head on stage after his final performance having failed to establish a large enough career. These rumors were a result of the lack of information regarding the musician. As well as the sheer scarcity of his records; despite his fame in South Africa, nobody had heard of him elsewhere.
This search led to the dissecting of his song's lyrics. Searching for clues regarding locations and any personal information that could result in some sense of direction regarding just where he could be. As the documentary progresses, we see how people began to come together and create websites, visit locations in the lyrics, contact record companies, but ultimately receive nothing in return.
Quite early on we are introduced to, 'Cause', the first song to be played during the documentary, and also my personal favourite. Sitting in a studio in the home of an early record producer of the musician, his narration of the man being nothing but wholesome, stating his sheer love for the music and its lyrics. I found the music so compelling, I took to pausing the documentary and searching it up online to give it a full listen. I was surprised to hear such incredible music, knowing that the story of this musician had been nothing but sad, unknown, or if the musician was even alive. Despite that, the lyrics offer such depth and character, it's incredibly personal and rich in narrative.
This documentary holds a story that seems almost entirely fiction. That a musician can simply fail and disappear, only to rise to fame in a completely different country, and contribute to the freedom of its people. It's an inspirational tale about music, remaining humble and perusing the things you love, no matter whether you rise financially or to immense notoriety. I found myself incapable of taking my eyes away from the screen, only during moments where I felt I simply had to sit and listen to a song fully to really pay attention to its beauty.