Music Homage Films Abound in 2019 (Beatles, Springsteen, Elton John & Bob Dylan)

After the big box-office smash hit Bohemian Rhapsody, film studios must have been wiping the dust off dozens of musical homage scripts faster than they could sing: ‘We will, we will rock you!’.

Yesterday and Blinded By The Light
In similar vein to the upcoming movie about the Beatles if they had never existed called Yesterday, another UK movie set to be released in June this year which pay’s tribute to Bruce Springsteen called Blinded By The Light.

IMDB Storyline: In 1987 during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, a teenager learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the music of Bruce Springsteen. 

Based on the trailer, I could relate to the teenager being swept up by the lyrical worlds of Springsteen. Coincidentally it was also 1987 when I was introduced to the Boss by a friend at school. I was in absolute awe of Springsteen’s odes to the working class, striking melodies, not to mention the superior musicianship of the E Street band.

‘I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen‘
– Jon Landau’s Real Paper column on Bruce Springsteen’s May 9, 1974 performance in Cambridge’s Harvard Square.

RocketMan
In May this year we are set to be treated to the Elton John biopic RocketMan by the same director who polished up the Oscar Award winning – Bohemian Rhapsody. Like many of us, I was brought up on Elton John’s music as soon as I was able to hear so I need to keep my expectations in check on this one. From gleaning the trailer below, I don’t see Elton John in Taron Egerton nor hear Elton in his renditions. I hope I come around by the end credits.

Some interesting trivia detail about RocketMan from IMDB:
* Elton John told Taron Egerton to not copy him too much in the film, and make his own version out of it. (So that takes care of any criticism that John’s alluring singing and presence isn’t present!)
* Taron Egerton does all of his own singing in the film.
* Back in 2012, Elton John revealed his top choice to play him in a biopic was Justin Timberlake.

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
If all this wasn’t enough to get us salivating at the bit, Martin Scorsese’s No Direction Home follow up  – Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese is due for release on Netflix on June 12:

IMDB Storyline: Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese’ captures the troubled spirit of America in 1975 and the joyous music that Dylan performed during the fall of that year. Part documentary, part concert film, part fever dream, ‘Rolling Thunder’ is a one of a kind experience, from master filmmaker Martin Scorsese.Written by Netflix.

Also Dylan will release on June 7th his much anticipated  14-CD “Rolling Thunder Revue” Live Box Set which will coincide nicely with the the Scorsese documentary on June 12.

Well at least this old nostalgic fart is licking his chops!