The iconic Canadian musician, Gordon Lightfoot, reflects on his life and career.The iconic Canadian musician, Gordon Lightfoot, reflects on his life and career.The iconic Canadian musician, Gordon Lightfoot, reflects on his life and career.
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Very easy to forget Lightfoot's contribution to popular music. One masterpiece after another. Very much worth watching, particularly if you have never made an acquaintance with his music (in which case, you may discover that you know more than you thought).
You know those Heritage Minutes about Canadian history? This felt like that but drawn out over a feature length documentary. Talking heads, over and over, about how Lightfoot was great. Yes, he was a great songwriter and musician. I think you can understand that by listening to a couple of his best songs. You don't need that over and over again from different people in a feature length documentary, though. It was cool to see Rush come in, and also Neil Young, but WHY was Alec Baldwin in this so much? He just seemed a bit random and out of place. Is he just a Lightfoot fan? OK, but that could have been explained somehow. Context is good.
Look, a great documentary should have some drama to it, some mystery, some narrative drive. This doc is more of a straightforward retelling of Lightfoot's career, song by song, and talking about the mechanics of the songwriting. This could be of interest to musicians, perhaps, but not most moviegoers. There isn't enough intrigue here.
Look, a great documentary should have some drama to it, some mystery, some narrative drive. This doc is more of a straightforward retelling of Lightfoot's career, song by song, and talking about the mechanics of the songwriting. This could be of interest to musicians, perhaps, but not most moviegoers. There isn't enough intrigue here.
Perhaps my reaction springs from my age (almost 72) but I loved this. So many songs that were part of the soundtrack of my life. I'd really forgotten just how pure his voice was. And the Canadian Railway Trilogy - of all the things - is the one that brings me to tears.
I discovered Gordon's music when living in Canada years ago. His music quickly became a big part of this Australian's education in all things "Canada". My love and appreciation for his work was only enhanced further by Gordon's amazing response to my question in a reddit AMA session in 2014. All this without me knowing (at the time) that my Mum had seen him in concert (1974) during his only ever Australian tour!
Needless to say, this was one of my most ever anticipated documentaries. It didn't disappoint. I found myself smiling throughout as the tales behind various Lightfoot songs were shared, and Gord took us on a journey into his world, complete with childhood in small town Orillia. I read Nicholas Jennings' Lightfoot a couple of years ago, and found this documentary made the perfect companion piece. It was great to see Jennings' contributions here too.
The archive footage was fantastic to see and really transported me back in time to 1960s and 70s Toronto. I smiled as I recognised various places from Gordon's work and places I had been myself.
This documentary is as much a tribute and appreciation to Gordon Lightfoot as it is actual piece about him. There are a lot of talking heads here (Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin was one of the most surprising and insightful) and many mentions of cover songs by other artists. I would have preferred more of Gordon himself and even more in-depth discussion of Gordon's work. Perhaps features a little too much of how he has influenced countless other artists, as opposed to focusing on Gord's impressive catalogue and life.
There are enough performances here to please any Gord fan. This documentary is distinctively Canadian, just like the man himself. There is a refreshing self-awareness portrayed by Gord when reflecting on his life and mistakes. I could have easily watched 5 hours of this - he has certainly had a career and life that is interesting enough to fill even more. Definitely recommend to all Gordon Lightfoot fans and anyone that identifies as a Canadian.
Now to go spin my Lightfoot records!
Needless to say, this was one of my most ever anticipated documentaries. It didn't disappoint. I found myself smiling throughout as the tales behind various Lightfoot songs were shared, and Gord took us on a journey into his world, complete with childhood in small town Orillia. I read Nicholas Jennings' Lightfoot a couple of years ago, and found this documentary made the perfect companion piece. It was great to see Jennings' contributions here too.
The archive footage was fantastic to see and really transported me back in time to 1960s and 70s Toronto. I smiled as I recognised various places from Gordon's work and places I had been myself.
This documentary is as much a tribute and appreciation to Gordon Lightfoot as it is actual piece about him. There are a lot of talking heads here (Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin was one of the most surprising and insightful) and many mentions of cover songs by other artists. I would have preferred more of Gordon himself and even more in-depth discussion of Gordon's work. Perhaps features a little too much of how he has influenced countless other artists, as opposed to focusing on Gord's impressive catalogue and life.
There are enough performances here to please any Gord fan. This documentary is distinctively Canadian, just like the man himself. There is a refreshing self-awareness portrayed by Gord when reflecting on his life and mistakes. I could have easily watched 5 hours of this - he has certainly had a career and life that is interesting enough to fill even more. Definitely recommend to all Gordon Lightfoot fans and anyone that identifies as a Canadian.
Now to go spin my Lightfoot records!
Singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot (born 1938) is definitely one of my very favorite Canadian musicians of his generation, bar none.
There are so many of Lightfoot's songs that I enjoy listening to on a regular basis. I have the greatest respect for this man and his music.
Through stills, archival footage, and interviews (including those with Lightfoot) - This informative bio-documentary takes a close-up look at the life and career of a true Canadian icon, Gordon Lightfoot.
There are so many of Lightfoot's songs that I enjoy listening to on a regular basis. I have the greatest respect for this man and his music.
Through stills, archival footage, and interviews (including those with Lightfoot) - This informative bio-documentary takes a close-up look at the life and career of a true Canadian icon, Gordon Lightfoot.
Did you know
- TriviaNumerous musicians are interviewed in the film to provide their thoughts on Gordon Lightfoot, those musicians including Sarah McLachlan, Geddy Lee (of Rush), Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane, Anne Murray, Ian Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Murray McLauchlan, and Greg Graffin (of Bad Religion). Archive footage of other musicians, such as Bob Dylan, talking about Lightfoot is also included.
- GoofsWhen Murray McLachlan is describing the apartment building in Toronto on Alexander Street, where Gord was living at the time, he said the apartment building was round like the old Decca Records building in L.A. The round building in L.A. is actually The Capitol Records building on Vine Street in Hollywood.
- ConnectionsReferences Harry Tracy: The Last of the Wild Bunch (1982)
- How long is Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind?Powered by Alexa
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- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
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- 1.33 : 1
- 1.85 : 1
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