John Farnham: Finding the Voice

I don't write reviews but I felt compelled to review this movie.

I went along for my husband because he likes Aussie music. But I am not a big fan.

I was drawn into the story and the background to how John Farnham became the legend he is. The earlier years were such a hard slog with very little recognition. It was only as he neared his 40s that his belief in himself as well as his manager and friend's belief that things changed.

So really this story is about his struggle to be seen as a great singer and musician. It is also about the enduring friendship between him and Glenn Wheatley.

By the end I was tearing up thinking of his struggle and realising how good his music is. Which is more poignant now because of the loss of Glenn and Olivia Newton John last year. Then came throat cancer and the realisation that he will never sing again.

A very emotional tribute that is well worth watching. It also made me realise that we should be supporting our local bands at the pub or any venue.

This may very well be the best music documentary of 2023. Farnsy has been a household name in Australia for decades, and rightly so. I never knew much about him, but everyone knows his iconic voice by sound. Exploring his upbringing, childhood, and the struggles he faced to get where he is today is a very emotional roller-coaster from start to finish. The friends he made along the way, the people who stuck by him, and those who didn't, it's all here in this amazingly produced film detailing the personal life of John Farnham - Australia's voice. If you're a fan of his work, either casually or dedicated, I implore you to see this documentary.

Most Australians of my age, (yes I am old) know this story well. I remember wishing John did not smoke because I was worried about what it might do to his voice.

I was never really sure of the cause of his lack of ability to remember lyrics. I was hoping this might provide some insight - but it skipped over that issue.

Still, it is a wonderful trip down memory lane for some of us. Many famous faces join in to express their admiration for Jonny's talents and recount their encounters with a very down-to-Earth man.

I see it is now to be released on free-to-air TV (in Australia at least) so try and watch it if you can - or even record it if you still have that capability.

John Farnham is rock/pop royalty in Australia and widely known as 'The Voice', with a recording career spanning nearly 60 years.

This documentary charts the first 20-odd years of Johnny/John's career: 'Sadie', the Little River Band, and breaking through with 'Whispering Jack'.

While the cream of Australian and international rock/pop music is interviewed, it feels like this documentary doesn't go far enough. After John finds fame with 'Whispering', it fast forwards to present day, with the death of Glenn Wheatley (which hit John hard), and John's own sad diagnosis.

There's nothing on John's time as Jesus in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' or his prolific solo career that lasted until 2015 (until the 'Two Strong Hearts' live album with Olivia Newton-John).

The highlights of the documentary are John's transition from lightweight pop star to genuine pop/rock icon (with the legacy of his early days haunting him as he tried to establish a career post-LRB), John's lifelong friendship with Wheatley, and John's tongue-in-cheek hatred of 'Sadie': it became a running joke in live shows that John would 'refuse' to play the song and playfully berate the audience for requesting it.

Though, as this documentary is called "Finding the Voice", maybe the point was to stop when John became a megastar after 'Whispering Jack?

I have been a fan of John Farnham for many years. This was a wonderful and well made documentary that gave an intimate and in-depth look at John and his journey. We see how John started with simple beginnings and how he found his voice and achieved the fame and glory he deserved. I learnt more about the iconic song, You're the Voice' and other great songs he performed. It was so interesting to see how he became a young sensation with 'Sadie The Cleaning Lady' but this sadly held him back for almost two decades. People have long memories in the music business. It was beautiful seeing the strong enduring friendships he made that helped him succeed. It was also wonderful seeing the historical context and other greats who featured during his journey. A well made documentary, would definitely recommend.