Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised):
This was my era. You just did not want to hear me singing along to these songs as I was a chorus member dropout:
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten–until now. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.
What great memories! Do you remember the song “Age of Aquarius” by the 5th Dimension? It is a classic! And between my sister and I, we had every Stevie Wonder album.
Bonus Features*
- Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
- Soul Searching – A behind-the-scenes look at Summer of Soul. We’ll learn about where the footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been, how it was uncovered, and why director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson decided to tell this story now.
- Harlem: Then & Now – We revisit Mount Morris Park, location of the Harlem Cultural Festival. We learn how the neighborhood was a crossroads of culture and precarious politics and explore why Summer of Soul is so relevant during this present time of great political upheaval.
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
Summer of Soul is available for redemption on Movies Anywhere now, and on DVD at major retailers!
And here is another clip, because Gladys has the voice of an angel:
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