Art itself can be an imitation, which could lead to varying results, but then you get something specific like musical impersonators. What started with the many Elvis impersonators that are there and a similar vein in countless geek-centric conventions, various musicians would perform as tributes to their favorite artists, as well as being an expression of who they are as a person, which is at the heart of Song Sung Blue.
Following the 2008 documentary of the same name, which is also the title of a Neil Diamond song, writer-director Craig Brewer’s latest is based on the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson), who met and fall in love, which lead to them performing as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder, which suddenly becomes a sensation.
Although there is an element of mockery initially towards the world of musical impersonators, which does feature an Elvis impersonator, Mike is introduced by refusing to perform as Don Ho and would rather perform as himself, despite having never written any songs of his own. When he first meets Claire, who is impersonating Patsy Cline, suggests that he goes down “the Neil Diamond route”, the spark of both an idea and a romance ensues.
Considering that he has explored a number of music genres from hip-hop in Hustle & Flow to the soundtrack of his 2011 remake of Footloose, Brewer embraces the sweetness of this stranger-than-fiction story, showing how a midwestern couple made a name for themselves (albeit through their stage names) who went from performing in bars, to an opening act for Pearl Jam and eventually their own live concert. There is no claiming that Jackman and Hudson can’t sing as they have proven otherwise in previous films and they sing their hearts out here with their rendition of Neil Diamond tracks. But one of the most surprisingly entertaining aspects is seeing Michael Imperioli playing a Buddy Holly impersonator with “Everyday” being a highlight.
Due to originally being told as a documentary which delves more into their subjects’ lives, you can make the argument that Brewer softens the edges of this story and really wants to center on this central love story, which is not without their struggles, including a major incident that causes the disbandment of their musical act.
Although you can see the parallels between Song Sung Blue and recent music biopics, what makes this a cut above are those central performances from Jackman and Hudson, the latter particularly doing her best work since Almost Famous. Another element that anchors the drama is the touching family dynamic with Mike being a loving stepfather to Claire’s two children (played wonderfully by Ella Anderson and Hudson Hensley), with the occasional appearance from Mike’s own daughter (King Princess).
Neil Diamond will forever be known for “Sweet Caroline” and it is performed throughout and no doubt that will be stuck in your head after watching the film. But Mike believes there is more to the legendary artist than that song as there are other tracks that say about what he was about, which sums up what Lightning & Thunder were about. Whatever artistic license the film takes, Song Sung Blue shows who these people were that went beyond a simple tribute band.
