Behind the Music

When Behind The Music debuted in 1997 with the Milli Vanilli story, it was an instant hit and became one of the finest biographical series ever probably second only to A&E's "Biography". Its in-depth and gripping situations definately makes it a spectacular series. It also still ranks above its lame knock-offs like the E! True Hollywood Story and Sci-ography. You probably won't find a better music series. Without a doubt, a 10/10!

When BEHIND THE MUSIC on VH1 first came out it was Must See TV. We never missed an episode. Even when it wasnt an artist we particularly cared for, we watched (an example: TLC who I dont like ANY of thier songs...but thier story was quite interesting: how they were selling millions of albums and making very little money or (who can ever forget?) Lisa torching the house because her boyfriend didnt buy her sneakers. My all-time favorite Behind The Musics were Milli Vanilli and Leif Garrett....again, not my favorite celebrities, but still great stories! I remember one year on my birthday they were going to do Bon Jovi. I was psyched. When I watched it within the first ten minutes you were pretty much told that Bon Jovi had fully consented to this BTM and that no dirt was going to be dished. Well, what fun is that?????!!!!! Then a couple of months later BTM was doing newer artists like Barenaked Ladies and Creed...who had only been around a few years and not really made thier marks on the world(as far as Im concerned: neither band HAS made thier mark to date.) So i lost interest and stopped watching. Now this week while watching SOMETHING ELSE on VH1 I saw a commercial for BEHIND THE MUSIC BRITNEY SPEARS. Oh please! Lets list the great songwriters of our time folks: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and...Britney Spears???(does she even WRITE those bubblegum melodys, or are they indeed written for her?) Tell us how in 4 years she has gone from a flirty school girl to a serious artist. oh wait...she hasnt. Note to BTM 20 years from now when we're all wondering whatever happened to her (like Tiffany!) THATS when you do a show telling us about her substance abuse, relationship problems, and short-lived career in porn.(if anything that exciting ever happens to Brit, and I doubt it will)

While I really enjoyed this show, I found one thing about it quite amusing; with the exception of Ted Nugent and Jim Croce, they could have filmed one synopsis, or template, with a place-holder that said "Insert artist name here." Seems every famous rock star from the 60s and 70s has almost the same story - they have talent and as a result they get very rich and famous in their early 20s. They begin using drugs, as a result they lose their families then eventually their band breaks up. Fueled by that, they sink further into chemical dependency and almost die. Then they meet a new wife, go through treatment, make up with their old friends, put their band back together and are now struggling desperately to re-capture the fame and prestige they once had. It fits for most artists and I find that quite amusing. An amazing testament to the power the record companies and promoters had in the 1970s. Very enjoyable to watch just the same.

I think that Behind the Music is such a great show, it focuses on the lives of famous rock bands that made it big and fell apart, I've watched episodes of bands like Foreigner, Journey, Aerosmith (one of my favorites), Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Quiet Riot and a few more and I would like for them to do such bands/singers like Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple/Rainbow or maybe Axe.

When they started this documentary series VH1 wanted to highlight music acts that were once so big you thought they would never come back down to earth.Hence the "shows" on Milli Vanilli and MCHammer, BTM's first two shows.They were successful.These stories about Milli Vanilli and MC Hammer were the usual entertainment stories of acts rising like a rocket and falling like a stick it is as good lesson for anyone whether in the music business or not.

BTM has had many shows on many acts that had the problem of quick overwhelming success. These various acts were not able to handle success for a variety of reasons falling down back to where they were previously in their careers.BTM has portrayed various music acts in the three years the show has been on the air.It is a decent documentary,not the best mind you,but somewhat good enough for those who could not remember the acts they have showcased on BTM.

The show should be called on the carpet for having shows concerning performers that really shouldn't be showcased here,Madonna,Cher,Bette Midler,Celine Dion,these are celeberties who are in the tabloids all the time,a show about them in something like Behind The Music is pure free publicity.

Or how about acts that are currently still in vogue with the general public,Shania Twain,Celine Dion,Ricky Martin,Dr.Dre,TLC,Goo Goo Dolls.These acts still sell tickets to shows people of today want to go to folks,they aren't novelty or oldies acts,their careers haven't had the time for a true retrospective to be put forth about them and VH1 should ashamed about doing a show on BTM with them in it.

Behind The Music is a documentary about acts like Peter Frampton who sold the most albums in one year with "Frampton Comes Alive" in 1976,only to have nothing in the bank and walking the streets by the late 1980's,discarded and forgotten.

It is a documentary about acts like Vanilla Ice who was so hot and so popular at one time with his hit "Ice Baby Baby" you had to live in a cave not to know who Vanilla Ice was, now just another guy named joe settling down to a normal life trying to recapture the old magic he once had but finding out the success he had comes around just once.

It is a documentary about acts like Jim Croce,who worked long and hard for success,a talented man who finally was seeing some success with "You Mess Around With Jim" among other hits,Croce was just about to settle down and stop touring and live with his wife and young child until tragedy stuck and Jim Croce was left us due to an unfortunate plane crash.

Behind The Music should do more shows on acts like Jim Croce and give them 90 minutes to do their story,like they needlessly did for Cher,patheic.Done longer and without glossing over facts and not being too cheesy BTM ,a very good documentary program can become a better one.