This will be my shortest music blog: GO WATCH HBO’s 2020 documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart . That’s it!
Now my favorite music documentary this side of The History of The Eagles - if you’ve seen other versions of their story - trust me, this one’s different. It will make you love them. And it will make you listen to “Night Fever” for weeks after. So don’t go there I guess if you don’t want that to happen.
OK just a few comments. I enjoy knowing the stories of modern music and think I know a bit. I had no idea The Bee Gees formed way back in 1958, nor that they were essentially an Australian “peer” of the Beatles through the 60’s. Suzy didn’t remember that Andy was the kid brother and not actually a Bee Gee (she did remember his sad overdose). And while the music is catchy and surprisingly ever-green - I thought they were lightweights. Wrong. (For proof listen to “Words”, “I Started a Joke”, “Massachusetts”, then listen anew to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in entirety and double check your opinion about their depth (in case you’ve been mistaken like me).
Amazing family, bond-of-brothers, and evolution including the move to Miami, the decision to take their talents in the funky R&B, falsetto / vibrato / disco direction that they are now most known for. And what interesting individuals fraternal twins (didn’t know that either) Maurice and Robin were, and older brother Barry still is. And the breadth of music is incredible. Wow. More respect, please?
OK I won’t re-tell the story because I only know it through the film and the obsessive googling that followed.
Thank you brothers Gibb and those associated for creating what you have. Music and the making of it is incredible.
