We love award season here at The Latch, and we also really love a good music documentary.
So, imagine our delight when those two things intersect, just as they have in the nominations for the 2021 Emmy Awards.
This year, three music films are included in the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, while another is up for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program, Outstanding Sound Editing, Outstanding Picture Editing, and Outstanding Music Direction.
Here, we take a look at the music documentaries that could take home an Emmy Award in 2021 and fill you in on where to watch them before the prestigious ceremony.
Tina
Tina examines the life of legendary singer Tina Turner, as she reflects on the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Ike Turner.
In the critically acclaimed documentary, Turner reveals how the trauma she endured still affects her today while also examining what it means to be a survivor and the singer’s struggle to escape a past that was never fully behind her
Ike Turner was not only the iconic singer’s husband, but he was also her musical partner, meaning that her career has always been intrinsically linked to him, despite the fact she bravely left him and started a solo career before their divorce was finalised in 1978.
The Proud Mary singer explains that in the divorce, she got to keep nothing but her name and how difficult it was to get a record deal once she was no longer attached to her ex. However, she persevered and now the most traumatic parts of one woman’s life have served as inspiration for millions of others.
Ike Turner died in 2007 and yet, even at 81-years-old, Tina says that simply discussing him can lead to her having nightmares.
Nominated for: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera)
Where to watch it: BINGE or Foxtel On Demand
Framing Britney Spears
The name Britney Spears has been on our lips since she exploded onto the music scene in 1999, but there perhaps has never been as much fervour around the pop star as in recent years as fans began to question if she was truly ok.
The victim of a controversial (and now legally contested) conservatorship executed by her father, Spears herself does not appear in the documentary which explores the rise to fame and the toll that, along with relentless media attention, has done to her mental health.
The film takes a hard stance against the media which has managed to turn her into an entertainment juggernaut and subject of incessant ridicule, almost simultaneously.
Framing Britney Spears also acts as a call to action, as it seeks to bring greater awareness to the #FreeBritney movement which has finally led to the singer formally requesting her conservatorship be dissolved.
Nominated for: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program.
Where to watch it: 9Now
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Follows brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb through their early success as a folk group, before they became the band synonymous with disco fever (and one of the best-selling acts of all time.)
However, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart also delves into the personal struggles of the talented siblings and the way in which fame and success often exacerbate their gripes with one another — leading to some epic ego showdowns both in and out of the recording studio.
The sole surviving brother, Barry, offers his perspective on the band’s history (while acknowledging his memories are one-sided) as the Bee Gees found meteoric success, and faced harsh backlash, all while highlighting the importance of family and the indelible mark the brothers made on music.
Nominated for: Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program; Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program; Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special; Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Single Or Multi-Camera); Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Single Or Multi-Camera); Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program.
Where to watch it: BINGE
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry
How is it possible that Billie Eilish is only 19?
The Grammy-winning singer made her debut in 2019 with her album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and has been winning fans and awards ever since.
The World’s a Little Blurry follows Eilish as she records the album with her brother, Finneas, in their bedrooms at their parents’ house in Los Angeles, seemingly aware that she’s on the cusp of superstardom.
The film gives viewers insight into Eilish’s relationship with her family, as well as her blossoming friendships with fellow performers such as Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, as the singer also gets candid about mental health and being vulnerable while growing up on the world’s stage.
Nominated for: Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program; Outstanding Music Direction; Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program; Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program
Where to watch it: Apple TV+
The 2021 Emmys will air on FOXTEL’s Arena as well as FOXTEL Go and FOXTEL Now, live at 10am and then again at 7.30pm, Monday, September 20 on FOX ARENA.
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